Botox works by stopping the bladder wall muscle contracting (squeezing) too much. This reduces urinary frequency and urgency and reduces urinary incontinence. Most women notice improvements three to four days after having Botox treatment, but for some women, this may take up to three weeks.

Who shouldn't get Botox injections? While it's a safe procedure, bladder injections of this sort aren't for everyone. Your doctor may recommend against Botox if: You have a symptomatic urinary tract infection (UTI).

Botox injections may take 7-14 days to take effect. You will be reviewed in clinic two weeks after your procedure by the Urogynaecology Nurse Specialist. The nurse will scan your bladder to check for urinary retention.

Botox injection into the bladder is a well-established treatment for overactive bladder and urgency incontinence, including urgency incontinence associated with neurological disease. It is usually used when behavioral and exercise therapies and medications have not been effective in treating symptoms.

Bladder Botox: Side effects

• Urinary tract infection.
• Pain while urinating.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Inability to empty your bladder.

The success rate of Botox® bladder injections ranges from 60 to 90 percent for urgency urinary incontinence (UUI) and the symptoms that go along with it, like urinary frequency and urinary urgency. About Botox Botox is a drug made from a toxin produced by bacteria, which is called botulinum toxin.

Bladder Botox: Side effects

• Urinary tract infection.
• Pain while urinating.
• Difficulty urinating.
• Inability to empty your bladder.

Possible side effects and unwanted results include: Pain, swelling or bruising at the injection site. Headache or flu-like symptoms. Droopy eyelids or crooked eyebrows.

Frankly speaking, I usually advise against it. The rationale behind this is that Botox, a form of botulinum toxin, is a neurotoxin generated by specific bacteria. If you have kidney disease, your kidney function may not be optimal, potentially making you more susceptible to the toxin's effects.

If bladder Botox or conservative treatments do not work, your urologist will suggest other ways to relieve overactive bladder. Other treatments we offer include neuromodulation therapy which uses mild electrical pulses to reduce bladder symptoms. See your urologist for more details.

Botox is a common procedure that's rarely accompanied by serious side effects. However, you should call your healthcare provider immediately if you experience: Vision problems, including blurred vision or drooping eyelids. Signs of urinary tract infection, such as blood in your urine (hematuria).

Most people tolerate this medication well, but side effects are still possible. Pain and bruising at the injection site, droopy eyelids and eyebrows, and headaches are the most common. But more serious side effects, like difficulty breathing and swallowing, can also happen.