Myrbetriq for overactive bladder.

Posted by mauiboy89 @mauiboy89, May 10 8:19pm

After my Proton Beam radiation treatment, I experienced an overactive bladder which cause urine leakage throughout the day. Just washing my hands can cause me to rush to the bathroom and many times I didn't make it in time. I urinated 14 to 19 times a day, 3 times at night. My R/O suggested taking Myrbetriq to help with my overactive bladder. After 30 days of taking it, while it did cut down my bathroom trips to 10 to 12 a day with few incidents of leakage, however, the side effects were unbearable. I had headaches, dizziness, itchy skin, dry eyes, heartburn and leg cramps. I have decided to stop taking Myrbetriq and go back to peeing a lot.
Has anyone else had a similar experience with Myrbetriq.

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Profile picture for Jeff Marchi @jeffmarc

I’ve been on it for a couple of years and I’ve had no side effects at all.

There is another drug you can try. Ask your doctor about gemtesa

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@jeffmarc
thanks! I'll do that.

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Profile picture for jim18 @jim18

I used Gemtesa and it fixed my bladder problems over a few months. Was able to reduce dose and stop after 5 months. Same beta3 action as Myrbetriq. If that does not work there is also Tolterodine ER or Oxybutynin ER both low cost generics. These are smooth muscle receptor antagonist that acts on bladder to relax muscles thereby expanding capacity. Your doctor can recommend a few more if these do not work.

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@jim18
Thanks for the info!

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Profile picture for joeck @joeck

I used Myrbetriq for a couple months post surgery (2023). I could not discern any side effects or benefits from it, though I hope it works for others. My bladder control developed from Kegel exercises (for maybe 3 or 4 months) and cutting back on beer and caffeine (temporarily). Still, it was a long time before I could go without a pad.

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@joeck
thanks for the info!

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Profile picture for jasonfarmer @jasonfarmer

I used myrbetriq with no side effects, it helped some. Then used Gemtesa it helped a little more. Both cost me $$ insurance would not cover, and I wanted more results so went in an talked to doctor about Botox injections in bladder, he told me about axonics implant and it is one and done deal, no going in every six months for more Botox. I am happy with the axonics simple surgery very short recovery time very minimal pain. But good results.

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@jasonfarmer
Appreciate the info Jason.

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Profile picture for soli @soli

Recently, I used Myrbetriq for three months, and it did not improve my OAB symptoms in any way. However, it also did not cause any noticeable side effects. The potential side effect I was most concerned about was increased blood pressure, but fortunately, I did not experience that either.

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@soli
Thanks Soli!

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Profile picture for northoftheborder @northoftheborder

No Myrbetriq side effects for me during the ~11 months I was on it in 2023–24 (at a double dose), but we all react differently. I'm sorry it was rough for you.

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@northoftheborder
Thanks for the kind words.

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Profile picture for brownsf @brownsf

I had an extreme frequency problem after my RP. My doctor made a list of treatments in order of invasiveness. First on the list were medications, which didn't help. Second was SANS (Stoller Afferent Nerve Stimulation). It involves putting an acupuncture needle in your ankle which is attached to a battery, for 30 minutes. It stimulates a nerve that runs from the ankle to the bladder. Several weekly treatments are needed for results, followed by several monthly treatments. For me, it really worked with no side effects. I was lucky...I am a UCSF patient and saw Dr. Stoller who invented the procedure..but it's performed at many institutions now and there are even home kits available if you don't mind sticking yourself with an acupuncture needle. The more invasive treatments on the list were Botox injections and implanted devices. I didn't need those because the Stoller treatment worked so well (your results may vary).

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@brownsf
thanks for the info, but I think I'll
stick to less invasive treatments for now.

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Profile picture for northoftheborder @northoftheborder

@soli The regular 25mg dose of Myrbetriq did nothing for me either back in 2023, but when my urology oncologist doubled it to 50mg, the improvement was fast and dramatic: I went from waking every 30 min to urinate to getting up, at most, 2–3 times in the night.

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@northoftheborder
Appreciate the info!

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I was put on Solifenacin Succinate a month after the AUS was installed.
Did nothing.

Seeing Urologist Number 4 hopefully this month.
Hope he doesn't put me back on that or something similar. Just tighten the damn cuff.

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I took it for over a year and with my insurance it was $160 for a three month supply. Then my contribution for a refill went up to $900 and I stopped taking it only to realize it was not doing all that much anyway. I am four years post radiation treatment and I am not having accidents wetting myself. But I can't wash the car, do the dishes or pour liquids without an emergency run to the bathroom. You learn to deal with it and it get's easier.

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