Betmiga (mirabegron) helps alleviate symptoms of urgent urination, frequent urination, and incontinence in patients with an overactive bladder. The medication works by relaxing the detrusor muscle on the bladder wall, reducing the sudden urgency of urination and allowing the bladder to hold a greater quantity of urine.

Patients should be aware that while Betmiga can be quite effective, it will not cure an overactive bladder. When treatment ends symptoms will most likely return, unless the underlying issue has been addressed.

Betmiga is suitable for patients age 18 and up. It should not be administered to younger patients without explicit doctor approval.

How It Works

It is spasms of the bladder that cause many of the symptoms associated with overactive bladder; even a small amount of urine will need to be passed urgently when the bladder contracts. Betmiga will help alleviate these symptoms, including:

• Urgent urination
• Frequent urination
• Incontinence
• Nocturnal incontinence

Note that the above can all have causes unrelated to a contracting detrusor muscle, and Betmiga will not produce significant results in these other cases. For best results patients should be seen and diagnosed by a doctor before attempting treatment.

In minimizing or eliminating overactive bladder symptoms, patients enjoy a considerable improvement in quality of life; able to sleep better without getting up to urinate, enjoy social activities without fear of embarrassment, and do routine daily tasks with minimal interruption.

Results will vary from individual to individual; some patients find symptoms disappear completely, others find symptoms are significantly improved, while still others find the medication does little to nothing at all. If symptoms are not significantly alleviated it's worth speaking with a doctor about alternative options. There are many other medications out there that can help with overactive bladder, such as Vesicare, which may produce better results for a given individual.

Taking Betmiga

Betmiga comes in tablets of either 25 mg or 50 mg strengths. Tablets should be swallowed whole and not split, crushed, or otherwise damaged. Food is optional with each dose, and may alleviate gastrointestinal side effects if experienced.

Treatment is typically:

• Start with 25 mg taken once per day for 8 weeks.
• If results are present but not satisfactory after 8 weeks of treatment, increase to 50 mg once per day.
• Do not exceed 50 mg per day without doctor approval.

It takes about 8 weeks of treatment for full benefit to be seen; assuming no serious side effects develop, patients are encouraged to stick with it for at least that long before passing judgement.

Effects are best if doses are taken at the same time each day, to keep consistent levels of the drug in the body. Missed doses can be taken if within a few hours of the regular time, otherwise the dose should be skipped completely. The occasional missed dose is not a big deal, and too much of this medication can produce very serious side effects.

Treating the Underlying Condition

There are many causes of overactive bladder, and as many solutions to improve or resolve the issue. More common causes include:

• Childbirth
• Being overweight
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Medications
• Neurological disorders
• Bladder stones

There are other causes as well, and sometimes the cause is unknown. Treating the conditions depends largely on the assumed causes, and will typically consist of one or more of the following.

• Correcting where possible (losing weight, quitting smoking, etc)
• Avoiding foods and fluids that promote urination (caffeine, citrus fruits, etc)
• Bladder retraining (urinating on a schedule)
• Pelvic floor exercises
• Surgery

Other, less common methods may also be utilized. There is an abundance of info about the above and other methods available online.

Sometimes no methods offer an effective solution, and many patients are reluctant to undergo surgery. Betmiga can be taken for as long as it provides benefit, provided no serious adverse effects develop, offering a long term solution for these individuals.

Adverse Reactions

Side effects from Betmiga are rare and usually mild, but they do occur and can become serious. Patients at higher risk of developing potentially serious side effects may be scheduled for regular checkups, so doctors can monitor for warning signs. The most common side effects include:

• Increased blood pressure
• Increased heart rate
• Cold or flu-like symptoms
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Urinary tract infection
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Abdominal discomfort

As increased blood pressure is a relatively common side effect, patients with a history of high blood pressure problems should use Betmiga with caution, and are strongly encouraged to attend regular checkups.

Other medical conditions also put patients at elevated risk of complications; discuss risks with a doctor before taking Myrbetriq if there is a history of:

• Liver or kidney disease
• Glaucoma
• Enlarged prostate
• Difficulty urinating

Betmiga is sometimes used with other overactive bladder treatments, which may produce greater results than either medication alone. However, it can also cause dangerous complications, such as inability to urinate; mixing these medications should not be attempted without doctor involvement.

This product is known to interact with other medications unrelated to overactive bladder treatment. Of particular concern are:

• Thioridazine
• Flecainide
• Digoxin
• Warfarin
• Propafenone

The effects of Betmiga on unborn or nursing babies is unknown; use should be avoided if pregnant or breastfeeding.