Oxybutynin

About oxybutynin

Oxybutynin is prescribed to treat urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency and incontinence. Urinary urgency occurs when you have a sudden and urgent need to pass urine. If you need to take more trips to the toilet than normal, this is called urinary frequency. If you leak urine before you go to the toilet, this is called incontinencia.

There are several different causes of these urinary symptoms, such as weakened pelvic floor muscles, problems causing your bladder muscles to contract too much or too early and medical conditions such as esclerosis múltiple. Sometimes the cause of these symptoms is unknown.

In addition to these uses, oxybutynin can also be prescribed for older children (over 5 years of age) to help reduce bedwetting caused by an overactive bladder.

Oxybutynin works by relaxing the muscles of the bladder and stopping sudden muscle contractions. It also increases the volume of urine that the bladder can hold. These actions help to control the release of urine and ease your symptoms.

Before taking oxybutynin

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking oxybutynin it is important that your doctor knows:

• Si estás embarazada o amamantando.

• Si tienes una afección cardíaca, como un ritmo cardíaco inusual, problemas con los vasos sanguíneos en tu corazón o insuficiencia cardíaca.

• Si tiene algún problema con el funcionamiento de su hígado o de sus riñones.

• Si tiene algún problema con su glándula prostática.

• Si tiene alguna de las siguientes condiciones: aumento de la presión ocular (llamado glaucoma); hernia de hiato; glándula tiroides hiperactiva; presión arterial alta; una condición que causa debilidad muscular, llamada miastenia gravis.

• Si tienes una condición que podría causar una obstrucción en tu estómago, intestino o tracto urinario.

• Si tienes una rara enfermedad sanguínea hereditaria llamada porfiria.

• Si alguna vez has tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que esté disponible para comprar sin receta, así como medicamentos herbales y complementarios.
  

How to take oxybutynin tablets/medicine

• Take oxybutynin exactly as your doctor tells you to. Your dose will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you but if you are unsure about what to do, please ask your pharmacist to explain it to you again. You can take oxybutynin either before or after meals.

• There are several strengths of standard-release tablet available: 2.5 mg, 3 mg and 5 mg. An oral liquid medicine is available for children and people who have difficulty swallowing tablets. If you have been prescribed standard-release tablets or oral liquid medicine, you will be asked to take one dose two or three times a day to begin with. Your doctor may increase your dose as you go on, depending upon how you respond. If the tablets/medicine have been prescribed for your child to reduce bedwetting, it is best if they take the last dose just before they go to bed.

• If you have been prescribed the prolonged-release tablets (brand name Lyrinel® XL) you will be asked to take one tablet every day to begin with, although your doctor may increase your dose as you go on. These tablets have been specially made to release oxybutynin evenly over the day, so it is important that you swallow the tablet whole - do not chew or crush it before you swallow.

• Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them regularly. If you do forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember, unless it is nearly time for your next dose, in which case leave out the missed dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose.

How to use oxybutynin patches

• If you have been prescribed oxybutynin patches (brand name Kentera®), you should apply one patch twice-weekly.

• Apply a patch to a clean, dry area of skin on your tummy (abdomen), 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 (on your abdomen, hip or bottom). Leave the second patch in place for the rest of the week and then start the next week with a new patch again.

Obteniendo el máximo de tu tratamiento

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about oxybutynin and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Intenta mantener tus citas regulares con tu médico. Esto es para que tu médico pueda verificar tu progreso y revisar tu tratamiento.

• Las bebidas que contienen cafeína (por ejemplo, té, café, chocolate caliente y cola) pueden empeorar sus síntomas. Esto se debe a que la cafeína aumenta el flujo de orina (es un diurético natural) y le hará querer orinar. Si bebe muchas bebidas con cafeína, considere cambiar a alternativas descafeinadas.

• Intenta mantener una vida normal en la medida de lo posible en cuanto a beber y visitar el baño. Sin embargo, beber tarde en la noche puede significar que tu sueño se vea interrumpido por el deseo de levantarte e ir al baño, por lo que quizás quieras evitar beber demasiado durante la noche.

• Su médico puede sugerirle que realice algunos ejercicios del suelo pélvico para fortalecer los músculos alrededor de la parte inferior de su vejiga. Estos pueden ayudar a mejorar sus síntomas.

• If you buy any medicines or herbal remedies, always check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with oxybutynin. Some medicines (particularly antihistamines) can increase the chance that you will experience unwanted effects such as a dry mouth, constipation and feeling sleepy.

Can oxybutynin cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the common ones associated with oxybutynin. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to oxybutynin, please speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How to store oxybutynin

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.

• Remember to check the expiry date on the pack. The liquid medicine keeps for one month after the bottle has been opened.

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos