Oxybutynin (Systemic)

Brand Names : Ditropan

Before Using This Medicine

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For oxybutynin, the following should be considered:

Allergies - Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to oxybutynin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy - Oxybutynin has not been studied in pregnant women. However, it has not been shown to cause birth defects or other problems in animal studies.

Breast-feeding - Oxybutynin has not been reported to cause problems in nursing babies. However, since this medicine tends to decrease the secretions of the body, it is possible that the flow of breast milk may be reduced in some patients.

Children - There is no specific information about the use of oxybutynin in children under 5 years of age. In older children, oxybutynin is not expected to cause different side effects or problems than it does in adults.

Older adults - Elderly people are especially sensitive to the effects of oxybutynin. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Other medicines - Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking oxybutynin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

• Amantadine (e.g., Symmetrel) or
• Anticholinergics (medicine for abdominal or stomach spasms or cramps) or
• Antidepressants (medicine for depression) or
• Antidyskinetics (medicine for Parkinson's disease or other conditions affecting control of muscles) or
• Antihistamines or
• Antipsychotics (medicine for mental illness) or
• Buclizine (e.g., Bucladin) or
• Carbamazepine (e.g., Tegretol) or
• Cyclizine (e.g., Marezine) or
• Cyclobenzaprine (e.g., Flexeril) or
• Disopyramide (e.g., Norpace) or
• Flavoxate (e.g., Urispas) or
• Ipratropium (e.g., Atrovent) or
• Meclizine (e.g., Antivert) or
• Methylphenidate (e.g., Ritalin) or
• Orphenadrine (e.g., Norflex) or
• Procainamide (e.g., Pronestyl) or
• Promethazine (e.g., Phenergan) or
• Quinidine (e.g., Quinidex) or
• Trimeprazine (e.g., Temaril) - Taking oxybutynin with these medicines may increase the effects of either medicine

Other medical problems - The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of oxybutynin. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Bleeding (severe) - Oxybutynin may increase heart rate, which may make this condition worse

• Colitis (severe) or
• Dryness of mouth (severe and continuing) or
• Enlarged prostate or
• Glaucoma or
• Heart disease or
• Hiatal hernia or
• High blood pressure (hypertension) or
• Intestinal blockage or other intestinal or stomach problems or
• Myasthenia gravis or
• Toxemia of pregnancy or
• Urinary tract blockage or problems with urination - Oxybutynin may make these conditions worse

• Kidney disease or
• Liver disease - Higher blood levels of oxybutynin may occur, which increases the chance of side effects

• Overactive thyroid - Oxybutynin may further increase heart rate