Table 4. Agents That Can Affect Bladder Function
Decrease bladder contractility
ACE inhibitors (also may cause chronic cough)
β-Adrenergic agonists
Alcohol
Anticholinergics
Antidepressants
Antihistamines
Antipsychotics
Calcium channel blockers
Narcotics/opiates
Sedatives/hypnotics
Increase detrusor irritability/
creatinine clearance
Caffeine
Diuretics
Increase urethral sphincter tone
α-Adrenergic agonists (cold medications, decongestants)
Amphetamines
Tricyclic antidepressants
Decrease urethral sphincter tone
α-Adrenergic blockers
Table 5. Screening Questions
>> Do you leak urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, exercise? How often?
(stress incontinence)
>> Is the leakage a small spurt (stress incontinence) or all the urine in your bladder (urge
incontinence)?
>> Do you leak urine with a strong urge on way to bathroom? How often?
(overactive bladder)
>> How frequently do you urinate during the day? Do you think that is too often?
(overactive bladder)
>> How often do you awaken to urinate after going to sleep?
(overactive bladder)
>> Do you ever leak urine during sex? If yes, with penetration (stress incontinence) or at
orgasm (overactive bladder)?
>> Do you wear pads to protect your clothes from urine leaking? What kinds of pads do you
wear? How often do you change wet pads?
(severity of urine loss)
>> Do you ever find urine on pads or clothes and were unaware of leakage?
(severity of urine loss)
>> Does your bladder hurt when it is full or while you are urinating?
(urinary tract infection, outlet obstruction, foreign body)
>> Do you feel that you empty your bladder completely?
(urinary tract infection, outlet obstruction, overactive bladder)
