Will onabotulinumtoxinA treatment help an overactive bladder?

This study looked at the use of onabotulinumtoxinA (better known as Botox) to treat an overactive bladder. The study found improvements in bladder symptoms from treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA.

Overactive bladder (the need to go to the toilet too often) is often treated with anticholinergics (drugs that block the bladder nerves). However, this treatment may not be effective in all patients. OnabotulinumtoxinA works in a similar way to these drugs by blocking nerve signals to the bladder muscles. It is necessary to research this treatment to see if it is effective.

430 patients received and completed one or more onabotulinumtoxinA treatments. Patients were followed for an average of 3.4 years.

Quality of life and incontinence (bladder control) improved for 65-76% of patients over the whole treatment period. 72.9% of patients who had improvements after the first treatment continued to improve with more treatments. 38.3% of patients who did not improve after the first treatment had responses to further treatments.

These included improvements in sex life, work/social life and reduced depression.

The study concluded that repeated treatment with onabotulinumtoxinA improved clinical symptoms and quality of life in patients with an overactive bladder.

Studies using a false treatment to compare with the onabotulinumtoxinA treatment (control) may be helpful.

Talk to your doctor about using onabotulinumtoxinA if you have an overactive bladder that does not respond to drug treatment.