Bedwetting (Primary Nocturnal Enuresis)
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 bedwetting.
Medicines are usually used to temporarily control bedwetting, 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 bedwetting 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 (Tofranil)
- Desmopressin (DDAVP, Minirin, Octostim)
In a few cases, when a small bladder capacity or overactive bladder is thought to be the cause of bedwetting, oxybutynin (Ditropan) may be used to treat bedwetting, especially when the child also has daytime accidental wettings.
What To Think About
Medicines usually are not used to treat bedwetting 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.
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| Author: | Amy Fackler, MA Debby Golonka, MPH Carrie Henley | Last Updated: January 11, 2007 |
| Medical Review: | Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Michael J. Sexton, MD - Pediatrics Peter Anderson, MD, FRCS(C) - Pediatric Urology | |
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