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- Oxybutynin Tablets
Oxybutynin hydrochloride belongs to a group of medicines called anticholinergics and antispasmodics.
It works by relaxing the muscles of the bladder and stops sudden muscle contractions (spasms). This helps control the release of urine.
Oxybutynin Tablets can be used in adults to treat the following:
- Loss of control in passing urine (urinary incontinence)
- Increased need or urgency to pass urine
Adults:
- The usual dose is 5mg taken two or three times a day.
- This may be increased to a maximum dose of 5mg four times a day.
Elderly (including frail elderly):
- The usual dose is 2.5mg twice a day.
- This dose may be increased to 5mg twice a day.
• Angle-closure glaucoma
• Gastro-intestinal obstruction
• Intestinal atony
• Myasthenia gravis (but some antimuscarinics may be used to decrease muscarinic side-effects of anticholinesterases)
• Paralytic ileus
• Pyloric stenosis
• Severe ulcerative colitis
• Significant bladder outflow obstruction
• Toxic megacolon
• Urinary retention
Very common side effects (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)
- Blurred vision
- Dizziness
- Feeling sick (nausea)
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Headache
- Feeling drowsy or sleepy (somnolence)
- Dry skin
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Difficulty passing urine
- Confusion
- Diarrhoea
- Being sick (vomiting)
- Dry eyes
- Flushing of the face (especially in children)
- A forceful heartbeat that may be rapid or irregular
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Decreased appetite
- Stomach pain
- Loss of appetite (anorexia)
- Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia)
Other side effects (frequency not known)
- Eye pain, red eyes and reduced vision caused by pressure inside the eye rising (angle closure glaucoma)
- Increased eye pressure (ocular hypertension)
- Enlargement of the pupil (mydriasis)
- Nose bleeds (epistaxis)
- Faster heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Fits (convulsions)
- Dependence on Oxybutynin (in patients with a history of dependency)
- Depression
- Unfounded or excessive fears about others (paranoia)
- Seeing or hearing things that are not real (hallucinations)
- Feeling agitated
- Urinary tract infection
- Indigestion or heart burn (acid reflux)
- Anxiety
- Nightmares
- Impaired brain function, particularly in the elderly (e.g. memory loss, forgetfulness, confusion)
- Drowsiness
- Not knowing where you are (disorientation)
- Irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Heat stroke
- Delay or difficulty passing urine
- Skin rashes with the formation of wheals (urticaria)
- Reduced sweating (hypohidrosis)
- Increased sensitivity of eyes and skin to sunlight (photosensitivity)
- Muscle disorders such as muscle weakness, muscle pain (myalgia) and/or muscle spasms
