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This study came to the same conclusion as previous smaller studies, that there is very possibly a relationship between anticholinergic drug use and increased risk of developing dementia. Although this study provides the strongest evidence so far that there is a correlation between the use of anticholinergic drugs and the risk for dementia in older adults, the medical community largely responds that there isn't actually scientific proof because it isn't possible to prove causation with observational data.
Some questions and concerns raised in response to this study:
It's not clear that these people actually took the prescriptions in question and over-the-counter anticholinergics weren't included.
Patients with anxiety, insomnia, depression and neuropathic pain have a higher risk of developing dementia, so might the use of anticholinergic medications just be a suspected cause or red herring for increased dementia risk.
Did the onset of early dementia symptoms lead the subjects to take the drugs thereby creating the association ?
Another view worth mentioning is that "we should be able to rely on observational studies to prove what we already know in theory". Another point is that since medications that improve Alzheimer's (at least temporarily) have properties to raise acetylcholine levels, it's reasonable to conclude that anti-cholinergic drugs may actually be associated with hastening or worsening dementia in some people. There are other confounding issues like genetics, metabolism, dose & duration of anticholinergic use, as well as other medications or toxins in the mix.
So the jury is still out! Most doctors and pharmacists are cautious about claiming there is a direct association between anticholinergic medications and increased risk of dementia until there are more conclusive scientific studies.
Many anticholinergic drugs are on the Beer's List criteria of medications contra-indicated in the elderly. Avoiding them is strongly recommended as a standard of geriatric care.
There are some effective alternatives, or at least less anticholinergic medications used to treat asthma, COPD, allergies, Parkinson's, bladder control, depression, insomnia, dizziness, but not always.
References:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/838788
http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspxarticleid=2091745
View Thread



Your husband is very lucky to have you. Your love, care and concern for him are evident in your post. It must be so hard to have to watch him suffer. I wish I could give you a hug through the screen. Please believe that my thoughts are with you during this tough, tough time.
I wish there was something that I could do to ease not only his physical pain, but also you and your husband's emotional pain. This seems like a lot for a family to have to go through.
It seems like you are doing all of the right things and you are seeking out the counsel of doctors and specialists.
Were you ever able to see the specialist that you were looking into?
Keep pushing for answers and do not give up. You both will hopefully look back on this one day soon and say, "I'm glad that's in the past and things are so much better now."
Please keep us updated!View Thread



Your post truly broke my heart. The pain that you are in seems so isolating and you must feel alone. I hope that others who share this journey will soon look in here and talk about their own experience.
I know that you fear that your husband and children will always remember you being sick. But being child of a mother who suffers from a life long debilitating and degenerative condition, I do not and will not remember her as always being sick...but I will remember her as having the strength to battle her condition everyday. I know part of the reason why she does it is because the love that she has for our family keeps her going.
Have you looked for any support groups in your area? It sounds like you need (and deserve) a lot of support and you're not getting it.
The Benefits of Support Group Therapy
I also really encourage you to look into regular therapy. Anyone whose life has been dramatically impacted by illness has a lot to process and therapy can really help with this.
And keep talking here if it helps; even if it is a quiet board, just writing things out can help.
Keep pushing for answers. Do not give up. You are NOT alone. We are here for you. ((hugs)).View Thread



I'm sorry to hear about your mother's diagnosis. I commend you for being vested in your mother's care and treatment options. She's lucky to have you!
Here a link to information on WebMD about treatment options for overactive bladder that might be able to provide you with answers to your questions. I think the article is very interesting as it provides both natural treatment options for overactive bladder and it explains drug options as well. It includes information on Botox on the second page.
It says here that Botox is used on overactive bladder patients who don't respond to other medications or who cannot tolerate the side effects of other medications.
Click here for more information on the side effects of Botox .
WebMD also has over 30 user reviews on Botox. You should check them out to see if other users have reported their side effects and to read more about their experiencing using Botox. Click here to read user reviews .
As always, express your concerns to your mother' s doctor. She deserves to have a treatment plan that takes into consideration her independence and quality of life!
Please keep us posted




Have you expressed these concerns and side effects to your doctor? That seems like a lot to have to live with everyday.
It also says here that many people experience symptoms from brachytherapy such as frequent urination, painful urination, and in ability to empty the bladder completely. it says that these symptoms can be treated with medications and they improve over time. Click here to read more about the side effects of the treatment .
I highly suggest consulting your doctor about possible treatment options for your symptoms. The sooner you get them addressed, the sooner you can hopefully get some relief.
Are you cleaning your subra-public catheter every day? On WebMD, it says that to clean the bag, fill it with 2 parts vinegar to 3 parts water and let it stand for 20 minutes. Then empty it out, and let it air-dry. Click here to read more about subra-public catheters. I would talk to your doctor about if your catheter and the care of your catheter could be connected to your symptoms.
Please let us know how you're doing once you've talked to your doctor.View Thread



