Oxytrol for Women
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) is an over-the-counter anticholinergic medication. It's a patch that's applied onto the skin and is used to treat urinary incontinence (overactive bladder) in women. The patch is applied every 4 days. Common side effects include itchiness and redness where you placed the patch on the skin and dry mouth.
Note: Oxytrol for Women is specifically for women. There's a prescription-only version for men called Oxytrol.
What is Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)?
What is Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) used for?
- Overactive bladder in women
How Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) works
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) is an anticholinergic medication. It's also known as an antimuscarinic.
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) works by blocking a chemical in the body called acetylcholine from attaching to muscarinic receptors in the bladder. This causes your bladder muscles to relax, which helps with bladder control and lowering the urge or need to urinate.
Drug facts
Side effects of Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Common Side Effects
Less Common Side Effects
- Bumpy skin around where the patch is placed
- Diarrhea
- Painful urination
- Constipation
- Abnormal vision
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) serious side effects
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
- Severe skin reaction near the patch: severe itchiness, severe redness, blisters
- Severe allergic reaction: swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat; trouble breathing
- Side effects related to the nervous system: confusion, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't there)
More on Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) side effects
The following Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) side effects have also been reported
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
Bladder pain
blistering, crusting, irritation, itching, or reddening of the skin
bloody or cloudy urine
burning, skin rash, swelling, soreness, redness, pain, itching, or irritation at the application site
cracked, dry, or scaly skin
difficult, burning, or painful urination
frequent urge to urinate
lower back or side pain
unusually warm skin
Incidence not known
Confusion as to time, place, or person
holding false beliefs that cannot be changed by fact
seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
unusual excitement, nervousness, or restlessness
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Less common
Back pain
bloated feeling
changes in vision
excess air or gas in the stomach or intestines
feeling of fullness
muscle aches
passing gas
sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
Incidence not known
Forgetfulness
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Pros and cons of Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)
Pros
- Available over the counter
- Applied every 4 days
- Typically has less side effects than oxybutynin pills that are taken by mouth
Cons
- Might have skin irritation and itching
- Not meant to be used by men or children
- Not available as a lower-cost generic
Pharmacist tips for Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)
- Talk to a healthcare professional before you use Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) if you have symptoms of diabetes (e.g., feeling very thirsty or hungry), unexplained weight loss, or liver or kidney problems. It's possible that frequent urination is a symptom of other health problems besides overactive bladder.
- Don't use Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) without talking to your primary care provider first if you're currently taking other prescription medications for overactive bladder, antibiotics, or antifungal medications. Taking certain types of these medications with Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) can raise the risk for side effects.
- Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) can make you dizzy, sleepy, and confused. It might also cause blurry vision. Don't drive, operate machinery, or do anything that requires concentration until you know how this medication affects you.
- It's best not to drink alcohol while you're using Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin). Alcohol can worsen side effects like dizziness and sleepiness.
- Stay hydrated while you're taking Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) to help with dry mouth from the medication. Drinking water also helps prevent your body from overheating easily (especially when it's hot). This medication can cause your body to make less saliva and sweat. Sweating less makes it hard for your body to cool down.
- Stop using Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) and contact your primary care provider if your overactive bladder symptoms don't improve after 2 weeks, if they worsen, or if you have any new symptoms. Also let your primary care provider know if you feel that you can't empty your bladder. They can examine you and see what's going on.
- Stop using Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) and get medical help if you have severe redness, itchiness, or blistering where you put the patch. Also get medical help right away if you have any other allergic reaction (e.g., trouble breathing).
How to use Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin):
- Apply 1 Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) patch onto the skin every 4 days. Place each new patch on a different area of the body to help prevent skin irritation. Don't wear more than 1 patch at a time.
- How to apply Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin): Apply the sticky side of the patch onto the skin at your stomach, hips, or buttocks. Press your hand over the patch so it sticks well. Wear the patch under your clothes so it's protected from light.
- Make sure the skin where you stick Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) onto is clean, dry, and smooth. Don't apply the patch onto skin that's irritated, damaged with cuts or scrapes, or oily. Also don't place the patch onto skin that has oils, lotions, or powders on it because the patch might not stick well.
- If your Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) patch falls off, you can try to press it back onto the same spot on the skin. But if the patch doesn't stay on at all, replace it with a new patch on a different area of skin. Continue with your normal patch replacement schedule.
