Overactive bladder
Bladder pills not enough? Questions to ask about next steps
By Advanced Urology · November 10, 2026
Bladder pills not doing enough?
In brief
Ask these questions.
- Have we ruled out other causes, like infection or not emptying?
- Should I try a different medicine?
- Would pelvic floor therapy help?
- Am I a candidate for Botox, Altaviva, or InterStim?
- What are the side effects and upkeep for each?
- How quickly might I notice a change?
Time to come in?
Bring this list if pills haven't fixed your urgency or leaks; next steps include pelvic floor therapy, bladder Botox and InterStim.
For our Cobb County patients
Our urologists welcome Cobb residents to the Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center, 1371 Church Street Extension NW. Should your plan include a procedure, you'll have it in this same Marietta building.
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Coming in to our Marietta Clinic
Cobb County residents with urgency, frequency or leaks see us at our Marietta Clinic & Surgery Center. Bring the names and doses of every bladder medicine you've tried and roughly how long you took each one. We'll test your urine, check how well you empty, and ask about caffeine, fluids and constipation, since each can keep symptoms going.
How our urologists build the next step
When pills fall short, we talk through treatments that work differently. Botox can be placed in the bladder wall through a scope with no incisions. InterStim stimulates the sacral nerves after a trial period. Altaviva is a small tibial nerve implant near the ankle. Magnetic pelvic floor therapy, done seated and fully clothed, is another route. We'll explain the commitment each one asks of you.
Times to phone rather than wait
- Burning, fever or cloudy urine
- Blood in the urine
- Feeling that you can't empty at all
- New leakage that appears suddenly
A note for Cobb families
Marietta, Smyrna, Austell and Powder Springs residents can reach our scheduling team at (678) 344-8900 or request a visit online. We welcome new patients and will look for the soonest available visit.
A three-day bladder diary, noting drinks, trips to the bathroom and leaks, is one of the most helpful things you can bring.
Common questions
Do I have to stop my medicine first?
Not necessarily. Many people stay on their bladder pill while starting pelvic floor therapy, Botox or InterStim, then taper once symptoms settle. Don't stop a medicine on your own before the visit; bring the list of everything you've already tried.
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