What Is The Most Important Information I Should Know About Oxybutynin
You should not use oxybutynin if you are allergic to it, or if you have:
- untreated or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma
- a blockage in your digestive tract or
- if you are unable to urinate.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- glaucoma
- a nerve disorder that affects your heart rate, blood pressure, or digestion
- myasthenia gravis or
- a stomach disorder such as gastroesophageal reflux disease or slow digestion.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
What Is Oxybutynin And How Does It Work
Oxybutynin is an oral drug that is used for treating urinary bladder spasm. Oxybutynin has a dual mechanism of action. Contraction of the smooth muscle of the bladder is stimulated by the release of acetylcholine by the nerves within the bladder and the attachment of the acetylcholine to receptors on the surface of the bladderâs muscle cells. Oxybutynin suppresses involuntary contractions of the bladderâs smooth muscle by blocking the release of acetylcholine. This is referred to as an âanticholinergic effect.â Oxybutynin also directly relaxes the bladderâs outer layer of muscle . The FDA approved oxybutynin in July 1975.
What brand names are available for oxybutynin?
Ditropan Ditropan XL Oxytrol Anturol Gelnique
Do I need a prescription for oxybutynin?
Oxybutynin may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how oxybutynin works.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if youâre taking:
How Should I Take Oxybutynin
Take oxybutynin exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets.
Take this medicine with a full glass of water, at the same time each day.
You may take oxybutynin with or without food.
Swallow the extended-release tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it.
Measure liquid medicine with the supplied measuring device .
Some tablets are made with a shell that is not absorbed or melted in the body. Part of this shell may appear in your stool. This is normal and will not make the medicine less effective.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
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Oxybutynin May Interact With Other Medications
Oxybutynin oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should manage all of your medications carefully. Be sure to tell your doctor about all medications, vitamins, or herbs youre taking. To find out how this drug might interact with something else youre taking, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.
Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with oxybutynin are listed below.
What Are The Drug Interactions Of Oxybutynin Hydrochloride
Oxybutynin should be avoided with: Other anticholinergic agents like atropine and its compounds, with drugs used in the treatment of psychosis like chlorpromazine, haloperidol and clozapine, drugs used in the treatment of heart disease like digoxin, antiparkinsonian drugs like biperiden and amantadine, drugs used in the treatment of depression like amitriptyline due to the additional anticholinergic effect of the drugs. Gastrointestinal drugs like metoclopramide and domperidone since they have opposite effect on gastrointestinal tract motility. Metoclopramide and domperidone increase motility, while oxybutynin decreases motility. Concurrent administration of azole antifungals like ketoconazole and antibiotics like erythromycin as these drugs being CYP3A4 inhibitors may inhibit the metabolism of oxybutynin. Cholinesterase inhibitors like physostigmine, neostigimine due to decreased efficacy of these drugs.
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Rated For Urinary Incontinence Report
DO NOT LET YOUR ELDERLY PARENTS TAKE THIS DRUG! My father in law had moderate dementia like all older parents get. After starting this, he slept a lot more and was getting more confused. He fell down more often. Couldn’t remember his appointments anymore. Went from a person who managed his own prescriptions daily to over dosing and taking this drug twice a day instead of once a day. He is now in full blown late stage AD. Reading all the reviews and data about this drug I believe this is the cause of his accelerated Alzheimers. Do not take this drug.
Future Studies And Uses
While no cure is yet available, treatments for hyperhidrosis continue to improve. Excessive sweating affects 3 to 5 percent of the worlds population, and medical experts are still trying to understand the causes of hyperhidrosis. Many current treatments, including the use of anticholinergics, can be invasive and ineffective. However, as this condition is further studied, researchers will be able to develop targeted and more effective treatments.
There is a great deal of promising research on the horizon for those who suffer from hyperhidrosis. Emerging treatments and technologies have great potential to make a profound difference in quality of life. For example, topical medications have great promise in treating hyperhidrosis without many of the negative anticholinergic effects experienced when taken orally. The theory is that being able to apply a topical anticholinergic to a local area will stop or dramatically reduce sweating in that area without the drawbacks associated with an oral dose, which affects the entire body.
In addition, while Qbrexza currently is indicated only for underarm use, additional research could have implications for additional hyperhidrosis treatment throughout the body.
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How To Take Oxybutynin
- Take oxybutynin tablets with a glass of water at the same times each day.
- You can take oxybutynin with or without food.
- Halving tablets: If you need to cut a 5 mg tablet in half to get your dose, use a tablet cutter so you get an accurate dose. You can get a tablet cutter from a Pharmacy. If you are unable to do this, your Pharmacist may be able to halve these for you.
- Take regularly: To reduce your urinary symptoms, you must keep taking oxybutynin every day.
