Posted by iris2 on September 18, 2004, at 8:37:26
In reply to Re: slow urine flow with Effexor, posted by artemiss on September 17, 2004, at 15:51:59
> It is listed as a side effect of Effexor. I was just worried it may cause long-term effects on the bladder or prostate that someone else may have encountered, and if there was anything I could do about it. It's not so bad during the day, a little, but it's really bad at night. It's annoying because sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and I have to pee so badly, and it takes so long to come out! It doesn't hurt or anything, but I fall asleep on the toilet sometimes. Torture for women with overactive bladders! I always have to pee. I drink a lot of water too. Isn't this fun, sharing our most personal intimate problems with strangers? At least you don't know what I look like, or my real name!!!
>
> I'll talk to my doctor to see if I should be concerned, and see if there is anything I could take.
>
> Thanks!
>
> artemiss
>
> > This is actually a known side effect of some ADs. It's usually referred to as "urinary hesitation", and can include what's called "urinary retention". UH is just what it sounds like, and seems to be caused by a lack of muscle tone in the urethra. What that means is that, yes, it's a bugger to live with, but it's not all that unusual. UR, on the other hand, can be a problem -- although more so for women than for me, because of the shorter urethra. The incomplete emptying of the bladder can lead to a greater susceptibility to urinary tract infections.
> >
You should be able to get something from your doctor that will help with this. I had it on cogentin for three years (not as bad as I get it now) I do think it has any long-term side effects. As someone wrote not emptying your bladder can cause you to have urinary infections. As a woman I had many of them from this. I do not think this is as much of a problem with men.
It does sound like you are having frequency problems at night. For some reason I get frequency more at night and early morning than any other time of day. I think it is because I am trying to sleep and I am more conscious of having to go then and perhaps lying down puts more pressure on my bladder.
Drinking more of less fluid will not have any affect on any of this. Believe me I have tried. Ask your doctor to make sure but given I now have a disease that causes these problems most of the time regardless of meds, although some medications make it very bad, I think I have a lot of experience in the last seven or eight years with this. I cannot take most antidepressants because of it.
p.s. do not worry I am not suggesting you have interstitial cystitis. It is very rare and your symptoms would be much worse most likely.
Irene
poster:iris2
thread:391993
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040915/msgs/392273.html