Oxybutynin is an anticholinergic and antispasmodic medication used to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder, including urinary incontinence, urinary urgency, and frequent urination. It works by relaxing the bladder muscles, which helps the bladder hold more urine and reduces sudden urges to urinate.
Immediate-release oxybutynin begins working after it is absorbed, while extended-release tablets are designed to release the medication gradually throughout the day. Oxybutynin is available in the United States by prescription in immediate-release tablets, extended-release tablets, and oral solution.
Oxybutynin chloride should be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider, such as a urologist, primary care provider, or pediatrician. The dose and formulation depend on the person's age, symptoms, and condition being treated.
What it is used for
Oxybutynin is indicated for the treatment of:
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Urge urinary incontinence;
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Urinary urgency and frequent urination;
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Detrusor overactivity associated with a neurological condition, such as spina bifida;
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Increased urinary frequency, including nighttime urination.
Immediate-release oxybutynin may be prescribed to children 5 years of age and older for symptoms of detrusor overactivity associated with a neurological condition. Extended-release oxybutynin is approved for this indication in children 6 years of age and older.
Although this use is not included in FDA-approved oxybutynin labeling, oral oxybutynin may also be prescribed off-label for hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating. Its anticholinergic action can reduce sweat production.
How to take
Oxybutynin is taken by mouth, and the dose varies depending on age, the condition being treated, and the formulation prescribed.
1. Oxybutynin 5 mg tablets
Oxybutynin 5 mg immediate-release tablets may be used by adults and children 5 years of age and older when prescribed for an approved indication.
The doses usually recommended are:
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Adults: 1 oxybutynin 5 mg tablet 2 to 3 times a day, as directed by the prescribing healthcare provider. The maximum recommended dose is 1 tablet 4 times a day, corresponding to 20 mg per day.
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Children 5 years of age and older: 1 oxybutynin 5 mg tablet 2 times a day, as directed by the pediatrician. The maximum recommended dose is 1 tablet 3 times a day, corresponding to 15 mg per day.
Oxybutynin chloride tablets should be swallowed with water.
2. Oxybutynin 10 mg extended-release tablets
Oxybutynin 10 mg tablets are extended-release tablets. This formulation is approved for adults with overactive bladder and for children 6 years of age and older with detrusor overactivity associated with a neurological condition.
The recommended doses of extended-release oxybutynin include:
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Adults: the usual starting dose is 5 or 10 mg once a day, taken at approximately the same time each day. The dose may be adjusted by the prescribing healthcare provider based on treatment response and side effects, up to a maximum of 30 mg per day.
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Children 6 years of age and older: the usual starting dose is 5 mg once a day. The pediatrician may adjust the dose based on treatment response and side effects, up to a maximum of 20 mg per day.
Extended-release oxybutynin tablets should be swallowed whole with water and should not be chewed, divided, or crushed because doing so can interfere with how the medication is released.
3. Oxybutynin oral solution 1 mg/mL
Oxybutynin oral solution contains 5 mg of oxybutynin chloride in every 5 mL, which is equivalent to 1 mg/mL. Doses vary by age and include:
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Adults: 5 mL (5 mg) of oxybutynin oral solution 2 to 3 times a day, as directed by the prescribing healthcare provider. The maximum recommended dose is 5 mL (5 mg) 4 times a day, corresponding to 20 mg per day in divided doses.
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Children 5 years of age and older: 5 mL (5 mg) of oxybutynin oral solution 2 times a day, as directed by the pediatrician. The maximum recommended dose is 5 mL (5 mg) 3 times a day, corresponding to 15 mg per day in divided doses.
An appropriate medication measuring device should be used to measure each dose accurately.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects of oxybutynin include drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, difficulty urinating, and headache.
Oxybutynin may also cause changes in taste, an increased heart rate, and gastrointestinal symptoms such as gas.
Who should not take it
Oxybutynin should not be used by people who are allergic to oxybutynin or any of the medication's ingredients.
It is also contraindicated in people with urinary retention, gastric retention or other severe conditions involving reduced gastrointestinal motility, or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma. People with certain gastrointestinal disorders, myasthenia gravis, or conditions that increase the risk of urinary retention should be evaluated by a healthcare provider before using oxybutynin.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding are not listed as absolute contraindications in current US oxybutynin prescribing information. Oxybutynin should be used during pregnancy only when the potential benefit justifies the potential risk, and people who are breastfeeding should discuss its use with their healthcare provider.
