Is it possible to cure the symptoms of the overactive bladder in women?

To evaluate the feasibility of discontinuing treatment with mirabegron once symptoms have subsided in patients with overactive bladder (OAB).

The present study evaluated a total of 159 female OAB patients (age 62.9 ± 12.36), each of which were prescribed 50 mg/day mirabegron (Time point 1-T1). Data obtained from voiding diaries and patient-reported outcome variables were assessed during follow-up visits at months 1, 3, 6, 12, 18 (T2), and 21 (T4). At the 18-month visit, patients with an Urgency Bother-Visual Analog Scale score of ≤ 50% were advised to stop treatment with mirabegron. Upon re-emergence or worsening of OAB symptoms, patients were allowed to start taking medication again at their discretion (T3). Statistical analysis was performed using a Chi-square test. An ANOVA analysis and a two-sample t test were used to evaluate differences between groups.

A total of 56 out of 159 (35.3%) patients took 50 mg of mirabegron daily between T1 and T2. A total of 17 out of 56 patients (30.4%) did not meet the criteria for mirabegron discontinuation (Group A). A total of 24 out of 56 patients (42.9%) stopped taking the medication temporarily, but later returned to treatment (Group B). The average time span between T2 and T3 was 53.9 days. Fifteen of 56 patients (26.8%) ceased treatment with mirabegron without starting it again before T4 (Group C). The average time span between T2 and T4, in Group C, was 124.7 days.

A small percentage of OAB patients were able to discontinue mirabegron due to symptom cessation.