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Oxybutynin efficacy in the treatment of primary enuresis
J S Lovering1, S E Tallett, J B McKendry
1Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Oxybutynin did not prove effective for treating primary nocturnal enuresis (bed-wetting) in children. A double-blind study found no significant difference in bed-wetting frequency between oxybutynin and placebo treatments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Urology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Primary nocturnal enuresis affects many children, impacting quality of life.
- Current treatments for enuresis have varying efficacy and side effect profiles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of oxybutynin in treating primary nocturnal enuresis in children.
- To compare oxybutynin's effectiveness against a placebo in a double-blind setting.
Main Methods:
- A double-blind, placebo-controlled study involving 30 children (aged 6+) with primary nocturnal enuresis.
- Participants received either 10 mg oxybutynin or placebo for 28 days, with a crossover to the alternative treatment.
- Data collected included nocturnal bed-wetting episodes and side effects, analyzed using paired t-tests.
Main Results:
- No statistically significant difference was observed in the frequency of nocturnal enuresis between the oxybutynin and placebo treatment periods.
- Efficacy did not vary between genders or in children with prior imipramine use.
Conclusions:
- Oxybutynin at a 10 mg dose is not effective for treating primary nocturnal enuresis in children.
- Further research may be needed to explore alternative pharmacological interventions for enuresis.
Abstract:
The effectiveness of oxybutynin in the treatment of primary enuresis was evaluated in a double-blind study. A total of 30 children (25 boys, five girls), at least 6 years of age, with primary enuresis and no daytime incontinence or history of other urinary tract problems were selected at random from an enuresis clinic population. The study was explained to the families and they were told how to keep records of nocturnal bed-wetting episodes and side effects. The patients were treated with a 10 mg of oxybutynin at suppertime for 28 days. Before or after the treatment period, all children received an identical placebo for 4 weeks. Two-sided paired t tests were used to compare frequency of nocturnal enuresis. Frequency during the drug regimen did not differ significantly from that during the placebo study. There were no differences in findings between boys and girls or between children who had previously taken imipramine and those who had not. The study showed no evidence that oxybutynin is effective in treating primary enuresis.
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