abilify and depakote causing stress incontinence?
 

I'm really worried! I'm on 400mg of Abilify depot injection a month and 500mg of Depakote daily for Schizoaffective Disorder. I'm a 30 year old male, overweight and have increasingly been suffering from I think stress incontinence and its getting worse, I leak involuntary when walking or getting up of the settee and stain my trousers, its especially embarrassing. It started from dribbling when I had a wee in the toilet to leakage most times I move. This has started just after taking the Depakote. I never had this problem before.

I've been through several packets of Tena pants.

I'm really reluctant to tell my CPN because these two meds have really stabilised my mood and I haven't had a hospital admission in over 8 months which is the longest for a long time.

I'm worried that if I don't do something about it'll get worse. Do you think that could happen? Thanks

I don't know if it would vet worse, but it sounds really stressful and difficult as it is. I'd definitely recommend telling your CPN or psychiatrist, there might be options like giving you something to counteract the side effect, if something like that exists, or a dose change.

I think you should mention it to your cpn they maybe able to do something to help.
even if you have to change one of your meds it doesn't mean it will definily destabilise you or put you in hospital. you might find other meds just as effective.

Depakote has been known to cause bed wetting at night so could be contributing the incontience you're suffering. It's usually dose related so you may find even a small reduction in your dose could help without having to come off it. Being overweight also doesn't help because the additional pressure placed on your bladder means the muscles outside your bladder have to work harder to keep the urine in (I only mention this because you did, hope that doesn't cause offence).

Reducing caffeine and alcohol intake can help too as they are diuretics and make you want to go more frequently. You should definitely talk to your doctor or nurse about this because there's lots that can be done to help such as looking at your dose and there are also drugs that can be prescribed to tighten the muscles at the opening of your bladder but they would most likely try all other options first before considering these. I understand how upsetting this is and also your reluctance to change your meds when they're working so well but there are options other than just coming off the depakote completely.

I had bed wetting side effects when I was on a high dose of peroxatine and it was so embarrassing but I put up with it for well over a yr cause I hadn't made the link and was to embarrassed to talk about it. Like you, my mood was stable so I was reluctant to change. Although as soon as I changed/ lowered the dose the bed wetting stopped.

I think it is worth talking to you psych/cpn as there will be alternatives. Like reducing doses or adding something in. Especially if you are finding the side effect difficult.

See your GP about this also in case it's not the meds causing it but physical things that can be looked into/treated.

I went to see a urologist and all tests come back clear, he said I have something called post-micturition dribble and he sent me on my way to do kegel exercises.

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