- Alcohol: Limit drinking alcohol while you’re taking oxybutynin. Alcohol can increase the risk of side effects.
- Missed dose: If you forget your dose, take it as soon as you remember that day. But if it is nearly time for your next dose, just take the next dose at the right time. Do not take double the dose.
Medication Adherence And Persistence
Medication adherence and persistence are central to any treatment success, but literature pertaining to the pediatric population with OAB is lacking. Adherence is dreadful in adults taking antimuscarinic medications, with one recent study reporting adherence rates at 12 months of 35.8, 31.9, and 30.9% for fesoterodine, solifenacin, and tolterodine, respectively. In a study pending publication, our group noted a medication possession ratio over 80% in only 64% of children treated with antimuscarinics. Although this is better than what has been described in adults, strategies are required to increase adherence and, thus, improve treatment efficacy.
Persistence to antimuscarinic agents is also appaling in adults, with Wagg et al showing that only 1435% of patients remained on their initial therapy at 12 months. Our group recently published a restrospective review of 374 children treated with antimuscarinics over a four-year period, at the end of which only 11.8% of patients were still taking an antimuscarinic medication. Even though a percentage of the children who discontinued their antimuscarinics might be attributable to the disappearance of OAB symptoms, persistence in children must be further investigated, as it definitely influences treatment success.
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Usual Pediatric Dose For Urinary Frequency
Immediate Release Tablets:Initial dose: 5 mg orally 2 times a dayMaximum dose: 5 mg orally 3 times a dayExtended Release Tablets/Syrup:Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day at the same time each dayTitration: Adjust in 5 mg increments weekly as toleratedMaximum dose: 30 mg/dayUses:-Immediate Release Tablets/Syrup: For the relief of symptoms of bladder instability associated with voiding in patients with uninhibited neurogenic or reflex neurogenic bladder in patients 5 years of age and older.-Extended Release Tablets: For the treatment of pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with symptoms of detrusor overactivity associated with a neurological condition .
How To Use Oxybutynin Patches
- If you have been prescribed oxybutynin patches , you should apply one patch twice-weekly.
- Apply a patch to a clean, dry area of skin on your tummy , hip or bottom. Leave the patch in place for three or four days and then remove it before applying another patch. Apply the new patch to a different area of skin . Leave the second patch in place for the rest of the week and then start the next week with a new patch again.
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What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from excess heat and moisture .
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
Common Questions About Oxybutynin
Oxybutynin is a type of medicine called an antimuscarinic muscle relaxant.
It works by relaxing the muscle that is found in the wall of the bladder. This helps to increase the volume of pee your bladder can hold and control the release of pee.
Oxybutynin starts to work after about 3 to 4 hours to relax the muscle surrounding your bladder.
However it may take up to 4 weeks before it works fully.
If your symptoms do not start to get better after 7 days talk to your doctor.
Talk to your doctor if your symptoms get worse at any time.
Usually, you’ll need to take oxybutynin for a long time.
After 4 weeks your doctor will check that oxybutynin is helping your symptoms. They’ll also do a review every 6 to 12 months after that to check it’s still working for you.
Take oxybutynin until your doctor tells you to stop. Do not stop taking it just because you feel better.
There may be an increased risk of confusion and possibly dementia in people taking oxybutynin, but more study needs to be done. If you’re worried about this, talk to your doctor.
Do not take oxybutynin for longer than you need to. Your doctor will check every 6 to 12 months that your treatment is still needed.
It’s safe to take oxybutynin with everyday painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen.
If you’ve been taking oxybutynin for at least 6 months your doctor may suggest that you stop taking the medicine for up to 4 weeks to see how your symptoms change without it.
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Usual Pediatric Dose For Urinary Incontinence
Immediate Release Tablets:Initial dose: 5 mg orally 2 times a dayMaximum dose: 5 mg orally 3 times a dayExtended Release Tablets/Syrup:Initial dose: 5 mg orally once a day at the same time each dayTitration: Adjust in 5 mg increments weekly as toleratedMaximum dose: 30 mg/dayUses:-Immediate Release Tablets/Syrup: For the relief of symptoms of bladder instability associated with voiding in patients with uninhibited neurogenic or reflex neurogenic bladder in patients 5 years of age and older.-Extended Release Tablets: For the treatment of pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with symptoms of detrusor overactivity associated with a neurological condition .
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Healthcare workers who prescribe oxybutynin should be familiar with its adverse effect profile. The adverse effects are often dose-related. Patients should be monitored for anticholinergic side effects related to the central nervous system, including hallucinations, agitation, confusion, and somnolence. This is particularly important in elderly patients and within the first few months of treatment or after increasing the dose of oxybutynin.
