Oxybutynin

What it is used for

Oxybutynin chloride is indicated for the relief of symptoms of bladder instability associated with voiding in patients with uninhibited neurogenic or reflex neurogenic bladder (i.e., urgency, frequency, urinary leakage, urge incontinence, dysuria).

How to take it

Adults The usual dose is one 5-mg tablet two to three times a day. The maximum recommended dose is one 5-mg tablet four times a day. A lower starting dose of 2.5 mg two or three times a day is recommended for the frail elderly.

Pediatric patients over 5 years of age The usual dose is one 5-mg tablet two times a day. The maximum recommended dose is one 5-mg tablet three times a day.

Side effects, and when to stop

The safety and efficacy of oxybutynin chloride was evaluated in a total of 199 patients in three clinical trials. These participants were treated with oxybutynin chloride 5-20 mg/day for up to 6 weeks. Table 3 shows the incidence of adverse events judged by investigators to be at least possibly related to treatment and reported by at least 5% of patients.

Table 3 Incidence (%) of Adverse Events Reported by ≥ 5% of Patients Using oxybutynin chloride (5-20 mg/day)

The most common adverse events reported by patients receiving oxybutynin chloride 5-20 mg/day were the expected side effects of anticholinergic agents. The incidence of dry mouth was dose-related.

In addition, the following adverse events were reported by 1 to < 5% of patients using oxybutynin chloride (5 to 20 mg/day) in all studies. Infections and Infestations: nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, bronchitis, cystitis, fungal infection; Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: fluid retention; Psychiatric Disorders: confusional state; Nervous System Disorders: dysgeusia, sinus headache; Eye Disorders: keratoconjunctivitis sicca, eye irritation; Cardiac Disorders: palpitations, sinus arrhythmia; Vascular Disorders: flushing; Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: nasal dryness, cough, pharyngolaryngeal pain, dry throat, sinus congestion, hoarseness, asthma, nasal congestion; Gastrointestinal Disorders: diarrhea, abdominal pain, loose stools, flatulence, vomiting, abdominal pain upper, dysphagia, aptyalism, eructation, tongue coated; Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: dry skin, pruritis; Musculoskeletal and Connective Tissue Disorders: back pain, arthralgia, pain in extremity, flank pain; Renal and Urinary Disorders: dysuria, pollakiuria; General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: fatigue, edema peripheral, asthenia, pain, thirst, edema; Investigations: blood pressure increased, blood glucose increased, blood pressure decreased; Injury, Poisoning, and Procedural Complications: fall.

Postmarketing Surveillance

Because postmarketing adverse events are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. The following additional adverse events have been reported from worldwide postmarketing experience with oral oxybutynin chloride: Psychiatric Disorders: psychotic disorder, agitation, hallucination, memory impairment; Nervous System Disorders: convulsions; Eye Disorders: cycloplegia, mydriasis, glaucoma; Cardiac Disorders: tachycardia, QT interval prolongation, chest discomfort; Gastrointestinal Disorders: decreased gastrointestinal motility, frequent bowel movements; Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders: rash, decreased sweating; Renal and Urinary Disorders: impotence; Reproductive System and Breast Disorders: suppression of lactation; General Disorders and Administration Site Conditions: hypersensitivity reactions, including angioedema with airway obstruction, urticaria, and face edema; rare anaphylactic reactions requiring hospitalization for emergency treatment; Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders: anorexia; Respiratory, Thoracic and Mediastinal Disorders: dysphonia.

To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact KVK-Tech, Inc. at 1-215-579-1842 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Who should not take it

Oxybutynin chloride is contraindicated in patients with urinary retention, gastric retention and other severe decreased gastrointestinal motility conditions, uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma and in patients who are at risk for these conditions.

Oxybutynin chloride is also contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity to the drug substance or other components of the product.

Warnings

Angioedema of the face, lips, tongue and/or larynx has been reported with oxybutynin. In some cases, angioedema occurred after the first dose. Angioedema associated with upper airway swelling may be life-threatening. If involvement of the tongue, hypopharynx, or larynx occurs, oxybutynin should be promptly discontinued and appropriate therapy and/or measures necessary to ensure a patent airway should be promptly provided.

Central Nervous System Effects

Oxybutynin is associated with anticholinergic central nervous system (CNS) effects (see ADVERSE REACTIONS ). A variety of CNS anticholinergic effects have been reported, including hallucinations, agitation, confusion and somnolence. Patients should be monitored for signs of anticholinergic CNS effects, particularly in the first few months after beginning treatment or increasing the dose. If a patient experiences anticholinergic CNS effects, dose reduction or drug discontinuation should be considered.

Oxybutynin chloride should be used with caution in patients with preexisting dementia treated with cholinesterase inhibitors due to the risk of aggravation of symptoms.

Oxybutynin chloride should be used with caution in patients with Parkinson’s disease due to the risk of aggravation of symptoms.

Other medicines and interactions

The concomitant use of oxybutynin with other anticholinergic drugs or with other agents which produce dry mouth, constipation, somnolence (drowsiness), and/or other anticholinergic-like effects may increase the frequency and/or severity of such effects.

Anticholinergic agents may potentially alter the absorption of some concomitantly administered drugs due to anticholinergic effects on gastrointestinal motility. This may be of concern for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index. Anticholinergic agents may also antagonize the effects of prokinetic agents, such as metoclopramide.

Mean oxybutynin chloride plasma concentrations were approximately 3-4 fold higher when oxybutynin chloride was administered with ketoconazole, a potent CYP3A4 inhibitor.

Other inhibitors of the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme system, such as antimycotic agents (e.g., itraconazole and miconazole) or macrolide antibiotics (e.g., erythromycin and clarithromycin), may alter oxybutynin mean pharmacokinetic parameters (i.e., C max and AUC). The clinical relevance of such potential interactions is not known. Caution should be used when such drugs are co-administered.

General

Oxybutynin chloride should be used with caution in the frail elderly, in patients with hepatic or renal impairment, and in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Oxybutynin chloride may aggravate the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, hiatal hernia, tachycardia, hypertension, myasthenia gravis, and prostatic hypertrophy.

Urinary Retention

Oxybutynin chloride should be administered with caution to patients with clinically significant bladder outflow obstruction because of the risk of urinary retention (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ).

Gastrointestinal Disorders

Oxybutynin chloride should be used with caution in patients with autonomic neuropathy due to the risk of aggravation of symptoms of decreased gastrointestinal motility.

Oxybutynin chloride should be administered with caution to patients with gastrointestinal obstructive disorders because of the risk of gastric retention (see CONTRAINDICATIONS ).

Administration of oxybutynin chloride to patients with ulcerative colitis may suppress intestinal motility to the point of producing a paralytic ileus and precipitate or aggravate toxic megacolon, a serious complication of the disease.

Oxybutynin chloride, like other anticholinergic drugs, may decrease gastrointestinal motility and should be used with caution in patients with conditions such as ulcerative colitis, and intestinal atony.

Oxybutynin chloride should be used with caution in patients who have gastroesophageal reflux and/or who are concurrently taking drugs (such as bisphosphonates) that can cause or exacerbate esophagitis.