Ditropan
DIT-ro(h)-pan)
oxybutynin hydrochloride (oxy-BEAUT-in-in HIGH-dro(h)-CLOR-ride)
Consumer Medicine Information (CMI)
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Ditropan.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking
to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor or pharmacist has weighed the
risks of you taking Ditropan against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Ditropan is used for
Ditropan is used to decrease the urgency and the frequency of urination. Ditropan
works by relaxing the bladder smooth muscle and helps to decrease muscle spasm. This
delays the initial desire and the urge to urinate.
Your doctor may have prescribed Ditropan for another reason.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about why Ditropan has been
prescribed for you.
There is no evidence that Ditropan is addictive.
This medicine is available only with a doctor's prescription.
Ditropan is not recommended for use in children under the age of 5 years, as there
have been no studies of its effects in children.
When you must not take it
Do not take Ditropan if you have an allergy to Ditropan or any of the ingredients
listed at the end of this leaflet.
Do not take Ditropan if you have:
angle closure glaucoma or shallow anterior chamber - disorders of the eye
partial or complete intestinal blockage; stomach, intestinal or large bowel problems
including colitis (inflammation of the colon)
myasthenia gravis - a disease of the muscles
urinary tract blockage
severe bleeding
Do not take Ditropan if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
The safety of the use of Ditropan in women who are pregnant or may become pregnant
has not been established.
Like most medicines, Ditropan is not recommended for use during pregnancy, unless
you and your doctor or pharmacist have discussed the risks and benefits involved.
Do not take Ditropan if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Like most medicines, Ditropan is not recommended while you are breastfeeding.
Do not give Ditropan to a child under 5 years, unless directed by the child's doctor
or pharmacist.
The safety and effectiveness of Ditropan in children under 5 years have not been established.
Use caution when giving Ditropan to children age 5 years or older.
Children are more sensitive to the effects of Ditropan.
Do not take Ditropan after the expiry date (EXP) printed on the pack.
If you take this medicine after the expiry date has passed, it may not work as well.
Do not take Ditropan if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering or if the
tablets don't quite look right.
If you are not sure whether you should start taking Ditropan, contact your doctor
or pharmacist.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have allergies to:
any other medicines
any other substances, such as foods, preservatives or dyes
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Ditropan
during pregnancy.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.
Your doctor or pharmacist will discuss the possible risks and benefits of using Ditropan
during breastfeeding or if planning to breastfeed.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have or have had any medical conditions, especially
the following:
liver, kidney or heart problems
high blood pressure
thyroid problems
enlarged prostate gland
autonomic neuropathy (a disorder of the nervous system)
angle closure glaucoma or shallow anterior chamber - disorders of the eye
partial or complete intestinal blockage; stomach, intestinal or large bowel problems
including colitis (inflammation of the colon)
myasthenia gravis - a disease of the muscles
Parkinson's disease
urinary tract blockage
severe bleeding
hiatus hernia (movement of the stomach up into the chest with heart burn)
diarrhoea
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before
you start taking Ditropan.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including any
that you buy without a prescription from your pharmacy, supermarket or health food
shop.
Some medicines and Ditropan may interfere with each other. These include:
digoxin - used to treat diseases of the heart (irregular heart rate, chronic heart
failure)
L-dopa - used to treat a disease of the brain affecting movement (Parkinson's disease)
phenothiazines - a group of anti-psychotic drugs
butyrophenones - a group of anti-psychotic drugs
tricyclic antidepressants - used to treat depression
amantidine - used to treat viral infection
hyoscine - a muscle relaxant
prokinetic drugs - medicines used to promote stomach emptying
some antihistamines - used to treat the symptoms of hayfever
These medicines may be affected by Ditropan, or may affect how well it works. You
may need different amounts of your medicine, or you may need to take different medicines.
Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you.
Your doctor and pharmacist may have more information on medicines to be careful with
or avoid while taking Ditropan.
How much to take
Your doctor or pharmacist will tell you how many tablets you will need to take each
day. This depends on your condition and whether or not you are taking any other medicines.
