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The popular Botox wrinkle treatment made by Allergan Inc has been approved to treat adults with overactive bladder who cannot tolerate or failed to be helped by other drugs for the condition, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Friday.
Botox injected into the bladder muscle causes the bladder to relax, increasing its storage capacity and reducing episodes of urinary incontinence, or leakage.
"Clinical studies have demonstrated Botox's ability to significantly reduce the frequency of urinary incontinence," Hylton Joffe, director of the FDA's Division of Reproductive and Urologic Products, said in a statement. "Today's approval provides an important additional treatment option for patients with overactive bladder, a condition that affects an estimated 33 million men and women in the United States."
Botox had previously been approved for other non-cosmetic uses, such as migraine headaches, severe underarm sweating and loss of bladder control due to nerve damage.
Allergan, which has yet to report full year financial results, said it expects 2012 Botox sales of $1.76 billion to $1.8 billion. Analysts have said that approval for overactive bladder could add more than $200 million a year to Botox sales.
The treatment can be repeated when the effect wears off, but with a gap of at least 12 weeks between treatments, the FDA said.
Bladder Infection (Cystitis)About 3.2 million Americans suffering from overactive bladder take oral medications from a class of drugs called anticholinergics, such as Pfizer Inc's Detrol. The Botox approval is for those who are not helped by, or cannot take, those drugs, the FDA said.
Overactive bladder is a condition in which the bladder squeezes too often or squeezes without warning. Symptoms include leaking urine, feeling a sudden and urgent need to urinate, and frequent urination.
Common side effects for Botox injected into the bladder reported during clinical trials included urinary tract infections, painful urination, and incomplete emptying of the bladder, or urinary retention.
People being treated for overactive bladder with Botox should not have a urinary tract infection and should take antibiotics before, during, and for a few days after Botox treatment to lower the chance of developing an infection from the procedure, the FDA said.
Bladder Infection SymptomsBladder Infections are a lot more common in women than in men with around 20% of all women getting a bladder infection at least one time during their life. Cystitis and inflammation of the bladder are the names for bladder infections and the likelihood of men getting cystitis increases with age.

If treated quickly bladder infections are not serious. Some people suffer from recurring bladder infections, which after time can lead to kidney infections. People who find that bladder infectionskeep on coming back may want to get tested for any underlying problems that could be causing the infections. In older people bladder infections are harder to diagnose as it is often simply put down to old age. 

The E.Coli bacteria found in the gut cause most bladder infections and women sometimes get it after sexual intercourse. Regular use of the diaphragm can also lead to bladder infections and pregnant women whose bladder is compressed by the foetus are also susceptible.  Bladder infections in men are more of a cause for concern as they usually signify a greater underlying problem such as a blockage in the urinary tract. 

There are many bladder infection symptoms, which can vary from person to person as can the severity of the bladder infection symptoms. The most common symptoms are a burning sensation during urination, a more frequent urge to urinate and strong smelling urine. Bladder infection symptoms occurring in the elderly include lethargy and confusion, which could be a sign of a urinary tract infection. 


There are certain more serious bladder infection symptoms and if they occur you should make an appointment with the doctor.
  • If you are using home treatments but the burning sensation during urination continues for longer than 24 hours.
  • If as well as painful urination you are also experiencing vomiting, fever, blood in the urine or back pain. These are very serious symptoms and could indicate life-threatening diseases such as kidney disease, a bladder or kidney tumour or a urinary tract stone.
  • If the burning sensation during urination is along side discharge from the penis or vagina this could indicate an STD or other serious infection.
  • If you experience any long term pain or difficulty urinating this could also be a symptom or sign of an STD, kidney stone or bladder or prostate tumour.


A urine test can confirm whether or not you have a bladder infection and your doctor may also wish to test that everything is ok with your kidneys. Once your bladder infection symptoms have been properly diagnosed and any underlying problems have been eliminated, treatment can be started. A mild infection will clear up by itself after a couple of days by drinking plenty of water in order to flush out all of the bacteria from the bladder. If your bladder infection symptoms have not started to ease up after 24 hours, see the doctor so you can be provided with treatment such as antibiotics. Don’t delay in seeking medical attention as this can lead to more serious problems.