Adult bed wetting is usually considered to be a medical condition and, like most medical conditions, can be treated with a variety of different drugs with varying degrees of success.  The drugs and medicines included in this article are mostly used to alleviate the symptoms of a physical condition, not cure the condition itself. Adult and teen bedwetters can sometimes turn to drugs for relief, but usually only if there is an underlying physical condition.

There are also plenty of
homeopathic and herbal medicines designed to help bed wetting in addition to the more traditional FDA approved drugs and treatments. Homeopathic drugs should never be taken at the same time that you are using prescription drugs because of the risk of interaction between the two.

Your qualified doctor or medical professional should be able to best choose the prevention and treatment methods that will work best for you.  Here are some of the more common medical drugs that can be used in the treatment of adult bed wetting cases.

DDAVP (Desmopressin Acetate) – This is a synthetic version of the ADH diuretic hormone which actually decreases the amount of urine the body produces at night. It comes in a pill or nasal spray form, though the pill form seems to have less side effects than the nasal spray, which can cause irritation, nasal congestion and nose bleeds. The adult or teen who takes DDAVP is still advised to limit liquid intake before bed time because drinking large amounts of water can be dangerous while using DDAVP. The drug does not actually cure any underlying condition. It only treats the symptoms associated with nocturnal enuresis, so it can be taken at night on a regular basis or only when needed.

Tofranil (Imipramine) – This is an antidepressant drug which has been used to help children who wet the bed for years. It is not entirely understood how it works, though some speculate it affects sleep cycles or muscle relaxation in the body. Tofranil is often used in young adults, though in rare cases it can cause personality changes, so a patient taking Tofranil should be watched carefully. Tofranil must be used with care because it is dangerous, and even deadly, if not taken properly.

Ditropan (Oxybutynin) or Levsinex/Levsin (Hyoscyamine) or Detrol (Tolterodine) – These are all anticholinergic drugs which help bed wetters by reducing bladder contractions and spasms and allowing the bladder have a greater capacity for holding liquid. Side effects are minimal, with dry mouth and facial flushing being the most common. Some of these have not been approved for use in younger children.

A single drug may not offer a complete solution for a younger or older adult who wets the bed. Often these drugs can be used in conjunction with one another to give bedwetting relief to a grateful adult who is at his or her wits end. Again, these drugs do not work for everyone and cannot be considered a full cure for adult bed wetting. Rather, they are designed to treat temporary or occasional symptoms and can be used in conjunction with other bed wetting preventive measures such as behavioral modification and trying one of the various kinds of bedwetting alarms.