Experiences with
Oxybutynin

ContraindicationsPregnancyHow it's used (previously Dosage and administration)Side effectsInteractions

Oxybutynin is not suitable for some people. For example, check with your doctor if you have an enlarged prostate or heart, kidney or liver problems.

Oxybutynin is not often prescribed during pregnancy. Check with your doctor first.

Oxybutynin comes as standard tablets, slow-release tablets, a liquid, or a skin patch. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Common side effects of oxybutynin include a dry mouth, headache and constipation. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.

It can cause problems to take oxybutynin with some other medicines, such as medicines for Parkinson's disease, irritable bowel syndrome or asthma.

Who can take oxybutynin

Most adults and children aged 5 years old and over can take oxybutynin.

Who may not be able to take oxybutynin

Oxybutynin is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor before starting to take it if you:

have ever had an allergic reaction to oxybutynin, any of its ingredients or any other medicine
have myasthenia gravis, a rare long-term condition that causes muscle weakness
have an eye problem called acute angle closure glaucoma
have difficulty peeing, or an enlarged prostate
have heart problems, including a very fast heart rate or high blood pressure
have thyroid, kidney or liver problems
have dementia or cognitive impairment – oxybutynin may make this worse
have problems digesting food, or have severe constipation
have heart problems, including long QT syndrome, heart failure, irregular or slow heartbeats or cardiomyopathy
have a severe stomach or bowel condition, including a rare complication of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease called toxic megacolon
have a hiatus hernia
have nerve damage that affects blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, pooing, peeing and digestion (autonomic neuropathy)
have digestive problems such as heartburn and acid reflux
are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding

How to take oxybutynin

You can take oxybutynin with or without food.

How to take standard tablets

Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.

How to take slow-release tablets

Slow-release tablets release oxybutynin slowly and evenly throughout the day.

Swallow these tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not break, crush or chew them.

Try to take your tablet at the same time each day. This will help you to remember to take it.

Part of the tablet can pass through your body and you might see it in your poo. Do not worry, this is normal and does not affect the way the medicine works.

How to take liquid

If you're giving this medicine to a child to help stop them wetting the bed, give the last dose just before bedtime.

Oxybutynin liquid will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you do not have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the right amount of medicine.

How to use patches

Oxybutynin patches are applied twice a week.

You stick them to your skin like a plaster.

Follow the instructions that come with the patches.
Remove the old patch before putting on the new one.
Put a patch on clean, dry skin on your stomach, hip or bottom twice a week (every 3 or 4 days).
Change the patch on the same 2 days every week, such as every Sunday and Wednesday, or every Monday and Thursday.
Put the new patch on a different area of your stomach, hips or bottom. Do not put another patch in the same place for at least a week as it may irritate your skin.

Common side effects of oxybutynin

These common side effects of oxybutynin may affect more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Try sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free sweets.

Having a dry mouth can cause tooth decay or a fungal infection. It also might stop medicine that you put under your tongue from dissolving properly, such as medicine for angina.

Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Talk to your doctor if your headache is severe or does not get better.

Do not drive, cycle, use tools, or operate machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol, as this may make your symptoms worse.

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.

If you take the combined pill or progestogen-only pill and you have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if diarrhoea lasts more than 1 or 2 days.

Try small frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.

If you take the combined pill or progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if vomiting lasts more than 1 or 2 days.

Get more fibre into your diet, such as fresh fruit, vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise more regularly, for example, by going for a daily walk or run.

Eat less foods that cause wind, like lentils, peas, beans and onions. It might also help to eat smaller and more frequent meals, eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly. Ask your pharmacist about remedies you can buy to help with trapped wind.

Try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or a covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help.

If you're in a lot of sudden, severe pain, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or optician to recommend some eye drops for dry eyes. If you wear contact lenses and these become uncomfortable, you might prefer to wear glasses instead while you're taking oxybutynin.

Do not drive or cycle until you can see clearly again. Do not take your next dose of oxybutynin if your vision is still blurred. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if your vision has not returned to normal a day after taking your last dose.

Try to relax when you pee. Do not try to force the flow of pee. If it does not happen, try again later.

Talk to a doctor urgently if you cannot pee at all.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Oxybutynin and pregnancy

Oxybutynin is occasionally used in pregnancy when bladder symptoms are severe and cannot be controlled any other way.

If you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether taking oxybutynin is right for you.

Oxybutynin and breastfeeding

It's OK to take oxybutynin if you're breastfeeding, but talk to your doctor first.

It's not known how much oxybutynin gets into breast milk, but it's likely to be a tiny amount. Your baby will not be able to absorb a lot into their body from the breast milk, and it should not cause them any side effects.

As a precaution, talk to your health visitor, midwife, doctor, or pharmacist or call 111 as soon as possible if you have any concerns about your baby, including if they:

are not feeding as well as usual or not putting on weight as you would expect
are unusually sleepy or irritable
have constipation or are peeing less (fewer wet nappies)

Cautions with other medicines

Oxybutynin may affect the way other medicines work, and other medicines may affect how oxybutynin works.

Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:

amantadine, a medicine used for Parkinson's disease or for infections
levodopa, used to treat Parkinson's disease
phenothiazines, clozapine, haloperidol or benperidol, medicines for mental health problems
donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine or tacrine, medicines used for dementia
amitriptyline, imipramine or dosulepin (tricyclic antidepressants), medicines for depression
medicines used to make you feel sleepy (sedatives)
anti-sickness medicines like prochlorperazine
medicines for stomach and bowel problems like domperidone or metoclopramide
digoxin, quinidine or disopyramide, medicines used to treat heart problems
dipyridamole, used to treat blood problems
chlorphenamine or diphenhydramine, medicines used to treat allergies
any medicines used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, incontinence, motion sickness or movement disorders related to Parkinson's disease, that work in a similar way to oxybutynin
erythromycin or other macrolide antibiotics used to treat bacterial infections