Is your ‘peehavior’ ramping up? You may have an overactive bladder

(BPT) - If you’re over the age of 40 and heading to the bathroom with increasing urgency and frequency or trying to avoid leakage, you could be experiencing symptoms of overactive bladder or “OAB”.^[1],2 Urgency (feeling like you can’t make it to the toilet in time), frequency (having to pee more than usual during the day) and leakage are all symptoms of OAB”.^[2] If any of these symptoms seem familiar to you, talk to your medical provider who can conduct a thorough assessment of your bladder health.²

Nearly 30 million Americans 40 years of age and older experience OAB symptoms.¹ OAB can impact both men and women, but it’s more common in women.¹

“I hit this point in my life when I was nearing 50 where I started feeling like I was constantly using the restroom,” said Lynne, a patient with OAB who lives in Southern California. “But I finally brought it up with my doctor at my annual exam since I was feeling so frustrated.”

Here are some facts to understand about OAB.

• With OAB, you may have increased urgency and frequency with or without some leakage.¹ Those dealing with the condition often adjust their routines and stay at home due to their symptoms.^[3]
• The symptoms of OAB may be reduced by changing your diet to eliminate known dietary triggers.^[4] That cup of coffee in the morning could be a culprit.⁴ Other triggers might include spicy food and citrus.⁴
• A health care provider can share information on options available to help manage frequency, urgency and leakage.²

One difficult aspect of addressing bladder issues can be bringing it up in the first place.³ Changes in bladder control can often be accompanied by shame or embarrassment for many, causing those who suffer to put off treatment or keep it a secret.³

In Lynne’s case, she was eventually diagnosed with overactive bladder and started a treatment plan. “My doctor prescribed a treatment called Myrbetriq, which has helped me manage my OAB symptoms,” Lynne said. Myrbetriq, also known as mirabegron, was FDA approved in 2012 and is indicated for the treatment of OAB with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and urinary frequency. It helps the bladder store urine.^[5]

“I’m a beach lover and enjoy travel,” continued Lynne. “Feeling tethered to the bathroom makes it difficult to leave the house or go on long trips which was a non-starter for me. I decided enough was enough. Emotionally, I felt a sense of relief once I had that conversation with my doctor. From that point forward I felt empowered rather than ashamed.”

To get thinking about your ‘peehavior’, visit myrbetriq.com for more information and to access a tool that can help facilitate a discussion with your doctor.

A qualified health care professional can evaluate any changes to your symptoms and recommend the appropriate course of treatment to best meet your needs.

Use of Myrbetriq

Myrbetriq^® (mirabegron) is a prescription medicine for adults used to treat overactive bladder (OAB) with symptoms of urgency, frequency and leakage.

Important Safety Information

Myrbetriq is not for everyone. Do not take Myrbetriq if you have an allergy to mirabegron or any ingredients in Myrbetriq. Myrbetriq may cause your blood pressure to increase or make your blood pressure worse if you have a history of high blood pressure. It is recommended that your doctor check your blood pressure while you are taking Myrbetriq. Myrbetriq may increase your chances of not being able to empty your bladder. Tell your doctor right away if you have trouble emptying your bladder or you have a weak urine stream.

Myrbetriq may cause allergic reactions that may be serious. If you experience swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue, with or without difficulty breathing, stop taking Myrbetriq and tell your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including medications for overactive bladder or other medicines such as thioridazine (Mellaril™ and Mellaril-S™), flecainide (Tambocor^®), propafenone (Rythmol^®), digoxin (Lanoxin^®) or solifenacin succinate (VESIcare^®). Myrbetriq may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how Myrbetriq works.

Before taking Myrbetriq, tell your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems. The most common side effects of Myrbetriq include increased blood pressure, common cold symptoms (nasopharyngitis), dry mouth, flu symptoms, urinary tract infection, back pain, dizziness, joint pain, headache, constipation, sinus irritation, and inflammation of the bladder (cystitis).

For further information, please talk to your healthcare professional and see accompanying Patient Product Information and complete Prescribing Information for Myrbetriq^® (mirabegron).

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Visit www.myrbetriq.com for more information about the condition and to learn about a possible treatment option.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk with your doctor before starting any diet or exercise program. This article is sponsored by Astellas.

Myrbetriq^® is a registered trademark of Astellas Pharma Inc. All other trademarks or registered trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

© 2020 Astellas Pharma US, Inc. All rights reserved.