Which medication is commonly used to treat urge incontinence?

Oxybutynin is a medication that belongs to a class of drugs known as anticholinergics. It is frequently employed in the management of urge incontinence, a condition characterized by an involuntary loss of urine that occurs in association with a strong, sudden urge to void. Oxybutynin works by relaxing the bladder muscle and decreasing the frequency of bladder contractions, allowing for improved control over urination and a reduction in the urgency associated with this condition.

In contrast, other options, such as tamsulosin, are primarily used for different indications. Tamsulosin is an alpha-1 blocker utilized primarily in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to improve urine flow, rather than treating urge incontinence. Bethanechol is a cholinergic agent that stimulates bladder contraction and is more suitable for treating urinary retention rather than urge incontinence. Midodrine is an alpha-1 agonist that is used to treat orthostatic hypotension, influencing blood pressure rather than bladder function.

Thus, the efficacy of oxybutynin in decreasing bladder overactivity makes it the preferred choice for treating urge incontinence.