What can I take to stop excessive urination?: Medications and Treatments

October 12, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the Cleveland Clinic, frequent urination is a common problem, especially in people over 70, but effective treatments exist for those asking, "What can I take to stop excessive urination?". A range of options, from behavioral therapies to modern medications, can significantly improve bladder control.

Quick Summary

Excessive urination is often managed with behavioral therapies, including bladder training and pelvic floor exercises, as first-line treatment. For persistent symptoms, prescription medications like anticholinergics or beta-3 agonists may be necessary, and the best option is determined based on individual health factors.

Key Points

Start with Behavioral Therapy: Simple strategies like bladder training, fluid management, and Kegel exercises are often recommended first and can be highly effective.
Understand Medication Classes: Prescription medications for overactive bladder generally fall into two main categories: anticholinergics and beta-3 agonists, each with a different mechanism of action and side effect profile.
Recognize Potential Side Effects: Anticholinergics can cause dry mouth and constipation, while beta-3 agonists can increase blood pressure; discuss these with your doctor to find the best fit.
Address Underlying Causes: The best treatment depends on the specific cause of excessive urination, which requires a proper medical diagnosis to determine.
Consider Advanced Options: For severe, unresponsive cases, treatments like Botox injections or nerve stimulation therapy may be recommended.

Excessive or frequent urination, also known as urinary frequency, is a condition that affects millions of people and can significantly impact quality of life. It is not a disease in itself but a symptom of an underlying issue, such as an overactive bladder (OAB), urinary tract infection (UTI), or an enlarged prostate. Before considering any medications, it is essential to consult a healthcare provider for a proper diagnosis to identify the root cause of the excessive urination. Treatment plans often begin with conservative approaches before escalating to pharmacological interventions.

Behavioral Strategies: Your First-Line Defense

Before considering medication, many healthcare providers recommend a course of behavioral therapies. These strategies are often highly effective and have few or no side effects.

Bladder Training

Bladder training is a core component of managing excessive urination. It involves a structured approach to retraining the bladder to hold urine for longer periods. This is achieved by:

Scheduled Voiding: Urinating at set times, for example, every two hours, rather than waiting for the urge.
Delaying Urination: When the urge to urinate strikes before the scheduled time, practicing techniques like deep breathing or pelvic floor exercises to suppress the urge for a few minutes before going to the bathroom.
Keeping a Bladder Diary: Documenting your urination habits, including timing and fluid intake, to help you and your doctor identify patterns and track progress.

Fluid and Diet Management

Controlling what and when you drink can have a major impact on urinary frequency.

Identify Bladder Irritants: Certain foods and drinks can irritate the bladder and increase the urge to urinate. Common culprits include caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods (like citrus and tomatoes), and carbonated beverages. Experiment with limiting or avoiding these to see if symptoms improve.
Manage Fluid Intake: Don't limit fluids to the point of dehydration, as concentrated urine can irritate the bladder. Instead, focus on drinking fluids throughout the day and reducing intake in the hours before bedtime, especially if nocturia (nighttime urination) is an issue.

Pelvic Floor (Kegel) Exercises

Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can improve bladder control and reduce leakage. These exercises involve:

Identifying the Muscles: Squeezing the muscles used to stop the flow of urine.
Regular Practice: Repeating a cycle of squeezing, holding for a few seconds, and relaxing, several times a day.

Prescription Medications for Overactive Bladder

If behavioral strategies are not enough, a doctor may recommend medication. The choice of medication depends on the patient's specific condition and their tolerance for side effects.

Anticholinergics

These drugs work by blocking acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that triggers involuntary bladder contractions. By suppressing these signals, anticholinergics reduce the frequency and urgency of urination. Examples include:

Oxybutynin (Ditropan®, Oxytrol®)
Tolterodine (Detrol®)
Solifenacin (Vesicare®)
Fesoterodine (Toviaz®)
Trospium (Sanctura®)

Beta-3 Agonists

This newer class of medication works by relaxing the bladder muscle, allowing it to hold more urine. They are often used when anticholinergics are ineffective or cause intolerable side effects. Examples include:

Mirabegron (Myrbetriq®)
Vibegron (Gemtesa®)

Other Pharmacological Treatments

Botox Injections: For severe cases, onabotulinumtoxinA (Botox) can be injected directly into the bladder muscle to relax it and reduce involuntary contractions. This effect can last for several months.
Desmopressin: A medication for nocturia caused by nocturnal polyuria, where the body produces too much urine at night. It helps the kidneys produce less urine during sleep.
Alpha-Blockers (for men): For men with an enlarged prostate, alpha-blockers like tamsulosin (Flomax®) relax the bladder neck muscles, making it easier to empty the bladder.

