Well, I don't know the answer to any of the questions, but I just had a urodynamics test this week and you have my utmost sympathy, Opie. That is the most unpleasant test I have had so far.
I have been trying to read up on this a little bit and it sounds like you can retain urine both with underactive and overactive bladder.
"Symptoms of overactive bladder:
Having to urinate too often in small amounts
Problems emptying all the urine from the bladder
Loss of bladder control
Symptoms of underactive bladder:
Bladder becomes too full and you may leak urine
Problems starting to urinate or emptying all the urine from the bladder
Unable to tell when the bladder is full
Urinary retention"
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001761/
Medscape says Vesicare is an antispasmodic drug.
"These relax the smooth muscles of the urinary bladder. By exerting a direct spasmolytic action on the smooth muscle of the bladder, antispasmodic drugs have been reported to increase bladder capacity and effectively decrease or eliminate urge incontinence...
Solifenacin succinate (VESIcare)
Solifenacin succinate elicits competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist activity, which results in anticholinergic effect and inhibition of bladder smooth muscle contraction. It is indicated for overactive bladder with symptoms of urgency, frequency, and urge incontinence."
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/453539
I am leaning toward underactive bladder as my problem, but don't meet with the urologist until next week. She told me this test could distinguish between a couple possible causes for my urinary retention:
1. The bladder isn't squeezing. She said to think of an upside down toothpaste tube; no toothpaste comes out if you don't squeeze.
2. Dysfunction/lack of coordination between sphincter and detrusor (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bladder_sphincter_dyssynergia)
sho
I've honestly never been clear on how the drugs for overactive bladder help people with urine retention. I have noticed though that several forum members with retention take them and figure there must be a good reason why they are prescribed.
Can you clarify Lulu? If it's not too personal.... do you have an additional problem with distention incontinence or urge incontinence that this type of drug helps control?
Inquiring minds (or at least this one little mind) want to know. Thanks.
Mary
Good luck with it. Yes, if you already have problems emptying, then you probably shouldn't take it - or you might get a UTI.
I was on it for quite a while, but had to stop because I wasn't emptying all the way. I was taking it for urgency & frequency.
I do get the bladder/urethra spasms. A lot of times I don't even know that they're going on, but my PT feels them and says they're going crazy in there. I'm not sure if the Vesicare helps or not for it.
MY thinking is you might give it a try and see how it works for you. I am on Toviaz after trying a couple different bladder meds. Since I already have a serious problem with retention and do ISC, having the drugs add to that problem was not an issue. I just tap out a few times a day to keep it calm.
I also was given samples for 3 drugs and all three have the heat warning. Seems it lowers your sweat ability, thus making you twice as likely to overheat.
I will ask my neurologist next week before I entertain any of these, as I travel in the summer to a cooler climate due to the heat bothering my MS symptoms so bad.
You are in an area that has even more humidity than where I presently am!
I will let you and the rest of the forum know what I find out, since my visit is sooner than yours. Perhaps it will benefit both of us.
I went for urinary retention and dribbles but didn't feel the medications will solve my problem by exchanging it for other problems!