Q & A: Overactive Bladder Syndrome Treatment

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You know the commercial: Adults running to-and-fro, on and off golf courses, with the familiar "I gotta go, gotta go, gotta go right now" tune playing urgently in the background. Sure, the jingle calls for a giggle, but Overactive Bladder Syndrome is a serious condition that affects 17 million Americans. Luckily, there are many treatments available. Learn about Gelnique, a new gel medication, here.

Q. I've heard about a new gel for overactive bladder. Does it work?

A. Yes. The gel, called Gelnique, contains the same active ingredient (oxybutynin) that you'll find in the oral medication Ditropan. It also comes in patch form (Oxytrol). These prescription products all work by relaxing the bladder muscle, relieving the urgent need to go to the bathroom. All three can have side effects like dry mouth, blurred vision and constipation, but the topical options may be less likely to cause them because the drug is directly absorbed into the bloodstream.

Unless you can't swallow pills or are allergic to the patch adhesive, the "best" option is mainly a matter of preference: Would you rather rub a gel on (your shoulder, thigh or stomach) once a day, stick a patch on twice a week, or take a pill every day?

Tomas L. Griebling, MD, vice-chair of urology, University of Kansas School of Medicine