Medication induced stress incontinence

[Katyana]

Hi, my doctor started my on 2 medications just over a month ago: Celexa 20mg every morning, and Diovan HCT 160mg/25mg every morning. Ever since then I have noticed that when I'm moving around alot in the morning after taking my pills (IE: working), that I 'leak'. I've taken to wearing "Poise Pads" on a daily basis. I don't seem to have this problem when I'm at home after taking the medication, just when I'm working day shift and am on the go after taking my medication. It's almost like a bladder spasm pushing the urine out in period short spurts. It's not alot each time, but enough to dampen my underwear somewhat, but not enough to soak them or my outer garments... hence the poise pads mainly for odor control and comfort.

I know that HCT makes you pee more, and that is the reason it was prescribed to me. However, after pee'ing off almost 10 pounds of fluid over the first weekend I took the pill, and finding that I do in fact have ankles , the swelling in my legs is minimal most days. But my doctor feels I need to continue with the medication and the same dose, for maintainace. And I do agree as I retain water when I have any kind of salty food, or if I don't get a chance to put my feet up part way through the day. I don't run to the bathroom that often now, perhaps once every hour or two, and less frequent later in the day, and I don't urinate a huge volume each time either, maybe 200 mls which is about average.

I just can't understand why I'm having urinary incontinece. I've looked up each medication and "incontinence" isn't a listed side effect of either medication. And I know I don't have a bladder infection. I've had enough of those to know when I have one. This problem only affects me if I'm active after taking my pills, and I am not sure which one is causing the problem. Like I said, neither lists "incontinence" as a side effect.

I have to take it in the morning as the Celexa wires me if I take it at night and my brain won't shut off and the HCT in the Diovan would keep me up all night long running to the bathroom.

Has anyone else experienced medication induced incontinence from either one of these medications?

I meant to ask my doctor when I was there early last week, but forgot. I don't go back to see him for 2 months. If it doesn't clear up by then, I will mention it to him, but I don't want this to become a bladder habit in the mean time. I do Kegal exercises, and have been doing them for years actually. I've never had any kids and I know 100% that I'm not pregnant.

[zuzu8]

KATYANA-
I've noticed your very knowledgeable and helpful posts for other folks recently and was therefore surprised to see that now you were the one needing some answers!
Guess what? In the Rx monographs I found for CELEXA, get a load of this:

CELEXA-Urinary System Disorders - Frequent: polyuria. Infrequent: micturition frequency, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, dysuria. Rare: facial edema ,hematuria, oliguria, pyelonephritis, renal calculus, renal pain.

And from a couple of articles, I found info that "micturition disorder" which is basically a lack of voluntary control of urine elimination (retention or incontinence) can be a problem on Celexa.

Like you, I found nothing on Diovan (with or without HCT) for this problem. So it looks like Celexa is your villain.

zuzu xxx

[Katyana]

Thanks I read the pharmacy print out, but it didn't say anything about that. I'll have to let the pharmacist know.

Ugh! Just my luck to have the "infrequent" side effects. LOL

Hopefully it will settle down as my body adjusts to the medication. Unfortunately my doctor wants me to stay on Celexa indefinitly, but if I'm going to constantly be losing control of my bladder, he'll have to find some other wonder drug to put me on. There is no way I want to be wearing incontinent pads at this point in my life if I don't need to.

I've noticed your very knowledgeable and helpful posts for other folks recently and was therefore surprised to see that now you were the one needing some answers!

Thanks I do try to help when I can. Unfortunately I don't have all the answers and sometimes can't find them on my own. I would have called my pharmacist, but I was a tad embarassed about the situation. Here I can be annonymous, with my pharmacist I have to look him in the eye every month, LOL

Originally Posted by zuzu8

KATYANA-
I've noticed your very knowledgeable and helpful posts for other folks recently and was therefore surprised to see that now you were the one needing some answers!
Guess what? In the Rx monographs I found for CELEXA, get a load of this:

CELEXA-Urinary System Disorders - Frequent: polyuria. Infrequent: micturition frequency, urinary incontinence, urinary retention, dysuria. Rare: facial edema ,hematuria, oliguria, pyelonephritis, renal calculus, renal pain.

And from a couple of articles, I found info that "micturition disorder" which is basically a lack of voluntary control of urine elimination (retention or incontinence) can be a problem on Celexa.

Like you, I found nothing on Diovan (with or without HCT) for this problem. So it looks like Celexa is your villain.

zuzu xxx