- When you take off the patch, slowly peel it off from the skin and fold it in half so the sticky sides come together. Throw the folded patch in a trash bin where children and pets can't get into. Used patches still contain medication that can be harmful for children and pets if it accidentally gets on their skin or in their mouth.
Common questions about Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)
In a small clinical study, people who used oxybutynin patches had on average about 5 fewer bathroom accidents per day after 6 weeks of treatment. These results were similar between people who used oxybutynin patches and people who took oxybuytnin tablets. Keep in mind that each person can have different results while they're using Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin). Follow up with your primary care provider if you have questions about how well the medication is working for you.
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) should start to control overactive bladder within two weeks, especially when it's used together with lifestyle changes, if you use the medication as directed (applying 1 patch every 4 days). Lifestyle changes can include bladder training and pelvic floor exercises. Keep in mind that everyone can have a different experience with Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin). Talk to your primary care provider if you're concerned with how long it's taking the medication to improve your bladder control.
The manufacturer made Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) specifically for women with overactive bladder, not men. The reason could be that men with bladder problems need to get examined by a healthcare professional to rule out more serious causes, such as prostate issues. Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) was made available over-the-counter for women because studies show that women could correctly point out symptoms of overactive bladder, understand safety issues with the medication, and properly decide whether it's appropriate for them without needing a healthcare professional.
Apply the Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) patch to the stomach, hip, or buttocks area. Put each new patch on a different area of the body when you're replacing it to help prevent skin irritation. Place the patch onto clean, dry, and smooth skin. Avoid sticking the patch on any skin that's irritated, oily, or damaged with cuts or scrapes. Also avoid any areas of skin that you applied oil, lotion, or powder to so that the patch sticks well.
Don't cut the Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) patch into smaller pieces. Too much medication can get released from the patch and into your body at one time, which can lead to serious side effects. Talk to your primary care provider if you can't find a place on your body where the entire patch fits.
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) is available over the counter, which means that you can buy it at a local pharmacy (if it's in stock). Ask the pharmacy to help you find the medication in the store if you can't find it on your own.
Oxybutynin, the active ingredient in Oxytrol For Women, also comes in pill form that's taken by mouth. The pill form comes as an immediate-release and an extended-release version. The immediate-release pill is taken 3 or 4 times per day and the extended-release pill is taken once per day. In comparison, Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) is a patch that's worn on the skin and replaced every 4 days. Oxybutynin pills are available as lower-cost generics but require a prescription. Oppositely, Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) is a brand-name medication only but is found over the counter. Speak with your primary care provider about which form of oxybutynin is best for you.
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Risks and warnings for Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Side effects related to the nervous system
- Risk factors: Taking other medications that cause nervous system side effects
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) can cause sleepiness, dizziness, and confusion. These side effects can be more intense if you drink alcohol while you're taking Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin). They can also be worse if you take Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) with other medications that can make you tired, such as certain antihistamines and muscle relaxers.
Let your primary care provider know if you have any sleepiness, dizziness, or confusion that negatively affect your usual daily activities while you're taking Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin). Don't drive or do any activities that require a lot of attention until you know how Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) makes you feel.
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) dosage
Patch| Dosage | Quantity | Price as low as | Price per unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9mg | 16 patches | $54.37 | $3.40 |
Typical dosage for Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)
Each patch provides 3.9 mg of oxybutynin per day.
Apply 1 patch to dry, clean skin on your stomach, hips, or buttocks every 4 days. Make sure that you take off the used patch before you apply a new one onto the skin.
Interactions between Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) and other drugs
More on Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Potassium
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Bupropion
- Clozapine
- Donepezil
- Glucagon
- Glycopyrrolate
- Glycopyrronium Tosylate
- Methacholine
- Quetiapine
- Revefenacin
- Scopolamine
- Secretin Human
- Tiotropium
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
How much does Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) cost?
$54.37
Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) contraindications
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin) will not be safe for you to take.
- Have signs of a urinary tract infection (UTI), such as pain or burning when urinating, bloody urine, unexplained lower back pain or side pain, cloudy or foul-smelling urine
- Only have bathroom accidents when you cough, sneeze, or laugh
- Male
- Younger than 18 years old
- Glaucoma
- Can't urinate or completely empty your bladder (urinary retention), such as with an enlarged prostate
- Stomach or intestinal blockage
What are alternatives to Oxytrol for Women (oxybutynin)?
