Tolterodine: As effective but better tolerated than oxybutynin in Asian patients with symptoms of overactive bladder

• Published in: International journal of urology Vol. 9; no. 5; pp. 247 - 252
• Main Authors: Lee, Jeong Gu, Hong, Jae Yup, Choo, Myung-Soo, Kwon, Hun Young, Chung, Do Young, Lee, Kyu Sung, Lee, Ji Youl, Lee, Tack
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Pty 01.05.2002
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Benzhydryl Compounds - administration & dosage; Benzhydryl Compounds - adverse effects; Cholinergic Antagonists - administration & dosage; Cholinergic Antagonists - adverse effects; Cresols - administration & dosage; Cresols - adverse effects; Female; Humans; Male; Mandelic Acids - administration & dosage; Mandelic Acids - adverse effects; Middle Aged; Muscarinic Antagonists - administration & dosage; Muscarinic Antagonists - adverse effects; overactive bladder; oxybutynin; Phenylpropanolamine; tolterodine; Tolterodine Tartrate; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence - drug therapy; Urination - drug effects
• ISSN: 0919-8172; 1442-2042
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1442-2042.2002.00460.x

Background: This double‐blind, multicenter study compared the efficacy and tolerability of tolterodine (Pharmacia, Los Angeles, USA) with that of oxybutynin (Alza, Palo Alto, USA) in Asian patients with overactive bladder. Methods: Two‐hundred‐and‐twenty‐eight adults with overactive bladder symptoms were randomized to receive tolterodine 2 mg twice daily (bid) (n = 112) or oxybutynin 5 mg bid (n = 116). After 8 weeks’ treatment, changes in micturition diary variables, patients’ perception of treatment benefit, and tolerability endpoints were determined. Results: The mean (± SD) number of micturitions/24 h decreased by 2.6 ± 2.9 (−21%) with tolterodine and 1.8 ± 4.2 (−15%) with oxybutynin (both P = 0.0001 vs baseline). The mean number of incontinence episodes/24 h decreased by 2.2 ± 2.3 (−85%) in the tolterodine group and by 1.4 ± 1.8 (−58%) in the oxybutynin group (both P = 0.0001 vs baseline). Patient perception of treatment benefit was over 70% in each treatment group. Adverse events were significantly lower in the tolterodine group compared with oxybutynin‐treated patients (55% vs 82%; P = 0.001). Dry mouth was reported by significantly fewer patients on tolterodine, compared with oxybutynin (35% vs 63%; P = 0.001) and withdrawals due to adverse events were lower in the tolterodine group than with those treated with oxybutynin (10% vs 16%). There were no safety concerns. Conclusions: Tolterodine 2 mg bid is equally or more effective than oxybutynin 5 mg bid in the treatment of Asian patients with overactive bladder, and shows significantly better tolerability. This may enhance compliance during long‐term treatment.