Are bladder spasms and painful urination driving you crazy? Here is everything you need to know about Flavoxate!

Have you ever gone to the bathroom and felt a sharp pain, heavy pressure, or a sudden, burning block? Or maybe you feel a strong need to pee all the time, even right after you just went. One common reason for this is that the muscles in your urinary bladder and water pipe are squeezing too fast and too hard. It feels a lot like when your leg gets a sudden, painful muscle cramp.

This annoying problem can make your daily life very difficult and keep you running to the restroom. To help calm down these uncomfortable muscle spasms, doctors often prescribe a special medicine called Flavoxate. Today, we are going to talk about everything you need to know about this medicine in a very simple and clear way.

What Kind of Medicine Is Flavoxate?

Simply put, Flavoxate is a medicine that helps relax the smooth muscles in your urinary system. When these muscles stay tightly squeezed in painful spasms, you get those uncomfortable symptoms like pain, pressure, and the constant urge to pee.

Imagine your urinary bladder is like a small balloon. The walls of the balloon are made of muscles. When these muscles squeeze too hard for no good reason, the pressure inside the balloon goes way up. Flavoxate works by relaxing those tight muscles so your pain and discomfort go away. You might also see this medicine sold under the popular brand name Urispas.

Things You Must Tell Your Doctor Before Taking This Medicine

This part is very important. Before your doctor prescribes Flavoxate, you must give them a complete and honest picture of your health. Some medical conditions do not mix well with this medicine at all.

If you have any of the following health conditions, you must let your doctor know right away:

How Should You Use Flavoxate Pills?

Taking this medicine is quite simple. However, following your doctor's exact instructions is absolutely necessary for a safe recovery.

• Swallow the tablet whole with a nice, large glass of water.
• Take only the exact dose and times your doctor gave you. Never skip doses on purpose, and never take extra pills.
• Doctors sometimes prescribe this medicine for children over 12 years old, but you must talk to your doctor first.

What Should You Do If You Miss a Dose?

If you forget to take your medicine on time, take it as soon as you remember. But if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose, skip the missed pill completely. Just take your next dose at the normal time. Never take two doses at the exact same time to make up for a missed one.

What Happens If You Take Too Much?

If you think you have taken more medicine than your doctor prescribed, get help right away. Go right away to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ER), or call emergency services like 911 (US/Canada) or 999 (UK).

Things to Watch Out For While Taking This Medicine

While you take Flavoxate, pay close attention to how your body reacts and changes throughout the day.

• Sleepiness and dizziness: This medicine can make you feel sleepy and dizzy. Until you know how your body reacts, do not drive cars, operate heavy machines, or do tasks that need sharp focus.
• Changing your posture: When you stand up from a chair or get out of bed, do it very slowly. Older adults especially need to move slowly to avoid fainting or falling down from dizziness.
• Alcohol: Stay away from alcoholic drinks while taking this medicine. Alcohol will make your sleepiness and dizziness much worse.
• Dry mouth: Your mouth might feel quite dry while taking these pills. Chewing sugar-free gum, sucking on sugar-free hard candies, or drinking plenty of water all day will help. Talk to your doctor if this bothers you a lot.

What Side Effects Can Flavoxate Cause?

Like almost any medicine, Flavoxate can cause some side effects. However, remember that these do not happen to everyone. The table below outlines what you need to know.

How Should You Store Your Medicine?

Keeping your medicine safe and in good condition is very important.

• Store the pills in a safe place where young children cannot reach them.
• Keep them at normal room temperature, between 15 and 30 degrees Celsius. Protect them from direct heat and damp moisture.
• Never take or keep expired medicine. Throw old pills away safely.

Take-Home Message

Flavoxate is a helpful medicine that relaxes urinary tract muscles to lower pain and stop uncomfortable spasms. Before you start taking it, always share your complete medical history and list of current medicines with your doctor. Take your pills exactly how your doctor tells you, and never share them with anyone else. Watch out for sleepiness and dizziness, and keep yourself safe by avoiding risky activities until you know how the pills affect you. If you ever notice severe allergic signs, vision problems, or strange heart beats, contact a medical professional right away. Whenever you have questions about your health or treatment, your best and safest source of advice is always your personal doctor.