Nocturia in MS -The need to get up during the night in order to urinate, thus interrupting
sleep.
There are a number of possible causes of Nocturia, so it is important that any occurrences
are properly investigated before treatment starts. For some, the interruption to
sleep can be a cause of fatigue during the day.
Nocturia is a form of bladder dysfunction which is an extremely common symptom of
multiple sclerosis.
When MS is found to be the cause, NICE guidelines recommend that desmopressin be
prescribed
Desmopressin regulates the way that the kidneys handle water in the body. For Nocturia
it may be prescribed to reduce the amount of urine being produced, and therefore
the number of night-time trips to the toilet. However,desmopressin must be used
with caution. Reducing the amount of urine made by the kidneys over the long-term
may eventually lead to kidney problems.
Desmopressin is not licensed for anyone aged over 65.
