Advice on Incontinence

Fecal Incontinence: Over-the-counter Drugs

• According to the Mayo Clinic, fecal incontinence can be effectively treated with antidiarrhea drugs, laxatives and stool softeners. The goal here is to prevent constipation and spontaneous evacuation, reducing accidents. Laxatives such as milk of magnesia regulate normal bowel functioning whereas stool softeners make it easier to go. Immodium, an antidiarrhea drug, can help prevent episodes of fecal incontinence.
  
  

Fecal Incotinence: Therapy

• Other therapies can increase a person's ability to control bowel movements. Dietary changes, such as eating a high fiber diet to regulate bowel movements, helps decrease accidents. If fecal incontinence is caused by the inability to control the rectum's movements, a bowel-training program can help. Bowel therapy typically includes instructing the person to visit the bathroom at a specific time during the day to encourage bowel movements. Biofeedback, which is also included in bowel therapy, uses a probe that helps the rectum contract more effectively.
  
  

Urinary Incontinence: Lifestyle Changes

• For urinary incontinence, self-help techniques are the most effective. Kegel exercises and bladder training teaches the body to hold urine longer while strengthening the pelvic muscles, making it easier to go longer intervals without urinating. Kegel clinics are available to help train these muscles. Bladder training uses physical and behavioral techniques to show how to strengthen functioning of the bladder, reducing accidents.
  
  Avoiding caffeinated, carbonated, alcoholic or citrus drinks can also reduce urinary incontinence. Drink fewer beverages between dinner and bedtime to reduce episodes.
  
  According to ConsumerReports.org, using these techniques reduce incontinence episodes by up to 80 percent.
  
  

Urinary Incontinence: Medications

• If urinary incontinence is too severe, causing a person to have several accidents per day, medications can help. These medications include Ditropan, Ditropan XL, Oxytrol, Detrol, Detrol LA, Sanctura, Vesicare, and Enablex. Some medications can reduce accidents whereas others reduce the urgency to urinate. To see the effectiveness and side effects of all medications, view the report by ConsumerReports.com.