Imipramine for incontinence

I saw my uro for a checkup 5 months after open RRP, and told him I was still having trouble with incontinence. He prescribed imipramine and it seems to have really helped.

Turns out imipramine is a pretty powerful antidepressant, but it has a little-known side effect: it causes sphincter muscles to tighten. Not a bad thing if you've got post-RRP incontinence.

I've been on it for 30 days and have seen my pad usage drop from 5-6 per day to 2-3 per day. Yesterday was the first day I got through an entire work day with a single pad. When I started with the imipramine, I noticed that my pelvic floor muscle was unusually tired by the end of the day, and I had trouble getting through my usual bedtime Kegel exercises. That seems like good evidence that it's stimulating my urinary sphincter.

No brain side effects, thankfully - no suicidal thoughts etc. I've been told that if your brain chemistry is normal, then the antidepressant effects are slim to none.

Anyone else had any experience with this drug?

I HAVE BEEN TAKING IMPRAMINE FOR about 2 MONTHS. IT HAS REALLY HELPED. I AM 2 YEARS 3 MONTHS POST SURGERY. I USED 2 PUT 2 PADS ON IN MORNING AND WITH AN ACTIVE LIFESTYLE THEY WOULD BE HALF FULL BY END OF WORK DAY FOLLOWED BY A GYM WORKOUT. NOW I ONLY USE 1 FOR A FULL DAY AND IT IS JUST PAST DAMP. HUGE IMPROVEMENT. I AM NOW NOT CONSIDERING SLING BECAUSE I THINK I COULD LIVE AT THIS LEVEL. I  DID HAVE SOME REACTIONS  INITIALLY BUT NOT ANYMORE. I AM TAKING 2 BEFORE BED AND NOW I AM ADDING A THRID AT MID DAY. I HOPE THIS WILL GIVE ME JUST ALITTLE MORE IMPROVEMENT. IT ALSO SEEMS TO HELP IN THE SLEEPING DEPARTMENT. HOPE YOU HAVE SAME SUCCESS.

at around 18 months and still no improvement from 2 pads per day I figured thats the best I'll get. Went to uro to discuss options and he suggested medication before any major moves. I was hesitant but gave it a try. Results have been very good. One damp pad per 24 hours. Will go to a lower volume pad when this supply runs out. I use a prevail moderate now. In general your condtion at the 1 year point is where you going to be with some exceptions.

Did not know about the cap letter rule, thanks for tip.

I do get the dry mouth somewhat, but no other side effects. I was restless when I first started taking it so I backed off on the dosage. I now take 1 mid-day and 2 at bedtime. Results hgave been good. Hope you get back on track. I was hesitant to start a medication program for the very reasons you state but so far its been worth it.