Is not having to pee ‘after hours’ possibly worth risking your life?
It’s supposed to be a dream come true for millions of seniors.
But it’s starting to look like a nightmare instead.
If you’re getting up five or six times a night to pee, you know it can leave you feeling miserable and worn out.
Now, Big Pharma is promising that a new nasal spray could make those evening potty trips a thing of the past.
But this isn’t some new medical breakthrough.
They’re trying to repackage an old and potentially very dangerous drug. One that’s already left a trail of terrifying seizures and even deaths in its wake.
It’s not often that a drug is killing people one day, and poised to make billions the next.
But welcome to the ridiculous and irresponsible world of desmopressin.
I’ve been warning you about the dangers of desmopressin, a drug used for blood clotting and a rare type of diabetes, for a couple years now – and, trust me, it hasn’t gotten any safer.
The drug was marketed years ago as a nasal spray to help children pee less at night. But the FDA told the manufacturer it could no longer be sold for that purpose after two deaths and dozens of seizures were reported.
That should have been the end of desmopressin nasal sprays right there.
But, unfortunately, it looks like the folks at Big Pharma and the FDA believe in reincarnation – because they seem to specialize in bringing potentially dangerous drugs back from the dead.
A company called Serenity Pharmaceuticals is now testing a new desmopressin nasal spray for “nocturia” – or frequent nighttime urination – in seniors. A new study even claimed that the drug produced “significant” improvements in the condition.
But if you ask me, the only thing that’s “significant” about this med are the risks.
You see, desmopressin works by reducing the amount of urine you make — an “antidiuretic.” And that can start a domino effect, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition called hyponatremia – which is too little sodium in the blood.
Desmopressin is even listed on the famous “Beer’s List” of drugs that seniors should stay a country mile away from – and even in this latest test, it caused the low-sodium side effect in patients.
While no version of desmopressin is currently approved to treat after bedtime trips to the bathroom for seniors, it may be very soon. Also, nothing is stopping your doctor from writing you an off-label Rx for it right now.
But it’s important to remember that there are ways to get frequent nighttime peeing under control without resorting to a risky med.
For example:
- For guys, the most obvious cause is an enlarged prostate that puts extra pressure on your bladder. Several natural remedies are considered to be very helpful, including horsetail, nettle root and saw palmetto.
- Are you having coffee, tea or water before bedtime? Limiting beverages several hours before you hit the sack can help stop nightly trips to the loo.
- Are you taking a blood pressure drug that’s making you go? The easy fix is to take diuretics in the morning, or talk to your doc about suitable alternatives.
Other research into this also suggests getting more exercise and taking a melatonin supplement can help you sleep through the night without needing to ‘get up and go.’
Sources:
“Can nasal spray slow nighttime bathroom trips?” HealthDay, May 9, 2016, newsmax.com
