Potential Advantages And Disadvantages
Oxytrol for Women, being the only drug OTC for treating overactive bladder, increases convenience for patients who may not have medical access. However, there are multiple causes or contributing factors to overactive bladder therefore not all patients are suitable candidate for self-care. The regimen is also advantageous, dosed as 1 patch every 4 consecutive days, as opposed to taken orally daily like many other agents within the class. Practice guidelines from the American Urological Association state that there is no compelling evidence to select one antimuscarinic agent over another based on efficacy.6 However, they caution that oxybutynin is likely to have greater incidence of dry mouth and/or constipation compared to tolteridone based on pooled data. Using a longer-acting preparation such as Oxytrol patch is likely to reduce the chance of adverse events compared to the immediate release formulation.
Transdermal Oxybutynin May Cause Side Effects Tell Your Doctor If Any Of These Symptoms Are Severe Or Do Not Go Away:
- redness, burning, or itching in the place where you applied a patch
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- frequent, urgent, or painful urination
Transdermal oxybutynin may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while using this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
Mixing Oxybutynin With Herbal Remedies And Supplements
There’s very little information about taking oxybutynin with herbal remedies and supplements. These remedies are not tested in the same way as medicines.
Some herbal medicines can make you feel sleepy, cause a dry mouth, or make it difficult to pee. Their effect is similar to oxybutynin. This can increase your risk of getting side effects or make your side effects worse.
You May Like: Artificial Urinary Sphincter Surgery Recovery
What If I Forget To Take It
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it’s almost time for your next dose. In this case, just skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the usual time.
Never take 2 doses at the same time. Never take an extra dose to make up for a forgotten one.
If you often forget doses, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to remember to take your medicine.
Special Warnings And Precautions For Use
Other causes of frequent urination should be assessed before treatment with Oxytrol. If urinary tract infection is present, an appropriate antibacterial therapy should be started.Anticholinergic medicinal products should be used with caution in patients who have autonomic neuropathy, cognitive impairment or Parkinson’s disease.Oxytrol may exacerbate the symptoms of hyperthyroidism, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, tachycardia, hypertension and prostatic hypertrophy.Anticholinergic products should be administered with caution to patients with clinically significant bladder outflow obstruction because of the risk of urinary retention .Oxytrol should be administered with caution to patients with gastrointestinal obstructive disorders because of the risk of gastric retention .Oxytrol, 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. .Oxytrol should be used with caution in patients who have gastro-oesophageal reflux and/or who are concurrently taking drugs that can cause or exacerbate oesophagitis. Diarrhoea may be an early symptom of incomplete intestinal obstruction, especially in patients with ileostomy or colostomy. In this instance, treatment with Oxytrol would be inappropriate and possibly harmful.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Symptoms For Urinary Tract Infection
Pelvic Floor Muscle Kegel Exercises
Developed by Dr. Arnold Kegel, these exercises are designed to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor so that the bladder is kept in place and the urethra stays shut tight. Kegel exercises work best for people who have stress or mixed incontinence, but anyone can try them, even as a preventive measure to keep your pelvic floor muscles strong.
What Other Information Should I Know
Keep all appointments with your doctor
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
Don’t Miss: Best Way To Clean Urinary Tract
Sacral Nerve Stimulation Therapy
Sacral nerve stimulation is a treatment in which mild electrical impulses are sent to the sacral nerves near the lower back. A device implanted in the upper buttocks under the skin is used to provide electrical pulses that influence bladder function. The procedure to implant the device does involve surgery, but it is minimally invasive, and reversible.
Cautions With Other Medicines
Mirabegron may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how mirabegron works.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if youre taking:
- digoxin, a medicine for heart failure or abnormal heart rhythm
- imipramine or desipramine, medicines for urinary incontinence or nerve pain
- dabigatran, a blood thinner
- ketoconazole or itraconazole, medicines used to treat fungal infections
- ritonavir, a medicine used to treat HIV
Also Check: How To Check Bladder Cancer
You May Like: Is Caffeine Bad For Urinary Tract Infection
Buchu And Your Bladder
A flowering plant native to the mountainous areas of South Africa, buchu has a long history of traditional use. Legend has it that buchu helps heal everything from fevers to coughs to urinary tract infections.
Buchu tea has no caffeine, so swapping your morning coffee or black tea for buchu will cut your caffeine consumption. That may be helpful in easing OAB symptoms, but dont expect a cure-all. No studies measure buchus effect on OAB.
What If I Am Taking Other Medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any medicines, vitamins or supplements that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and OXYTROL® may interfere with each other.
