Help With Managing Bladder Dysfunction in Multiple Sclerosis
Medication can play a crucial role in alleviating multiple sclerosis symptoms — including bladder dysfunction. Bladder dysfunction is a common and often challenging symptom for individuals with MS. When combined with other vital elements of comprehensive MS care, MS symptom medications can help you manage this symptom and improve your overall quality of life.
The medications on this page are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat bladder dysfunction in MS. Discuss your MS treatment plan with your healthcare provider.
FDA Approved Medications for Bladder Dysfunction in MS
BOTOX®
Brand Name: BOTOX®
Chemical Name: onabotulinumtoxin A
Usage in MS: Bladder Dysfunction / Spasticity in the Lower Limbs / Spasticity in the Upper Limbs
Generic Available: No
Description: Onabotulinumtoxin A (BOTOX) is a powerful neurotoxin that temporarily blocks connections between the nerves and the muscles, resulting in short-term relaxation of the targeted muscle. Botox is administered by injection.
BOTOX is approved by the FDA to treat:
- Urinary incontinence resulting from overactivity of the bladder detrusor muscle caused by MS or other neurologic conditions in adults who have an inadequate response to anticholinergic medications or are unable to tolerate them.
- Upper limb spasticity in adults, to relieve increased muscle tone in elbow flexors (biceps), wrist flexors, and finger flexors, including thumb flexor muscles. Upper limb spasticity can occur in MS as well as other disorders.
- Lower limb spasticity in adults, to relieve increased muscle tone in ankle and toe flexors. Lower limb spasticity can occur in MS as well as other disorders.
Read the
BOTOX medication guide and
prescribing information for patients.
If you are a healthcare professional, see this guide for prescribing
BOTOX for MS.
Ditropan®
Brand Name: Ditropan (U.S. and Canada)
Chemical Name: oxybutynin (ox-i-byoo-ti-nin)
Usage in MS: Bladder Dysfunction
Generic Available: Yes
Description: Oxybutynin is in a class of medications called anticholinergics/antimuscarinics. It is used in MS to treat overactive bladder, in which the bladder muscles contract uncontrollably to cause urinary urgency, frequency and incontinence. Oxybutynin works by relaxing the bladder muscles to prevent contractions.
Read the NIH’s information on
oxybutynin.
Myrbetriq®
Brand Name: Myrbetriq
Chemical Name: mirabegron (mir-a-beg`-ron)
Usage in MS: Bladder Dysfunction
Generic Available: No
Description: Myrbetriq is used to treat overactive bladder symptoms, including urinary urgency, frequency and leakage.
Read the
Myrbetriq medication guide for patients. Read information on the
Myrbetriq support program or call 800-477-6472.
If you are a healthcare professional, see this guide for prescribing
Myrbetriq for MS.
Oxytrol®
Brand Name: Oxytrol (Oxybutynin Transdermal System)
Chemical Name: oxybutynin (ox-i-byoo-ti-nin)
Usage inn MS: Bladder Dysfunction
Generic Available: No
Description: Oxybutynin is an antispasmodic that helps decrease muscle spasms of the bladder and the frequent urge to urinate caused by these spasms. Oxytrol is a skin patch that delivers the active ingredient oxybutynin through your skin and into your bloodstream.
If you are a healthcare professional, see this
guide for prescribing Oxytrol for MS.