Incontinence Guide

How To Stop Bedwetting In Adults

Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis or nighttime incontinence, is involuntary urine leakage during sleep. It typically occurs among young children. However, it can happen in adults too.

Adult bedwetting can be caused by underlying medical conditions, medicine, or bladder control issues.

Proper evaluation by a healthcare professional will get you on the road to effective treatment and reduce the chances of overnight incontinence.

Causes of adult bedwetting 

There are multiple factors attributed to which include the following:

• Genetics: Nocturnal enuresis is more common in those with a family history of bedwetting.
• Hormonal issues: The body produces an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) at night, which slows the kidney's production of urine while you sleep. If the body doesn’t produce enough ADH, the chances of bedwetting increase. 
• Overactive bladder: When bladder muscles become overactive, it can cause a sudden urge to use the bathroom. Bladder irritants, such as alcohol, caffeine, or medications, can contribute to muscle instability.
• A small bladder: If the bladder cannot hold the amount of urine produced at night, this is known as Small Functional Bladder Capacity (FBC). This often results in bedwetting.
• Medications: Certain prescription medications, including drugs taken for insomnia and psychiatric problems, list bedwetting as their side effect.
• Neurological issues: Neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and seizures, may impair bladder control and lead to frequent or uncontrolled urination during sleep.
• Other reasons may include the following - 
  • Stress and anxiety 
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Enlarged prostate 
  • Sleep apnea
  • Urinary tract infection (UTI)
  • Constipation

How to stop bedwetting in adults

A healthcare provider can help you navigate what causes bedwetting and recommend a treatment plan that works for you.

Options for nocturnal enuresis are broadly divided into:

1. Lifestyle changes
2. Medications
3. Surgery

1. Lifestyle changes

• Limit fluids before bed
  • The first step towards preventing nighttime incontinence is limiting fluids in the afternoon and evening, which decreases the amount of urine produced at night.
  • Also, avoid caffeine and alcohol intake, which increases urine output.
• Use the bathroom before bedtime
  • Make sure to empty your bladder before going to bed, even if you do not have the urge to urinate.
• Set the alarm
  • ​Create an alarm during the night to wake you up and use the bathroom to prevent bedwetting.
• Use incontinence products
  • Until you are trained or cured of nighttime incontinence issues, you can keep your skin and bed dry throughout the night with bladder control pads, adult diapers, and pull-ups to avoid an accident.
  • Find incontinence products that are extraabsorbent and specifically designed for overnight use.
  • You can also use bed pads to protect your linens and mattress from moisture and keep them dry all night for uninterrupted sleep.
• Try a bedwetting alarm
  • Bedwetting alarms are among the most effective and safest options. This device trains users to respond to a full bladder.
  • Special sensors placed on the bed or underwear trigger a buzzer to wake you up when it detects moisture.
  • This process gradually conditions the brain to respond when the bladder is full and eventually helps overcome bedwetting.
• Strengthen bladder muscles
  • ​Pelvic floor exercises like Kegels can help strengthen bladder muscles in order to gain control.

2. Medications

While no specific medications will completely cure nocturnal enuresis, a few options are available that might provide relief when used in conjunction with lifestyle changes.

Typically, the following types of medications are used to treat adult bed-wetting, depending on the cause:

• Antibiotics treat UTIs.
• Anticholinergic drugs help relax overactive bladder muscles.
• Desmopressin acetate boosts levels of ADH, which reduces urine production.
• 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, such as Proscar, shrink an enlarged prostate.

3. Surgery 

If non-invasive methods fail to treat bedwetting, your doctor might consider surgical intervention. Options include:

• Sacral nerve stimulation: This procedure is done to control an overactive bladder. A small device is surgically placed and sends signals to the bladder muscles to stop unnecessary contractions.
• Clam cystoplasty (bladder augmentation): Intestinal muscle is surgically added to the bladder to reduce instability and increase capacity.
• Detrusor myectomy: Muscles surrounding the bladder are removed, which helps decrease contractions.

Our top Bedwetting Supplies

Bedwetting can be embarrassing, but you don’t have to suffer in silence. Reach out to your doctor to find out what is causing the problem. Knowing the reason will help you and your medical provider plan the right treatment.

HPFY has a complete line of incontinence products, including adult briefs, incontinence pads, underpads, bedwetting alarms, Kegel exercisers, and much more to help you deal with nocturnal enuresis. Visit HPFY for further info!

 

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