Patients should be counseled that increased drowsiness may occur with concomitant alcohol use. Patients also should be counseled that taking oxybutynin in a high-temperature environment may lead to heat prostration, which can manifest as fever and heat stroke due to decreased sweating
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What Are The Side Effects Of Oxybutynin
The most common side effects of oxybutynin are dry mouth, constipation, tiredness, and headache. About 1 in every 14 patients taking oxybutynin tablets cannot tolerate it because of side effects. Diarrhea, urinary tract infections, blurred vision, and difficulty urinating also may occur. The transdermal patch or gel may also cause local reactions at the application sites such as itching and rash. Transdermal patches or gel cause fewer side effects than the tablets. Serious hypersensitivity reactions involving swelling of the throat, lips, and tongue also may occur.
Herbal Supplements For Oab
An abundance of herbal products claim to give you confidence, make your bladder better, or help you go less. However, the science behind these assertions is very thin. Some animal studies show a potential effect of certain herbs on the bladder, but the studies are small and havent been repeated on a large scale in humans, if at all.
study involving 44 women with OAB in Japan demonstrated decreased urinary frequency and improvement on a quality-of-life scale in those who took 7.5 g of gosha-jinki-gan daily for eight weeks. Larger-scale studies would need to confirm the results.
The Chinese herbal blend hachi-mi-jio-ganHE for shortcontains several of the same herbs found in gosha-jinki-gan. HE may inhibit bladder contractions prompted by the chemical acetylcholine, according to a Japanese study done on rats. No human trials have been conducted.
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How Should This Medicine Be Used
Oxybutynin comes as a tablet, a syrup, and an extended-release tablet to take by mouth. The tablets and syrup are usually taken two to four times a day. The extended-release tablet is usually taken once a day with or without food. Take oxybutynin at around the same time every day. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully, and ask your doctor or pharmacist to explain any part you do not understand. Take oxybutynin exactly as directed. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor.
Swallow the extended-release tablets whole with plenty of water or other liquid. Do not split, chew, or crush the extended-release tablets. Tell your doctor if you or your child cannot swallow tablets.
Use a dose-measuring spoon or cup to measure the correct amount of liquid for each dose, not a household spoon.
Your doctor may start you on a low dose of oxybutynin and gradually increase your dose, not more than once every week.
Oxybutynin may control your symptoms but will not cure your condition. Continue to take oxybutynin even if you feel well. Do not stop taking oxybutynin without talking to your doctor.
You may notice some improvement in your symptoms within the first 2 weeks of your treatment. However, it may take 68 weeks to experience the full benefit of oxybutynin. Talk to your doctor if your symptoms do not improve at all within 8 weeks.
Nay On Horsetail Cranberries
Horsetail , an ancient plant that resembles a bristly tail when dried, may produce a mild diuretic effect. The goal of OAB treatment is control over random bladder spasms, not increased urine flow. The diuretic effect and lack of studies mean you should cross horsetail off your list if youre looking for help for OAB.
The same is true for cranberries. The fruit is very acidic, which may aggravate the symptoms of OAB. Cranberries may change the way bacteria adheres to the bladder in a urinary tract infection, but bacteria isnt involved in involuntary contractions that cause OAB.
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Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Oxybutynin is used to treat overactive bladder in certain adults and children. Oxybutynin is also used as an extended-release tablet to control bladder muscles in adults and children 6 years of age and older with spina bifida , or other nervous system conditions that affect the bladder muscles. Oxybutynin is in a class of medications called anticholinergics/antimuscarinics. It works by relaxing the bladder muscles.
Cleavers And Corn Silk
Cleavers, or sticky willy, is a plant that clings to everything, as its name implies. Cleavers tea is marketed as detoxifying and as providing lymphatic support, but no evidence documents its use to reduce OAB symptoms.
Corn silk, the strands you pluck from corn before eating it, is also used to make a tea. This tea is said to ease urinary tract infection symptoms, but no data backs up that claim. Nor is there scientific proof that corn silk would help OAB.
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Newer Agents For The Management Of Overactive Bladder
BENJAMIN J. EPSTEIN, PHARM.D., B.C.P.S., JOHN G. GUMS, PHARM.D., and EMERSON MOLINA, PHARM.D., University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Am Fam Physician. 2006 Dec 15 74:2061-2068.
Overactive bladder is a clinical syndrome characterized by one or more symptoms of urgency , frequency , nocturia, and incontinence. In persons without overactive bladder, the need to empty the bladder becomes progressively more demanding in overactive bladder, urgency is characterized by unheralded messages of an immediate need to empty the bladder. These signals are difficult to delay. The inability to delay urination results in episodes of incontinence in up to 40 percent of patients with overactive bladder.
A = consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence B = inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence C = consensus, disease-oriented evidence, usual practice, expert opinion, or case series. For information about the SORT evidence rating system, see page 2008 or.