THURSDAY, Feb. 27, 2003 (HealthDayNews) -- The first skin patch to treat symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, manufacturer Watson Pharmaceuticals says.
Oxytrol controls the condition estimated to affect 33 million Americans, more than either diabetes or asthma, Watson says. OAB is characterized by involuntary bladder muscle contractions that often cannot be suppressed, resulting in involuntary discharge of urine.
Side effects of standard drug treatments for OAB -- like dry mouth and constipation -- were found to be comparable to a non-medicinal placebo in clinical trials of Oxytrol. The company says a primary side effect of the patch was a skin reaction where the product was adhered. Oxytrol is meant to be applied twice weekly to the abdomen, hip or buttock.
The product delivers a steady stream of 3.9 milligrams per day of the medication oxybutynin through the skin to the bladder, bypassing the liver and gastrointestinal system. Oxytrol, which provides relief of OAB symptoms for up to four days, shouldn't be used by people who suffer from urinary retention, gastric retention, uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma, or sensitivity to the product's active ingredient, the company says.
Here is the Watson Pharmaceuticals press release announcing the approval. For more information about OAB, visit the National Library of Medicine.
