Oxybutynin should be used with caution in the frail elderly and in children who may be more sensitive to the effects of the product and in patients with autonomic neuropathy (such as those with Parkinson's disease), hepatic or renal impairment and severe gastro-intestinal motility disorders (also see section 4.3).
Anticholinergics should be used with caution in elderly patients due to the risk of cognitive impairment.
Gastrointestinal disorders: Anticholinergic medicinal products may decrease gastrointestinal motility and should be used with caution in patients with gastrointestinal obstructive disorders, intestinal atony and ulcerative colitis.
Oxybutynin may aggravate tachycardia (and thus hyperthyroidism, congestive heart failure, coronary heart disease, cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension), cognitive disorders and symptoms of prostatic hypertrophy.
Anticholinergic CNS effects (e.g. hallucinations, agitation, confusion, somnolence) have been reported; monitoring recommended especially in first few months after initiating therapy or increasing the dose; consider discontinuing therapy or reducing the dose if anticholinergic CNS effects develop.
Since oxybutynin can cause narrow-angle glaucoma, patients should be advised to contact a physician immediately if they are aware of a sudden loss of visual acuity or ocular pain.
Oxybutynin may reduce salivary secretions which could result in dental caries, parodontosis or oral candidiasis.
Anticholinergic medicinal products should be used with caution in patients who have hiatus hernia/gastro-oesophageal reflux and/or who are concurrently taking medicinal products (such as bisphosphonates) that can cause or exacerbate esophagitis.
When oxybutynin is used in high environmental temperatures, this can cause heat prostration due to decreased sweating.
Paediatric population
Oxybutynin hydrochloride is not recommended for use in children below age 5 years due to insufficient data on safety and efficacy.
There is limited evidence supporting the use of Oxybutynin in children with monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis (not related to detrusor overactivity).
In children over 5 years of age, Oxybutynin hydrochloride should be used with caution as they may be more sensitive to the effects of the product, particularly the CNS and psychiatric adverse reactions.
Excipient Warnings
This product contains:
Methyl parahydroxybenzoate (E218): This may cause allergic reactions (possibly delayed).
Sorbitol (E420): This medicinal product contains 896mg sorbitol in each 5ml dose which is equivalent to 179.2mg/ml. Patients with hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) should not take/be given this medicinal product. Sorbitol may cause gastrointestinal discomfort and mild laxative effect.
Sodium: This medicinal product contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 5ml dose, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
Propylene glycol (E1520): This medicinal product contains 15.5mg propylene glycol in each 5ml dose which is equivalent to 3.1mg/ml.