Ditropan XL

What is it?

An anticholinergic/antispasmodic preparation available as sustained-release tablets in two different strengths; yellow tablets contain 5mg of oxybutin hydrochloride and are marked 5XL; pinl tablets contain 10mg of oxybutin hydrochloride and are marked 10XL. Also, DITROPAN, available as tablets in two different strengths; blue, containing 2.5mg of oxybutin hydrochloride and scored blue, containing 5mg. All are marked with strength and OXB. Also, DITROPAN ELIXIR, containing 2.5mg per 5ml of oxybutin hydrochloride.

Medical Uses

Urinary frequency, urgency and incontinence caused by neurogenic bladder instability and other conditions relating to the detrusor muscle of the bladder. Ditropan and Ditropan Elixir additionally used for nocturnal enuresis (involuntary urination/ bedwetting) in children.

Dosage

Adults, Ditropan XL, 5mg once each day at first increasing as required every week to reach minimum effective dose. The daily maximum is 30mg. Ditropan and Ditropan Elixir, 5mg 2 to 4 times each day to a daily maximum of 20mg. Elderly persons, 2.5mg twice each day, increasing to 5mg twice daily if required and if tolerated. Children over 5 years old, 2.5mg twice each day increasing if necessary and tolerated to 5mg up to 3 times daily with last dose at bedtime.

Special Care

Pregnancy, elderly or frailpatients, liver or kidney disease, over active thyroid gland, high blood pres sure, congestive heart failure, coro nary artery disease, cardiacarrhythmias, raised heartbeat rate, hiatus hernia, enlarged prostate gland, autonomic neuropathy, impaired mo tility of gastrointestinal tract, in hotconditions (risk of exhaustion/prostation).

Avoid Use

Breastfeeding, bladder or bowel obstruction, severe ulcerative colitis, glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, intestinal atony (weak), toxic megacolon (a serious complication of ulcerative colitis, involving massive dilatation of the colon), paralytic ileus (absence of intestinal movement).

Possible Drug and Food Interactions

Levodopa, digoxin, butyrophenones, amantadine, phenothiazines, tricyclic antidepressants, anticholinergics.

Known Side Effects

Facial flushes, anticholiner gic effects (limit transmission ofparasympathetic nerve impulses).

Manufacturer

Janssen-Cilag.