Can antihistamines cause difficulty urinating?

Urinary retention can also be caused by certain medications. Drugs like antihistamines (Benadryl®), antispasmodics (like Detrol®), opiates (like Vicodin®) and tricyclic antidepressants (like Elavil®) can change the way the bladder muscle works.

How do antihistamines affect the bladder?

Decongestants increase the resistance to urine flow through the prostate by causing the smooth muscle in the prostate to squeeze the urethra, and antihistamines weaken the bladder contractions. This lessens the bladder’s ability to expel the urine.

Are antihistamines bad for your prostate?

Men with an enlarged prostate should not take medications that contain antihistamines or decongestants. These agents are often found in over-the-counter cold, sinus, and allergy medications. To understand why, it helps to review some prostate anatomy. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that produces seminal fluid.

Can Claritin cause urinary problems?

A. The D in Claritin-D and many other allergy and cold medicines stands for a decongestant called pseudoephedrine. It is found in Actifed, Allegra-D, Mucinex D, Sudafed and Zyrtec-D. This compound can aggravate symptoms of prostate enlargement and make it difficult to urinate.

What to do when you need to pee but can t?

What if you really need to hold your pee?

1. Do a task that will actively engage your brain, such as a game or crossword puzzle.
2. Listen to music.
3. Stay sitting if you are already sitting.
4. Read a book.
5. Scroll through social media on your phone.
6. Keep warm, since being cold can give you the urge to urinate.

What antihistamine can I take with an enlarged prostate?

Second-generation antihistamines (e.g., Claritin, Zyrtec, Allegra OTC) do not carry a prostate warning and would perhaps be a better choice for patients with allergic rhinitis who have BPH.

Does Claritin affect urination?

Oral antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, Allegra and their generics) weaken the bladder contractions. This lessens the bladder’s ability to expel the urine.

Is antihistamine bad for enlarged prostate?

Avoid decongestants and antihistamines since they may increase BPH symptoms.

Do antihistamines enlarge the prostate?

Antihistamines and decongestants may add to the problem. These drugs can make it harder for the prostate and the bladder to relax, making it even more difficult for urine to flow.

What medications cause weak urine flow?

Medications that can cause urinary incontinence

Medication	Effect
Diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide (Esidrix, Hydrodiuril, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), bumetanide (Bumex), triamterene with hydrochlorothiazide (Maxzide)	Increase urine production by the kidney

Can antihistamines cause urinary problems?

Both types of antihistamines frequently are mixed with pain relievers or decongestants and can cause urinary difficulties. Decongestant nasal sprays for cold relief can cause increased urinary problems in men with BPH because they increase the resistance to urine flow through the prostate gland.

How do antihistamines affect the prostate?

Decongestants increase the resistance to urine flow through the prostate by causing the smooth muscle in the prostate to squeeze the urethra, and antihistamines weaken the bladder contractions. This lessens the bladder’s ability to expel the urine.

Do antithistamines cause urinary retention?

Antithistamines can cause urinary retention, which makes it difficult to empty the bladder. (Cleveland Clinic). Urinary retention means your bladder tends to hold urine, or there is what we call residual urine left in your bladder after voiding.

Can antihistamines worsen BPH symptoms?

These products could substantially worsen symptoms of BPH, make it harder to urinate and may trigger complete urinary retention. Decongestants increase the resistance to urine flow through the prostate by causing the smooth muscle in the prostate to squeeze the urethra, and antihistamines weaken the bladder contractions.