These include:
- Other anticholinergic drugs
- Bisphosphonates
These medicines may be affected by OXYTROL® or may affect how well it works. You may need different amounts of your medicines, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor and pharmacist have more information on medicines to be careful with or avoid while being treated with this medicine
Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure about what medicines, vitamins or supplements you are taking and if these affect Oxytrol®.
You May Like: Cranberry Pills For Urinary Health
Oxybutynin Mechanism Of Action
Muscarinic receptors, stimulated by the acetylcholine neurotransmitter, are located throughout the body. Five subtypes have been characterized, and more than one may be present in a particular organ . The muscarinic receptors in the urinary bladder are predominantly M2 and M3 , with both receptor types playing important roles in bladder contractility . Oxybutynin is a tertiary amine muscarinic receptor antagonist with relative selectivity for M1 and M3 receptors . Oxybutynin has a greater affinity for inhibition of receptors in the parotid gland than the urinary bladder and therefore is a potent inhibitor of salivary secretion .
Molecular structure of oxybutynin.
Immediate-release oxybutynin has a bioavailability of approximately 6% following first-pass liver metabolism . The primary metabolite resulting from cytochrome P-450 metabolism in the liver is N-desethyloxybutynin , which is thought to be largely responsible for the dry mouth experienced by 1793% of patients taking this formulation, as well as multiple other undesired anticholinergic side effects . Indeed, dry mouth has been associated with higher concentrations of N-DEO but not of the parent drug .
Molecular structure of N-desethyloxybutynin.
How Can Diet Affect Overactive Bladder
Some foods and drinks irritate the bladder, possiblycontributing to the problem. You should strive to eliminate caffeinefrom your diet by halting use of coffee, tea, and all caffeinated softdrinks. Alcohol should be eliminated entirely, as it is another bladderirritant. Spices such as pepper add flavor to foods, but they also cancause severe irritation to the bowels and bladder. It may be helpful tokeep a diary of your intake of these foods and drinks to see if theyactually do produce a worsening of symptoms.
Also Check: Hills Urinary Care C D Multicare
Don’t Miss: Over The Counter Drugs For Urinary Tract Infection
How Common Are Urinary Tract Infections
Urinary tract infections are very common, occurring in 1 out of 5 women sometime in their lifetime. Though UTIs are common in women, they can also happen to men, older adults and children. One to 2% of children develop urinary tract infections. Each year, 8 million to 10 million visits to doctors are for urinary tract infections.
Recommended Reading: What Are The Symptoms Of A Severe Urinary Tract Infection
What Other Drugs Could Interact With This Medication
There may be an interaction between oxybutynin and any of the following:
- tricyclic antidepressants
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter , and herbal medications you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 2022. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/drug/getdrug/Oxytrol
Don’t Miss: Cranberries And Urinary Tract Health
What Should I Know Before I Use Oxytrol
Do not use if you have ever had an allergic reaction to Oxytrol® or any of the ingredients listed at the end of the CMI.
Talk to your doctor if you have any other medical conditions, take any other medicines, or are pregnant or plan to become pregnant or are breastfeeding.
For more information, see Section 2. What should I know before I use Oxytrol®? in the full CMI.
Why Does Pregnancy Cause Incontinence
During pregnancy, your body goes through a lot of physical changes. As your uterus stretches to hold the growing baby, a few things happen. Your bladder can be squished by the expanding baby, making your bladder hold less than before. You might experience an increased urgency to pee during pregnancy because your bladder cannot hold as much as before. This might become even more challenging towards the end of pregnancy when the baby is at its largest.
Another reason for incontinence during pregnancy is the weakening of your pelvic floor muscles. These muscles are the support structures for all of the organs in your pelvis. During pregnancy, they can be stretched and weakened as your uterus expands.
Read Also: How To You Get A Urinary Tract Infection
Prevalence And Epidemiology Of Oab
As many as 17% to 40% of adult women in the United States have OAB.4,7This is approximately 20 million OAB patients. However, the true numberis likely to be far higher, as many patients do not enter the healthcare system. There are three major reasons for this reluctance to do so.4First, many patients view OAB as an inevitable part of aging and chooseto take various self-care measures rather than visit a physician foradvice. Second, as many as 61% of OAB sufferers do not realize that thecondition can be successfully treated with medication and therefore donot seek help. Finally, OAB can induce shame and embarrassment inpatients, and the resultant negative social stigma may cause them toavoid any mention to health care providers.
Although OAB occurs in women of all ages, it exhibits a strong age association.3,8 The median age is 52 years, and the most common age range is 45 to 60 years.4
Herbal Supplements To Treat Oab
Various herbal supplements, available at many pharmacies or online, may help improve OAB symptoms. Though many have been used for years, there is little research to back the efficacy of these treatments. They include:
- Green tea extract: There are no human studies performed to date to prove green tea extracts work. However, a study on rats indicate that rats treated with green tea catechins had fewer bladder contractions than rats without the treatment when recovering from removal of ovaries as a treatment for bladder damage.
