FDA Approves The First Drug To Help Stop Nightly Bathroom Visits

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has just approved the first drug intended on reducing nighttime trips to the restroom. The FDA has said this nasal spray version is the first approved treatment for frequent nighttime urination.

Waking up to go to the bathroom during the night is something many of us do. In fact, there’s a word for it and it’s called Nocturia. It is defined as the need to wake and pass urine at night.

The newly approved treatment is a nasal spray intended for adults who wake up at least twice a night to urinate.

According to the Food and Drug Administration, the spray, called Noctiva, is not approved to treat all causes of frequent nighttime urination, so doctors must determine the cause and best treatment for each person.

Noctiva was developed by partners Serenity Pharmaceuticals LLC of Milford, Pennsylvania, and Allergan PLC.

Noctiva is approved specifically for a common condition that is caused by such things as chronic heart failure, poorly controlled diabetes and bladder and prostate problems, as well as some medications. The patient must also undergo testing to confirm they produce excess urine at night.

Those who use the spray would use it daily and about 30 minutes before their bedtime. It works by allowing the kidneys to absorb more water which reduces the amount of urine.

Unfortunately there are some side effect and the spray even has the FDA’s strongest warning. The drug can cause very dangerous levels of sodium in the blood, as well as increase blood pressure. Other side effects include colds, bronchitis, dizziness, back pain, and nose bleeds.

In a test of 1,000 people aged 50 and older with the condition nocturnal polyuria, half of those who used Noctiva had more nights with one or even no trips to the bathroom. This is in comparison to the group that received a dummy nasal spray.