Comparison of efficacy and side-effects of Oxybutynin and Tolterodine in the treatment of overactive bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) is one of the most prevalent diseases of lower urinary system. OAB disease is defined by the Standardization Subcommittee of the International Continence Society as urinary urgency, with or without urge incontinence, usually with frequency and nocturia with no proven infection or other obvious pathology. Treatment with the antimuscarinic agents tolterodine and oxybutynin is the mainstay of therapy for overactive bladder. The study was undertaken to compare the efficacy and side-effects of tolterodine and oxybutynin in a number of Iranian women.

This study consisted of two trials and done in Imam Khomeini Hospital in 2009; in one trial, 50 patients with overactive bladder were randomized to 4 weeks of treatment with 2 mg of twice-daily tolterodine, and in the other to 5 mg of three times a day oxybutynin. Urodynamic investigations, Episodes of urge urinary incontinence and adverse events were also evaluated.

The results showed a good association between the questionnaire and cystometry data but urodynamic studies showed significant differences in efficacy. Tow groups showed significant improvements in all Symptoms, but The results showed that the two drugs had no significant differences in efficacy.

The data obtained by questionnaire indicated that both drugs increased quality of life but there were no significant differences between the two in symptom cure. Dry mouth was the most common side-effect in the two groups but unlike other studies it was higher in the tolterodine group. Therefore, our study did not show any preference between oxybutynin and tolterodine.