Question: My 67-year-old brother is taking oxybutynin for overactive bladder, but the side effects have been horrible. He developed a severe case of dry mouth with sores on his tongue. Are there any natural supplements he can take instead of this dangerous medication?

Dr. Hibberd's answer:
Because of the various options available on the internet as “herbal” or “natural” supplements, its best to ask your private physician or your nephrologist if you can use any herbal remedies he or she may recommend for overactive bladder. I usually recommend prescription agents, as the nonprescription agents have few conclusive studies, and reliable studies on herbal remedies for overactive bladder are difficult to find. Supplements such as corn silk, horsetail, saw palmetto, and combinations of various herbs ( such as gosha-jinki-gan) are claimed to help some, though I do not recommend them. None of these are regulated by the FDA.