Incontinence & Overactive Bladder Health Center

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Urinary Incontinence Diet & Medication: How they Affect Incontinence Symptoms

What you eat and drink, as well as the medications you take, may all have an effect on incontinence symptoms. Use these two charts to learn more about the potential effects of food, drink, and medication on incontinence.

How Food and Drink Can Make Incontinence Symptoms Worse

Food or Drink	Effect on Incontinence	What to Do
Too much water or other fluid	Overfills the bladder.	Drink no more than 2 liters (about 2 quarts) of fluid a day. Drink most fluids during the daytime and limit fluids in the evening.
Too little fluid	Irritates the bladder. Promotes infection.	Drink at least 1 liter (about 1 quart) of fluid every day.
Alcoholic beverages	Cause dehydration by increasing the amount of urine. Interfere with brain’s signals to the bladder about when to release urine.	Cut down on or eliminate alcohol.
Caffeine-containing drinks and foods (such as coffee, tea, colas, or chocolate)	Stimulate the bladder. Act as diuretics, producing more urine.	Reduce or eliminate caffeine from your diet.
Acidic foods and drinks (such as citrus fruits, coffee, tea, and tomatoes)	Irritate the bladder.	Cut down or avoid these items.
Carbonated drinks	Irritate sensitive bladders.	Use sparingly or not at all.
Spicy foods	Irritate the bladder.	Avoid these foods.
Sugar, honey, and artificial sweeteners	Irritate the bladder.	Limit your use of these foods, if possible.

How Medications May Make Incontinence Symptoms Worse

Medicine	Effect on Incontinence	What to Do
Blood pressure-lowering medications (diuretic “water pills", calcium channel blockers, and more)	Some increase urine output. Some relax the bladder, allowing urine to escape.	Let your doctor know that your medication may be making incontinence worse. Ask your doctor if you can adjust the dose or switch to another medication to lower your blood pressure. If you cannot switch or adjust medications, ask your doctor about ways to limit the incontinence symptoms.
Anti-depressants (sedatives and tranquilizers)	Some hinder ability of the bladder to contract. Some decrease your awareness of the need to urinate. (Note that some may improve incontinence symptoms.)	Ask your doctor about switching to another medication or to another type of therapy to treat your depression.
Muscle relaxants	Relax bladder muscles.	Use only if necessary. Ask your doctor about steps to limit incontinence side effects.
Sleeping pills	Reduce your awareness that the bladder is full.	Explore alternatives to sleeping pills, such as exercising regularly to sleep better, or launching a bedtime ritual.

If you suspect that any of your medications are making incontinence worse, DO NOT stop taking the medication on your own. Rather, tell your doctor about your concerns. Your doctor may be able to switch or adjust your medication to relieve these symptoms. In some cases, however, the benefit of the medication may be worth the increase in your incontinence symptoms. If so, work with your doctor to find other ways to ease those symptoms.

WebMD Medical Reference

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