- Gosha-jinki-gan: A combination of 10 Asian herbs is said to reduce urinary frequency. A small study â 44 women in Japan â demonstrated this when taking 7.5 milligrams of this supplement for eight weeks. However, this study has yet to be replicated on a large scale.
- Buchu: A flowering plant that is native to South Africa, buchu supposedly heals a variety of medical conditions. There are no studies that indicate that buchu helps to ease OAB symptoms, but buchu tea is caffeine-free. Perhaps swapping buchu tea for coffee may ease symptoms as caffeine can exacerbate symptoms.
- Hachimi-jio-gan: Similar to gosha-jinki-gan, hachimi-jio-gan is a combination of Asian herbs. HE contains several of the same herbs as gosha-jinki-gan. A small-scale Japanese study performed on rats indicated that this supplement reduced bladder contractions prompted by acetylcholine.
While some of these may be helpful, you might able be wondering what herbs do not work.
You May Like: Azo Urinary Tract Health Gummies
What Is The Prognosis For A Urinary Tract Infection
A good prognosis is usual for spontaneously resolved and quickly treated UTIs. Even patients that have rapidly developing symptoms and early pyelonephritis can have a good prognosis if quickly and adequately treated. The prognosis begins to decline if the UTI is not quickly recognized or treated. Elderly and immunosuppressed patients may not have the UTI recognized early their prognosis may range from fair to poor, depending on how much damage is done to the urinary tract or if complications like sepsis occur. Like adults, most adequately treated children will have a good prognosis. Children and adults with recurrent UTIs may develop complications and a worse prognosis recurrent UTIs may be a symptom of an underlying problem with the urinary tract structure. These patients should be referred to a specialist for further evaluation.
Types Of Urinary Incontinence
Urgency incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, is involuntary urination or a very strong desire or urgency to urinate.
Stress incontinence is a weakness of the bladder or sphincter muscles.
Overflow incontinence, also known as after-dribble, is a consequence of not emptying the bladder properly.
Functional incontinence happens when you know you need to urinate, but due to mental or physical reasons, such as dementia or impaired mobility, cannot make it to the bathroom in time.
Don’t Miss: Best Men’s Urinary Pads
Complementary And Alternative Medicine
There are many complementary and alternative therapies used to treat OAB. These include mind-body therapies that help minimize urinary urgency and symptoms of stress incontinence .
Naturopathic doctors and others also use herbal remedies to treat OAB, but few of these are strongly supported by research. Among those that have some evidence of a positive effect are:
- Gosha-jinki-gan : This traditional Chinese medicine remedy is composed of 10 herbs. Animal studies suggest GJC can mute bladder sensations that contribute to urinary urgency. Small studies in women and men have shown positive results, albeit with side effects in 1 in 10 users .
- Saw palmetto: Saw palmetto is a popular herbal remedy said to increase testosterone levels and alleviate prostate enlargement that can contribute to OAB symptoms in men. A 12-week study involving 44 men with OAB reported improved bladder control and decreased prostate size compared to men who didnt take it.
Always speak with your healthcare provider before using a herbal remedy to treat OAB. The overuse of herbal remedies, especially imported ones, can expose you to substances that may be toxic to your liver and kidneys or interact with drugs you are taking.
Also Check: Is Azithromycin Good For Urinary Tract Infection
Help My Dog Is Incontinent
Finding natural incontinent dog solutions can be tough. Whendealing with dog urinary incontinence, natural remedies are not the first thingmost vets will suggest.
Most vets will advise using Phenylpropanolamine , adrug that helps strengthen the urinary sphincter muscle or diethylstilbestrol, a hormone replacement therapy. Both of these drugs, however, carry therisk of significant side effects.
These side effects are what made me pause and do someresearch when my dog Rose started leaking urine. For Rose, it happened when shewas sleeping, or when she got up from her bed. Other dogs drip urine as theymove around.
What Rose was experiencing is not uncommon: dog incontinence while sleeping or moving around is a common scenario. Many times, incontinence has a sudden onset: people notice their dog leaking urine out of the blue and have no idea what is causing it.
I read everything I could find online, both about the causes and the treatments. The more I read about the conventional drug treatments side effects, the more I wanted to try to find a natural solution that targeted the cause and not just the symptoms.
This article combines what I have learned researching dog incontinence solutions to give you a comprehensive overview of the causes and natural treatment options.
You May Like: How Can You Treat Urinary Tract Infection
Don’t Miss: Natural Way To Get Rid Of Urinary Tract Infection