Oxybutynin

What is this oxybutynin?

Oxybutynin is a medicine that helps relax the bladder muscle in patients who have an overactive bladder. It lessens your child's urge and frequency to urinate and can help reduce bedwetting. Oxybutynin belongs to a class of medicines called anticholinergics.

You may hear oxybutynin called by its brand names, Oxybutyn, Teva-Oxybutynin or PMS-Oxybutynin. Oxybutynin comes in tablet and liquid form.

Before giving this medicine to your child?

Tell your child's doctor if your child has:

• A history of allergic reaction to oxybutynin or other anticholinergics (eg. glycopyrrolate, scopolamine, hyoscine, belladonna)
• Difficulty passing urine
• Severe cardiovascular disease (disease of the heart or blood vessels)
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Myasthenia gravis (immune disease that causes severe muscle weakness)

Talk with your child's doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• Kidney disease
• Liver disease
• Overactive thyroid
• Autonomic neuropathy (damage to nerves)

How should you give your child oxybutynin

When giving your child oxybutynin:

• give oxybutynin exactly as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better
• give oxybutynin at the same time(s) every day
• give this medicine with or without food. Take with food if it causes an upset stomach.

If giving oxybutynin tablets:

• The tablets should be swallowed whole, with water
• If your child is unable to swallow whole tablets, the tablets may be crushed and mixed with orange juice or sprinkled on soft foods such as apple sauce, and given right away

If giving oxybutynin as a liquid:

• Measure the liquid carefully. Use a proper measuring device such as an oral syringe, medicine dropper, medicine spoon, or medicine cup

• You can mix oxybutynin with water, infant formula, fruit juice, or ginger ale to help mask the? taste of the medicine
• Children with feeding tubes can also take the medicine. Make sure to flush the feeding tube before and after each dose

What should you do if your child misses a dose?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child two doses to make up for one missed dose.

How long does oxybutynin take to work?

Your child may start to feel better a few days after starting oxybutynin.

What are the possible side effects of oxybutynin?

Your child may have some of these side effects while he takes oxybutynin. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects, if they do not go away, or if they bother your child:

• Dry eye, mouth or nose
• Drowsiness
  
• Trouble having a bowel movement
• Decreased sweating

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• Allergic reaction: itching, hives, swelling, chest tightness, trouble breathing
• Change in heartbeat
• Trouble seeing or blurred vision
• Not able to pass urine
  
• Fever
• Change in mood or behaviour (eg. seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there) 
  Seizures

What safety measures should you take when your child is taking oxybutynin?

Oxybutynin may cause your child to be dizzy, drowsy, or less alert. Have your child avoid activities that require him to be alert (for example riding a bicycle, rollerblading, contact sports). Schoolwork may be more difficult for your child to focus on so tell your child's teacher that he is taking this medicine.

Oxybutynin may make your child's mouth and throat dry. Sucking a hard, sugarless candy or chewing sugarless gum will help your child feel more comfortable.

Oxybutynin may make your child's eyes more sensitive to light than normal. He may feel more comfortable by wearing sunglasses and staying away from bright lights.

Oxybutynin may make your child sweat less. This may cause his body temperature to rise. Be careful that your child does not become overheated during exercise or in hot weather while he is taking this medicine.

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with oxybutynin or in some cases the dose of oxybutynin or the other medicine may need to be adjusted. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter or herbal) including the following.

Medicines that belong to the anticholinergic class:

• Tolterodine (Detrol)
• Atropine (Atropine 1% eye drops, diphenoxylate atropine (Lomotil))
• Ipratropium (Atrovent)
• Antidepressants, antipsychotics, or medicines used to treat anxiety
• Antihistamines (eg. diphenhydramine (Benadryl))
  

Medicines that can cause drowsiness:

• Pain medications (eg. morphine)
  
• Sleeping medications (eg. lorazepam)
• Medicines used to treat fungal infection, such as Ketoconazole

What other important information should you know?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Make sure you always have enough oxybutynin to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep oxybutynin at room temperature in a cool, dry place away from sunlight. Do not store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep oxybutynin out of your child’s sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much oxybutynin, call your local Poison Information Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free. 

• Call 1-844 POISON-X, or 1-844-764-7669, from anywhere in Canada except Quebec.
• Call 1-800-463-5060 if you live in Quebec.