If you are experiencing symptoms of urinary urgency (e.g desperate desire to pass urine) and struggling to control the urge until you reach the toilet, you may find the information on this page useful.
- Eliminate caffeine. Avoid Coca-Cola or energy drinks. Avoid alcohol. If you drink tea or coffee, change to decaffeinated. If possible, avoid medication containing caffeine such as Lemsip Max, Paracetamol Plus, etc.
- Aim to drink 3-4 pints (1.5 to 2 litres) of fluid a day.
- Use breathing techniques and distraction techniques to help manage urges. When you get a really strong urge to void, try the following:
- Stop where you are
- You may want to sit down, cross your legs or press on your pelvic floor muscles, which is okay but keep relaxed, don’t tense everything
- Perform a couple of calming breaths
- Say the alphabet( eg A is for apple, B is for ball, etc) or some other distraction technique
- Once the urgency has passed (usually a few seconds) then make your way to the toilet.
- If the urge returns on your way to the toilet, stop and repeat
- If you get up in the night to empty your bladder, do not drink for 2-3 hours prior to going to bed.
Information sheet created October 2025.