Oxybutynin
Oxybutynin is an antimuscarinic tablet for overactive bladder, easing urgency, frequency and urge leaks; the shop lists plain oxybutynin and Ditropan, both as 2.5mg and 5mg tablets.
Oxybutynin
Oxybutynin
2.5/5mg
Oxybutynin tablets in 2.5mg and 5mg strengths, an anticholinergic taken to calm an overactive bladder and cut down sudden, hard-to-control urges to urinate.
Oxybutynin for urgency and leaks
Oxybutynin is one of the longest-established tablets for overactive bladder: the sudden, hard-to-ignore need to pass urine, trips every hour or two, getting up at night, and leaking on the way to the toilet (urge incontinence). It is also used for bladder instability caused by a nerve problem (neurogenic bladder), including in children.
Oxybutynin is an antimuscarinic, and the name tells you how it acts. Muscarinic receptors on the bladder wall pick up the signal from acetylcholine that makes the muscle squeeze. Oxybutynin occupies them, the signal is lost, and the bladder holds more urine before the urge arrives. Do not judge it by the first tablet; the change takes a week or two.
The two oxybutynin listings
Both listings are the same ingredient in 2.5mg and 5mg tablets, and the choice is mostly the name on the pack. Oxybutynin is the plain-name listing; Ditropan carries the brand name Ditropan. The 2.5mg tablet is the gentle strength for a first week or for older people, who are more sensitive to the effects, and 5mg is the standard tablet. Tablets of this size are usually taken two or three times a day. Keep them at room temperature, away from damp.
What it can do to you
Dry mouth leads the list, with constipation, blurred vision, drowsiness, dizziness and flushing close behind. Sipping water and sugar-free gum ease the dryness. Oxybutynin also reduces sweating, so in hot weather the body can overheat; go carefully in a heatwave or after exercise.
Confusion or hallucinations, especially in older people and children, a fast heartbeat, being unable to pass urine, and swelling of the face or tongue need urgent attention.
Who should avoid it and what to mix with care
Oxybutynin is not used with narrow-angle glaucoma, a blocked gut, severe ulcerative colitis, myasthenia gravis, or when the bladder cannot empty properly. Alcohol, sleeping tablets and sedating antihistamines add to drowsiness, and tricyclic antidepressants and other drying medicines stack on the dry mouth and constipation. Antifungals such as ketoconazole and itraconazole, and the antibiotic clarithromycin, raise oxybutynin levels, and dementia medicines like donepezil work against it. More choices for the same problem are in the bladder category.
Sources
- Oxybutynin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Definition & Facts for Bladder Control Problems (Urinary Incontinence) - NIDDK — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Where can I buy Oxybutynin in Hong Kong?
Oxybutynin can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists plain Oxybutynin tablets and generic Ditropan, both as 2.5mg and 5mg tablets. An order can be cancelled within 24 hours if it has not been dispatched, and support answers around the clock in English and Cantonese.
How much does Oxybutynin cost?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. Each of the two oxybutynin products listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Oxybutynin?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order oxybutynin. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the other names for oxybutynin?
Ditropan and Oxytrol are brand names of oxybutynin, which is also sold as Kentera. Here, oxybutynin can be bought online as generic Ditropan and oxybutynin tablets. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does oxybutynin take to work?
A tablet starts acting within an hour or so and its effect is spread over several hours. The bigger change in urgency, frequency and night-time trips builds over a week or two of regular use.
What is the difference between oxybutynin and Ditropan?
Same ingredient, same 2.5mg and 5mg tablet strengths. Ditropan is a brand name and Oxybutynin is the plain name, so the difference is the name and packaging rather than the medicine inside.
Why does oxybutynin cause a dry mouth?
The same receptor-blocking that calms the bladder also reduces saliva, because saliva glands use those receptors too. Frequent sips of water, sugar-free gum and good tooth care help, and it often eases a little over the first weeks.
Is oxybutynin safe in hot weather?
Take extra care. Oxybutynin reduces sweating, which is how the body cools itself, so overheating becomes more likely on hot days or during exercise. Drink fluids, rest in the shade and avoid long spells in the heat.