I'm so sorry to hear that you are experiencing burning when urinating. I can completely understand your frustration. I'm glad to see that you are on the right track by consulting your doctor.
Here are links to information on WebMD that I think you might find helpful.
Dysuria (Painful Urination) Causes -- While painful urination is more common among women, it is more common in older men than young men. Click the link to read more.
Understanding Bladder Infections -- A bladder infection is marked by a burning sensation when urinating. Have you spoken to your doctor about the possibility of a bladder infection?
Ultimately, I would keep pushing for answers from your doctor. Or perhaps, if the burning sensation continues and your doctor isn't providing you with the treatment that you desire, then maybe you should seek a second opinion.
Here is a link that will take you to similar threads of users who have also experienced a burning sensation when urinating. Maybe you can find some useful information there that will help you.
Please keep us updated. Are you still experiencing burning when you urinate?View Thread








Your doctor should have warned you that the test is only a baseline. You move around and the wires move as well. If it helps at all then it is worth pursuing.
I wasn't sure that I wanted to go through with it based on the test but after getting the implant, yes I would recommend it to anyone.
It WILL take some trial and error in order to get the settings right for you. Once you do that, life is a lot better.
I promise.View Thread




Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.View Thread



I have read many of the comments, some great and some bad. But this may be the way to go. Can anyone give me more suggestion on the side effects they had gotten?
Thank youView Thread
















I have also read a lot of horror stories on the internet. I realize that most of the people who are happy with the outcome don't take the effort to log in and post about it, so the chances of negative outcomes is higher. I read a post that said the medtronics site says that it is not a good solution for MS patients. But I looked everywhere on the site and could not find that.
A lot of posts have complained about pain and movement of the leads and device. Even after a period of time when it worked.
I was so excited to think I may return to normal bladder function, where I wouldn't have to cath myself to empty my bladder and wear pads 24/7 just in case. But now I don't know.
I seem to go every 2 or 3 hours during the day.. as much as every hour if I am keeping hydrated. I am able to sleep 6 - 8 hours without getting up at night which I can't complain about. My biggest problem is that I never empty my bladder. Daytime voids are approx 300 ccs and overnight 800 ccs.
Laying down seems to have a prevent the urgency feeling somehow??View Thread












Best of luck.View Thread







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Sometimes, starting from a point w/o any urgency, I decide to go to the bathroom, and the urgency would start as I start walking, and get very bad once I am at the bathroom door. From time to time, I may actually leak a few drops. On the other hand, if I am wearing a pad and a small leakage happens, the urgency would subside for a while and this allows me to get to much bigger void volume than normal.
Does this show something psychological about my OAB?View Thread













I am a 22 year old female who has had an overactive bladder for the past 2 years due to a nasty UTI that set everything off. I have tried everything possible under the sun (chiropractic, acupuncture, medications, physiotherapy, naturopathy, botox injections into the bladder walls etc). Unfortunately nothing has worked and I still feel the urge to go to the bathroom even when my bladder is empty. Accompanying this need are spasms in my bladder that pulsate outwards every day. I never ever feel relieved. The next surgical option prescribed by my urologist is to insert a pace-maker type device that will send electrical stimulation signals to my brain (I think it's a sacral neuromodulation device from what I've been researching online). My question is - has anyone out there had this device implanted with a similar condition, and did you find it improved the sense of urgency? This surgery is my final option and I'm just hoping and praying it will work. Thanks in advance!View Thread

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http://www.caregiverpartnership.com/
Another thing is you might want to discuss a device called Interstim from Medtronic with your neurologist and/or urologist. It's like a pacemaker for the bladder that gets installed in your left buttock, on the S3 nerve. I have one and I love it! Only problem is that you might have to change program settings especially if your MS progresses. I have been playing with my settings for a few weeks trying to get the right one or a better and more effective setting. This is done with a remote control and a kind of paddle you place on the spot where the implant is. I had mine put in about 4 years ago.
As far as medicines, when I would have a sudden tsunami-level accidents out of nowhere, I tried Vesicare and it worked remarkably well for me, those accidents stopped happening. Problem is, there is no generic and they cost a fortune! I got a few boxes of samples from my neuro and hey worked a charm. I don't take them any longer because not only the cost, but I have ended up in the ER 4 times in the last 5 years with my bladder very close to bursting because I couldn't pee for days and my bladder was at max capacity -- they drained THREE LITERS out of me! So I don't need Vesicare to help me not void.
I try to self-cath with discreet, small caths but it can be challenging to get it into the urethra, but I was told about a new item that works as a guiding system to help with that. You can keep caths in your purse and take bathroom breaks and use those for more security. Here's the guide:
http://www.vitalitymedical.com/a-medical-the-asta-cath-female-catheter-guide.html?gclid=CJ3BouTK7MACFZBAMgodr0EANw
Best of luck to you both!!
TracyView Thread

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