Bed-Wetting - Medications

Medications

Medicines that either increase the amount of urine that the bladder can hold (bladder capacity) or decrease the amount of urine released by the kidneys are used to treat bed-wetting.

Medicines are usually used to temporarily control bed-wetting, not as a treatment to completely stop the condition.

• Medicines work well to control accidental wetting for short periods of time, such as when children are on overnight trips or at camp.
• Sometimes medicines are used along with other treatments or for children who have not been able to control bed-wetting with other treatments. Medicines can help to encourage and motivate a child who is having trouble with other treatments by letting the child feel what it is like to have dry nights.

Medication Choices

Imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil)

Desmopressin (DDAVP, Stimate)

In a few cases, when a small bladder capacity or overactive bladder is thought to be the cause of bed-wetting, oxybutynin (Ditropan) may be used to treat bed-wetting, especially when the child also has daytime accidental wettings.

What To Think About

Medicines usually are not used to treat bed-wetting in children younger than 8, unless the medicine is known to be safe for younger children.

Most children start wetting the bed again after medicine treatment is stopped.