ADHD and Incontinence

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Hello there, do any members have ADHD and do you feel that this is linked to your incontinence? I have ADHD and noticed that I am more likely to have an accident when hyperfocusing on something due to not registering that I need to go until it’s too late. (I have now taken to setting hourly alarms when doing activities that sustain my focus to remind me to check in with my body and see if I need to go. This definitely helps, although urges from over activity can strike at any time, so it’s a bit hit and miss.) The holding also seems to irritate my bladder which increases pelvic floor and bladder over activity, leading to further incontinence. I am interested to hear the thoughts of people with ADHD on this one! Thanks in advance.

 

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For me a big contributor is side effects of “self medicating” with energy drinks and such. Getting on adderall and reducing redbull helped a lot. Not perfect but better.

 

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@Rowan123 This is very interesting. Are you taking medication for ADHD? If so, does it seem to alleviate or exacerbate the incontinence?

 

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Hi, yes, I have inattentive ADHD. I was not diagnosed until fairly recently. I've been taking Concerta for about a month but have had the incontinence issues for almost a year. I don't know if the ADHD is linked to my incontinence but I would say probably not directly. I actually asked my urologist about that and he said he has never heard of there being a correlation. In any case, the medication is helping some of my ADHD symptoms but hasn't affected my incontinence at all - in fact, I would say it's even a bit worse but that could just be the progression of my incontinence. I do believe that holding was an issue in my past (I used to hold my pee for a long time) and that this contributed to the development of my incontinence...no proof of that though.

 

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@Newbie2this nice! Energy drinks are the worst for incontinence. I am glad you have found something that works for you.

 

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@JoelCairo I was diagnosed as an adult and have never taken medication, but will be talking to my psychiatrist about it when I next see him as my symptoms have been getting worse over the past couple of years, or maybe just more noticeable since I have started studying.

 

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@Jh2025 thanks for sharing. How disappointing that your incontinence has gotten worse since starting medication (I understand that we’re looking at correlation rather than causation). I developed a “hair dresser’s bladder” a few years ago as a result of holding and had to retrain to go more frequently. My issues are very different nowadays, but I too wonder whether that has contributed to my incontinence.

 

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@Rowan123 I am a psychiatric provider, and I prescribe medication for ADHD all the time. That's why I was so interested in your question. Don't hesitate to ask me questions after speaking with your psychiatrist if you still have questions/concerns about any of the medications used for ADHD.

 

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@JoelCairo cool, thanks for your generous offer. I am interested to see whether starting medication would have any impact on my incontinence. I’ll let you know how it goes.

 

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I was found after testing to have autism +dd and been incontinent for a long time always wondered is there a connection between my autism and my incontinence?

 

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Hello there, do any members have ADHD and do you feel that this is linked to your incontinence? I have ADHD and noticed that I am more likely to have an accident when hyperfocusing on something due to not registering that I need to go until it’s too late. (I have now taken to setting hourly alarms when doing activities that sustain my focus to remind me to check in with my body and see if I need to go. This definitely helps, although urges from over activity can strike at any time, so it’s a bit hit and miss.) The holding also seems to irritate my bladder which increases pelvic floor and bladder over activity, leading to further incontinence. I am interested to hear the thoughts of people with ADHD on this one! Thanks in advance.

I recently started thinking about me possibly having ADHD undiagnosed. I looked up quite some materials and I checked a lot of the boxes. I haven't been to a doctor about it yet, as I have a tendency to put off things as long as I possibly can (khmm... whatever), but I think I will eventually go for a testing.
Now, I have heard of ADHD medication can make already present incontinence symptoms worse, but I started wondering, that ADHD itself can contribute to the incontinence too. For example, for me, some days I am quite good, have enough warning time from my bladder to reach a toilet if not out and about (like 5-10 mins), but other days I only register my diaper getting warmer. I usually have this latter one during high-stress periods.
Also, urology and neurology couldn't find anything phisycally wrong with me that could be a reason for me wetting (and occasionally messing) myself uncontrollably, so I also start to think it has to be some mental thing, or focus thing, me not registering the signals from my body. I really don't know, I am just speculating.

@JoelCairo I would be really intrested in your insight as a psyhchiatric professional. I know you won't be able to diagnose me through a monitor, still, would be nice to read your imputs on my experiences.

 

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@Petya217 Hello. Your incontinence could be an extreme symptom of ADHD related to inattentiveness and hyperfocus. I have never had a patient tell me that incontinence was one of their ADHD symptoms, but that does not mean there is no connection. It simply could be that no patient of mine has connected the two conditions. If you believe you have ADHD, then I suggest a proper screening. If it is determined that you indeed have ADHD, then I would recommend starting medication to address the ADHD symptoms. Only then would you be able to know if your incontinence is related to your ADHD.

 

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@Rowan123 This is very interesting. Are you taking medication for ADHD? If so, does it seem to alleviate or exacerbate the incontinence?

Yes, ADHD meds do make my incontinence worst. It is worst then coffee.

 

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I am 61 years of age, and was diagnosed with ADHD just 4 years ago. I was sent for intensive neurological testing at Macquarie University in Sydney due to a lack of progress I was making in relation to other mental health problems (depression and anxiety). Paradoxically, my incontinence is a contributor to my mental health issues. Given ADHD is a lifelong condition, and my incontinence has worsened significantly in the last ten years, I doubt ADHD has been a significant contributor to my incontinence. That said, since my ADHD diagnosis I have been prescribed Dexamfetamine Sulphate (same as or very similar to Adderall). After commencing Dexamphetamine I believe (or perceived) my incontinence worsened , particularly at night. I raised this with my psychiatrist, doctor and continence nurse and they all perplexed and had not heard of incontinence being linked to the medication.
This got me thinking, because I knew I had been waking with my pad wetter and wet more often (went from being wet at night approximately 50% to 75% of the time). The more I thought about the more confused I became.
But I have my own theory, a bit bizarre, but it makes sense to me. You see that since commencing dexamphetamine, and paradoxically because dexamphetamine is a stimulant, my sleeping has actually improved. I think this is because dexamphetamine has a short life cycle in the body, it’s impacts start to wear off after three or four hours, but I was able to significantly improve my self-regulation of my thoughts so my mind doesn’t race as much whilst sleeping. And because of my sleeping improvements my mind isn’t as aware of when I am urinating as I was when my mind was as active in my sleep. I know my explanation may seem bizarre and not very logical, but given my mind is not neurotypical, it makes sense to me.