The usual adult dose is one 5mg tablet two to three times per day. Your doctor may
reduce this dosage depending on your general condition.
The usual dose for children over 5 years of age is one 5mg tablet twice a day.
Follow all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist carefully.
These directions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the bottle, ask your doctor or pharmacist
for help.
When to take it
Take Ditropan at about the same time each day.
Taking your tablets at the same time each day will have the best effect. It will
also help you remember when to take the tablets.
How long to take it
Continue taking the tablets for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you.
Ditropan helps control your condition, but does not cure it. Therefore, you must
take Ditropan every day.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed and take your next
dose when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, and then go back to taking your medicine
as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting an unwanted side effect.
If you are not sure what to do, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
If you have trouble remembering to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some
hints.
If you take too much (overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or pharmacist or the Poisons
Information Centre (telephone 13 11 26), or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest
hospital, if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Ditropan.
Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
You may need urgent medical attention.
If you take too much Ditropan, you may feel
restless or excited
flushing, light headedness or dizziness
difficulty in breathing
numbness in the hands or feet
Things you must do
Tell any other doctors, dentists, and pharmacists who are treating you that you are
taking Ditropan.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, tell your doctor, dentist or pharmacist
that you are taking Ditropan.
If you plan to have surgery that needs a general anaesthetic, tell your doctor or
dentist that you are taking Ditropan.
If you become pregnant while taking Ditropan, tell your doctor immediately.
Things you must not do
Do not give Ditropan to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not take Ditropan to treat any other complaints unless your doctor or pharmacist
tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Ditropan may make you sweat less, causing your body temperature to rise. Take extra
care to avoid becoming overheated during exercise or hot weather, since overheating
may result in heat stroke.
This is particularly relevant to children who often run around playing in the hot
sun.
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Ditropan affects you.
Ditropan may cause drowsiness or blurred vision in some people. Make sure you know
how you react to Ditropan before you drive a car, operate machinery, or do anything
else that could be dangerous if you are drowsy or have blurred vision. If this occurs,
do not drive.
Alcohol or other sedatives may increase the drowsiness that may be caused by Ditropan.
Side effects
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, most of the time
they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you
are taking Ditropan.
Ditropan helps most people, but it may have unwanted side effects in a few people.
If you are elderly, you may be especially sensitive to the effects of Ditropan. This
may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following and they worry you:
nausea or vomiting
headache
dryness of the mouth, nose and throat
drowsiness
constipation
decreased sweating
diarrhoea
stomach discomfort
loss of appetite
heartburn
dry skin
nosebleed
muscle weakness, aches or spasms
urinary tract infection
These side effects are usually mild.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately if you notice any of the following:
fast or irregular heartbeat
flushing
dizziness
unusual tiredness or weakness
restlessness or trouble sleeping
hallucinations
nightmares
confusion, nervousness (feeling anxious) or severe suspiciousness (paranoia)
agitation
convulsions, fits or seizures
eye problems, including dry eyes or blurred vision
difficulty urinating
skin rash
decreased flow of breast milk
impotence
These may be serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention. Serious
side effects are rare.
If any of the following happen, tell your doctor or pharmacist immediately or go to
Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital:
fever or heat stroke
numbness in the hands or feet
swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat which may cause difficulty in swallowing
or breathing
hives
fainting
yellowing of the skin and eyes also called jaundice
These are very serious side effects. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalisation.
All of these side effects are very rare.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice anything that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may occur in some patients.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects.
You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Storage
Keep your tablets in the bottle until it is time to take them.
If you take the tablets out of the bottle they will not keep well.
Keep your tablets in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Protect
from light.
Do not store Ditropan or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car on hot days or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines.
Keep it where children cannot reach it.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place
to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor or pharmacist tells you to stop taking Ditropan or the tablets have
passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Return any unused medicine to your pharmacist.
What it looks like
Ditropan tablets are round, light blue in colour, single scored and blank on both
sides. Ditropan is supplied in bottles containing 100 tablets.
