Adult bed-wetting is a common problem as you can see from all the TV ads about disposable diapers available for adults. The first thing to do when adults have a bed-wetting problem is to consult with a doctor to make sure that there is nothing medically wrong to cause this problem to develop. Bed-wetting in the adult years can be a symptom of diabetes, kidney or bladder problems or something as simple as a urinary tract infection, for which there are antibiotics to be given. Even though disposable diapers do help adults feel more comfortable, adult bed wetting does need to be checked out.
Allergies, cell anemia, and sleep disorders are also causes for adult bed wetting. Researchers dealing with this problem have also found psychological factors to be involved, such as stress and trauma. In some cases, age is the culprit as the muscles of the bladder start to lose their elasticity causing adult bed-wetting. Enuresis (inability to control urination) alarms work just as well for adults as they do for children and teenagers. These alarms wake you up out of your sleep at the first sign of moisture so that you do have time to get to the bathroom instead of wetting the bed.
Here are some solutions to the problem:
- Deamino-D-arginine Vasopressin (DDAVP) – There are medications that have proven effective in controlling adult bed wetting. One of these is DDAVP, which helps to reduce the amount of urine that the body makes at night. Adults who drink a lot of liquids may have to use the bathroom more at night and if they take medication for insomnia, then they might find it hard to wake up when they need to. This medication helps to treat the symptoms of adult bed-wetting, which means that you will not urinate as often during the night. HOWEVER, this is not a cure for adult bed-wetting. It is mainly a measure to control it. Once you stop taking the medication, bed-wetting will start again.
You do not necessarily need to take DDAVP every day in order for it to control adult bed wetting. You can either take this as pill or a spray, but a cold or a stuffy nose is likely to interfere with the action of the medication taken in spray form. You do have to take the medication at night and it does have side effects, which some adults are unable to handle. The common side effects of this medication includes headache, nausea, sinus problems and nosebleeds. When you are taking this medication you are not allowed to drink any water after taking it.
- Imipramine – For adults, Imipramine is an anti-depressant drug that has been found effective in treating adult bed wetting. Like DDAVP, this reduces the amount of urine the body produces during the night. However, most doctors do not like to prescribe this medication because of its many side effects. In fact prescribing medication for adult bed-wetting is usually the last resort.
Doctors prefer to try methods of behavioral modification first and if the adult is comfortable, disposable diapers keep the bed sheets dry at night. Adult bed wetting is a problem that doctors are well used to dealing with, so there is no need for embarrassment when deciding to talk to a doctor about your problem. This should be the first step taken so that you will know the real problem behind it.
Disclaimer: Consult your doctor first before taking any medications. The writer is just stating some known solutions but not suggesting you take the meds without proper medical check-ups or prescriptions.