I am 34 years old, and since I was in my pre-teens I've been taking a medication called Imipramine (generic for Tofranil). This has stopped me from wetting the bed completely.
It is a tricyclic antidepressant. I started out taking 25mg, but about 5 years ago, when i had some difficulty it was raised to 50mg and I'm doing fine again. It is taken 1 hour prior to bedtime, and you can expect to want to use the restroom about 3-4 times during that hour, depending on how much you drank that day.
The only cons to taking this are it takes a couple weeks before it starts working, it has to build up in your blood, and there was a time when I suddenly stopped taking this medicine (i was sick and forgot), and I would experience what I believe are called night terrors. I would wake up in the middle of the night completely terrified that there was something in the room that was trying to harm me but I was completely paralyzed, unable to turn my head to look. It was not a very good feeling. Since then I don't ever forget to take my medication. Occassionally I have weird dreams but nothing extreme. The night terrors might be from the fact I've also been on this medicine for so many years.
It is one of the $4 prescription drugs at wal-mart and most other pharmacies.
Without it I'd be terrified to spend the night anywhere, and well I never get depressed so that is a plus LOL. I don't know how this medicine works but it has worked for me for so many years, and perhaps it can help you as well.
If you smoke you may need a higher dose as this lowers the level in your blood, also you should not drink alcohol while taking this as the effects of alcohol are increased.
I don't drink but I do smoke.
If you are dealing with this problem I strongly recommend you asking your doctor to put you on this. You'll have to explain why but most doctors will try anything to try to get you feeling better. This drug is the first antidepressant of its kind, and is rarely ever prescribed anymore (according to my pharmacist). So I'm guessing that a lot of doctors don't realize the potential in stopping incontinence that this drug does do. I think this drug does cause a lower sex drive, but if you weigh the good and bad about it, the pros far outweigh the cons.
Hello,
Welcome to our community and thanks for sharing this interesting info with us. I say it's worth a try, if your doctor agrees. As you know, incontinence is much more of a debilitating condition than most people think, so any help or tips offered are greatly appreciated. I'm curious to hear from others who've maybe tried this drug for bedwetting.
Thanks again,
Maria