What Is Paruresis?
6. What Medications Are Typically Prescribed?
As a psychological condition, doctors tend to be slightly reserved when prescribing medications because they aren’t always effective. The medicines prescribed are likely used to treat the underlying anxiety disorder or the bladder. Four categories of drugs are typically used in the treatment of paruresis: antidepressants, benzodiazepines, alpha-adrenergic blockers and bethanechol.
Antidepressants are used to help improve mood and reduce uneasy feelings, and typically include drugs such as Prozac, Paxil and Zoloft. Benzodiazepines are short-term medications to reduce anxiety. They aren’t often prescribed long term because they can be addictive. This category is represented by drugs such as Xanax and Valium. Alpha-adrenergic blockers are designed to help the muscles of the bladder relax. A common drug in this category is Flomax. Lastly, bethanechol is more of a singular medicine, and it is used to reduce urinary retention.
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