Comparing Medications for Excessive Urination


Medication Class	Mechanism	Common Examples	Key Side Effects
Anticholinergics	Blocks nerve signals that trigger bladder contractions	Oxybutynin (Ditropan), Tolterodine (Detrol), Solifenacin (Vesicare)	Dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, potential cognitive effects in the elderly
Beta-3 Agonists	Relaxes the bladder muscle, increasing bladder capacity	Mirabegron (Myrbetriq), Vibegron (Gemtesa)	High blood pressure, headaches, urinary tract infection

Advanced and Interventional Therapies

For individuals who do not respond to behavioral or oral medication, more advanced treatments may be an option.

Nerve Stimulation Therapies

Percutaneous Tibial Nerve Stimulation (PTNS): Involves sending electrical pulses through a nerve in the ankle to the sacral nerve that controls the bladder. It is often administered in weekly sessions over several weeks.
Sacral Neuromodulation (SNS): An implanted device sends mild electrical impulses to the sacral nerves. It is often a treatment for those with severe, refractory OAB.

Other Options

Vaginal Estrogen (for women): For postmenopausal women, low-dose, topical estrogen can help strengthen the tissues around the urethra and vagina.
Bulking Agents: Synthetic material is injected around the urethra to help it close more effectively and reduce leakage.

The Importance of a Doctor's Diagnosis

Because excessive urination can be a symptom of various conditions, it is crucial to see a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis before starting any treatment. For instance, a UTI or enlarged prostate requires a different treatment approach than OAB. A comprehensive evaluation can help identify the best course of action.

Conclusion

While excessive urination can be a frustrating and disruptive condition, numerous effective treatment options are available. The first step should always be a medical consultation to determine the underlying cause. Many people find significant relief through behavioral therapies alone, such as bladder training and lifestyle modifications. For those who need more, a variety of medications—including anticholinergics and beta-3 agonists—or advanced therapies like nerve stimulation and Botox injections, offer additional solutions. Combining different approaches, often starting with the most conservative, can lead to the best outcomes in managing symptoms and restoring bladder control.

Frequently Asked Questions

The only over-the-counter (OTC) medication approved by the FDA for overactive bladder is the oxybutynin transdermal patch (Oxytrol for Women). However, many people find relief through behavioral changes like limiting bladder irritants such as caffeine and alcohol.

An overactive bladder is characterized by involuntary contractions of the bladder muscle, even when the bladder isn't full. These contractions create a sudden, strong urge to urinate and can lead to frequent urination throughout the day and night.

Yes, excessive urination can be a symptom of several conditions, ranging from common issues like urinary tract infections and an enlarged prostate to more serious conditions like diabetes or bladder cancer. A doctor's diagnosis is necessary to determine the cause.

Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the bladder and urethra. Stronger muscles provide better control over urination and can help suppress the urgent need to go, particularly when dealing with urge incontinence.

While not regulated by the FDA for this purpose, some people try natural remedies or supplements for bladder health, such as cranberry or saw palmetto. It is important to note that the effectiveness is not as robustly proven as with prescription medications, and you should always consult your doctor before taking any supplements.

Anticholinergics work by blocking nerve signals that cause involuntary bladder contractions, reducing urgency and frequency. Beta-3 agonists are a newer class of drugs that relax the bladder muscle, allowing it to hold more urine before signaling the urge to urinate.

To reduce nocturia, you can limit fluid intake in the evening and avoid bladder irritants like caffeine and alcohol. A doctor might also prescribe medications, such as desmopressin, to help your kidneys produce less urine at night if nocturnal polyuria is the cause.