Oxytrol

Oxytrol is a urinary tract antispasmodic drug, used to treat excessive activity and spasm of the urinary bladder manifested by increased urgency/ frequency of urination, incontinence (inability to control urination/ urine leakage), and increased the need to urinate during night time.

This medication controls bladder contraction/activity by inhibiting the release of acetylcholine, a natural chemical produced by the body that stimulates urinary bladder contraction.

Instructions:

Read your medication guide and follow your prescription label at all times.

• Take oxybutynin by mouth/orally before or after meals, 2-4 times a day while the extended- release tablets are taken once a day per doctor’s prescription.
• Do not break, chew or crush sustained- release tablet of oxybutynin to prevent releasing the content all at one time, which may intensify the side effects of this medication.
• If you are using the transdermal patch, apply it 2 times a week with 3-4 days interval between each patch. Attach the patch to a dry and intact skin either on the abdomen, buttock or hip. Use a different site for every new patch and do not apply on the same site within 1 week.
• The dosage depends on your medical condition, weight or treatment response. Do not adjust your dose without your doctor’s recommendation.
• Use a standard medicine cup/spoon (not household spoon) to obtain the accurate amount for each dose if you are using the liquid preparation of oxybutynin.
• Continue taking oxybutynin on a regular schedule (same time of the day). Do not stop taking oxybutynin abruptly without consulting your doctor to prevent withdrawal symptoms.

Inform your doctor immediately if your condition aggravates or does not improve.

Take or apply your missed dose as soon as possible. However, make sure that the time interval between the missed and the next dose is not too close.

Otherwise, stick with the regular schedule and leave out the missed dose. Do not double dose to cover up a missed dose. Record your missed doses and inform your doctor immediately if you missed several doses.

Interactions:

Oxytrol may interact with:

• Medications for bladder or urinary disorder (i.e. darifenacin, flavoxate, solifenacin)
• Glycopyrrolate ( Robinhul)
• Flecainide (Tambocor)
• Mepenzolate (Cantil)
• Thioridazine (Mellaril)
• HIV/ AIDS treatment drugs (i.e. nelfinavir, ritonavir)
• Antibiotics (i.e. erythromycin, clarithromycin)
• Antifungal drugs (i.e. itraconazole, ketoconazole)
• Atropine
• Bronchodilator drugs (i.e. Atrovent, Spiriva)
• Irritable bowel medicines (i.e. dicyclomine, hyoscyamine) and
• Antidepressant drugs (i.e. Elavil, Prozac, and Tofranil)

Some drugs may either lessen the beneficial effects or worsen the side effects of oxybutynin. Likewise, oxybutynin may make some drugs less efficient or intensify their side effects.

Make sure to inform your doctor about all other drugs you are currently taking or using (prescribed and non-prescribed medications including vitamins, minerals, and herbal products) to check for possible drug interaction with oxybutynin.

Never alter the dose of other medications while on oxybutynin neither stop nor start any medicine without the doctor’s recommendation.

Side Effects:

There are no side effects known aside from a possible allergic reaction in people who have previous or unknown hypersensitivity to the drug.

Watch out for signs of allergic reactions such as:

• Rash
• Itching
• Swelling

Warnings:

Before using Oxytrol, tell your health care provider if you have/are:

• Any allergies to any substance, food or medication, particularly to oxybutynin
• Medical history or a present condition such as:
  • Untreated narrow- angle glaucoma
  • Obstruction in your intestine or stomach
  • Kidney or liver disease
  • Prostate enlargement
  • Myasthenia gravis
  • Gastroesophageal reflux

• Pregnant, planning to get pregnant or currently breastfeeding a baby (Oxybutynin has no known harmful effects to the unborn child and it is unknown if this medicine passes into breast milk that may harm the nursing child. The risks and benefits of using this medication upon your pregnancy must be discussed well with your doctor.)