OAB/Anxiety/Pumpkin extract

[Burrito18]

Hi there, been really struggling with intense anxiety because of symptoms of OAB for well over a year, and have had to have CBT/increase in antidepressants and an extra antidepressant/hypnotherapy as I'm so incredibly anxious about wetting myself. There are ups and downs but generally I get anxious leaving the house/being in the car for longer than 30 mins/being too far from a toilet.

Sometimes the anxiety is more manageable and I can enjoy being out but when the anxiety gets really high I get in a vicious cycle of increased symptoms (really strong urge to pee/pressure in bladder and vagina/feeling like I'm going to wet myself/occasional small leakage) then increased anxiety.

Currently coming off Fluoxetine (had been on max dose) as my doctor thinks Sertraline might be better at helping the anxiety but unsurprisingly this has meant the anxiety/depression/OAB symptoms have got much worse.

Seen on a few posts here that pumpkin seed oil/extract can be good for OAB, so have looked into it but very confused about what dose is best, whether oil or extract is better, if all oils/extracts are water soluble (seems that increases effectiveness?) Also seen one article/study that said it may be bad for OAB as it can increase urination/OAB symptoms.

Started on 25mg of Mirabegron per day a couple of weeks ago but no improvement yet.

Any advice would be so appreciated, thankyou.

[Loobielu]

Oooh it's so difficult coming off old meds and starting new ones. I'm not surprised you're feeling anxious and stressed. Even going on HRT was tough enough. I am finding yoga and meditation is helping me. I have IC so I know what it's like to have your bladder rule your life 😏. I haven't tried the pumpkin seed oil but anything is worth a try! Best of luck hugs x

[BlueJewel]

I also have OAB and I have tried the pumpkin seed oil because it sounded like it might be beneficial. However I don't believe for me it has made any difference to my symptoms, but it might be worth a try for you. I took 1 x 1000 mg pumpkin seed oil capsule per day. It did not make my symptoms worse. There is a lot of information on the internet about pumpkin seed oil for OAB so I suggest you keep reading the articles you find.

Have you been given medication such as oxybutynin or solifenacin. Oxybutynin made my OAB so much better but I had side effects such as dry mouth (which at night wasn't nice), and a little constipated. However recently I was switched to 5mg Solifenancin and my OAB is virtually non existant now. Most days I don't even think about it any longer which is amazing. I started the oxy around the end of march -may and switched early june to Solifenacin. it's really a bit hit and miss for people until they find what medication is right for them. I hope you find some relief in the near future.

[Thecakelover]

hi I have had the same problems for 18 months been on every overactive bladder medication & had numerous tests/scans/camera all find nothing I started 1x 1000mg pumpkin seed oil capsule 7 weeks ago I had no change until 4.5 weeks were I went from going every 1-2 hours in the night to once sometimes twice so a massive improvement… things aren’t completely ‘fixed’ but it does say to give it 12 weeks to see a difference … it’s worth trying as pumpkin seed has other benefits as well x

[Vasiliki99]

Margarine n salad n grapes red fruit n greens help me no way I can live with our toileting though n that's fact can b in so much pain