Bed wetting medication should be one of the last resorts to use in the treatment of bed wetting. This is because research indicates that it has little long term benefit and there are risks of side effects.   It does nothing to change the pattern of sleeping heavily and failure to wake, which is one of the essential causes of bedwetting and which needs to be addressed in the treatment. 

However, there are circumstances where some form of medication is the only solution. This is when the urination is caused by something other than PNE (Primary Nocturnal Enuresis). Liver, kidney and bladder malfunctions can all cause bed wetting, and treatments prescribed by your doctor may be necessary.  Because the bed wetting in these situations is just a symptom of a more serious underlying disorder, then the medication will be prescribed to treat the underlying disorder. 

With some teenagers, adding in bed wetting reducing medication such as a desmospressin based one can be useful, but only if there is no success with using the bedwetting alarm.  In this situation the medication may be added to the treatment for a few weeks while the alarm is still being used, then discontinued and the treatment continued with alarm alone.  

Bed Wetting Medication and What Else?

Even if you are intending to use  bed wetting medication, a change in dietary habits may lower the risk of wetting the bed. This includes removing caffeine, and possibly artificial colorings. The jury is still out with regard to whether bedwetters may be suffering a food allergy, but in general, unprocessed, natural foods are best. 

Bed wetting medication, as with all medication, may not be straight forward. 

Unfortunately, medications whose only effect is to reduce bed wetting by reducing the production of urine at night,  only serve to mask the issue and are not a cure for bed wetting.  As soon as one stops taking them, mostly the problem will be back.  This is why consulting with a physician who has an in depth understnading of bed wetting is important. They can work towards the long term cure while they give you medications that can make a difference.

Use Bed Wetting Medication Along With These!

If you suffer from bed wetting and are on medication, you may consider using bed wetting alarms to wake you up in case of an accident.

Using plastic sheets or bed wetting diapers can also increase your comfort while decreasing the amount of work that you have to do as a result of the urination in bed. If you travel, you should always take diapers with you and use them to prevent yourself from embarrassment.

For mature adults however, there is one type of bed wetting medication (called Flotrol) that can strengthen the muscles of their bladder, allowing them to overcome this irritating tendency.