Examples

This medicine is usually taken as pills or liquid (orally).

How It Works

Duloxetine is an antidepressant called a "selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor." It changes how the brain uses certain brain chemicals. How it helps with bladder control is not yet known.

Imipramine is a tricyclic antidepressant, but it has anticholinergic side effects. This means that it relaxes the smooth muscle of the bladder. It also causes the muscles at the bladder neck to contract.

Why It Is Used

Duloxetine may be prescribed for stress incontinence.

Imipramine may be prescribed for:

• Urge incontinence.
• Stress incontinence.
• Mixed urge and stress incontinence.

How Well It Works

Duloxetine rarely cures stress incontinence. But it can reduce the number of times you leak urine. People taking duloxetine also felt it improved their quality of life.¹

Imipramine is not a well-studied incontinence treatment. It is not known as a highly effective treatment for urinary incontinence. But it may be worth trying if other medicines don't work or if they cause side effects.

Side Effects

All medicines have side effects. But many people don't feel the side effects, or they are able to deal with them. Ask your pharmacist about the side effects of each medicine you take. Side effects are also listed in the information that comes with your medicine.

Here are some important things to think about:

• Usually the benefits of the medicine are more important than any minor side effects.
• Side effects may go away after you take the medicine for a while.
• If side effects still bother you and you wonder if you should keep taking the medicine, call your doctor. He or she may be able to lower your dose or change your medicine. Do not suddenly quit taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

Call 911 or other emergency services right away if you have:

• Trouble breathing.
• Hives.
• Swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Duloxetine

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• Thoughts of suicide.
• Dark urine or light-colored stool.
• Nausea and vomiting.
• Yellow eyes and skin (jaundice).
• Upper right abdominal pain.

Common side effects include:

• Nausea.
• Diarrhea or constipation.
• Dizziness.
• Trouble sleeping.
• Cough or sore throat.

Imipramine

Call your doctor if you have:

• Thoughts of suicide.
• Vision problems.
• Problems with urination, including difficulty beginning to urinate, a urine stream that stops and starts, a weak urine stream, a need to strain while urinating, or a sense that the bladder is not empty after urination.
• Confusion, delirium, or hallucinations.
• A dry mouth for more than 2 weeks.