Brand Name

Ditropan {Ortho-McNeil}

Generic Name

oxybutynin, pronounced OX i BUE ti nin

What is Ditropan?

Ditropan is a medication that treats the symptoms of overactive bladder, or OAB. Your doctor may have prescribed Ditropan for you to treat the symptoms of overactive bladder, like incontinence or frequent and urgent urination. Ditropan works by reducing spasms of your bladder and urinary tract.

Ditropan may also be used for conditions that are not described in this medication guide.

Key Facts About Ditropan

Ditropan is in FDA pregnancy category B. Ditropan is not known to harm an unborn baby. You should tell your doctor if you are pregnant, or if you plan to become pregnant before you start to take Ditropan. You should not use Ditropan without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby, as we do not know if Ditropan passes into breast milk.

Ditropan may cause you to be more prone to heat stroke. Take care to stay well hydrated when outdoors in the heat or exercising while taking this medication.

Before You Take Ditropan

You should not use Ditropan if you are allergic to oxybutynin.

You may not be a candidate to take Ditropan if you have untreated or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.

If you are unable to urinate, or have a blockage of your urinary tract, stomach or intestines you should not take Ditropan.

Tell your doctor if you have an enlarged prostate, liver disease, kidney disease or glaucoma before starting treatment with Ditropan.

Let your doctor know if you have myasthenia gravis, ulcerative colitis, slow digestion or a stomach disorder like gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD before taking Ditropan.

Ditropan Drug Interactions

You should inform your doctor if you are taking any of the following:

• antibiotics like clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., EryPed, Ery-Tab, Erythrocin, Pediazole), levofloxacin (Levaquin), moxifloxacin (Avelox), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), rifampin (Rifater, Rifadin, Rifamate) and telithromycin (Ketek)
• antidepressants like amitriptyline (Elavil, Etrafon), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), clomipramine (Anafranil), desipramine (Norpramin), doxepin (Sinequan), imipramine (Janimine, Tofranil), nortriptyline (Pamelor) and paroxetine (Paxil)
• antifungal medications like itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• atropine (Donnatal)
• bladder or urinary medications like darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), tolterodine (Detrol) and solifenacin (Vesicare)
• benztropine (Cogentin)
• bronchodilators like ipratroprium (Atrovent) and tiotropium (Spiriva)
• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• flecainide (Tambocor)
• glycopyrrolate (Robinul)
• HIV or AIDS medications like nelfinavir (Viracept) and ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra)
• irritable bowel medications like dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Anaspaz, Cystospaz, Levsin) and propantheline (Pro-Banthine)
• mepenzolate (Cantil)
• methscopolamine (Pamine)
• scopolamine (Transderm-Scop)
• thioridazine (Mellaril)

Other drugs you take that are not listed may interact with Ditropan. You should tell your doctor about all of the medications you use. This includes prescription drugs, vitamins, supplements and herbal products, and over the counter medications. You should not begin taking a new medication without telling your doctor first.

Directions for Taking Ditropan

You should take Ditropan exactly as your doctor has prescribed you to. Do not use Ditropan in larger or smaller amounts, or for shorter or longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label exactly.

You should take Ditropan with a full glass (8 oz.) of water.

You can take Ditropan with or without food.

Do not break, chew or crush the Ditropan tablet. You should swallow the tablet whole.

Take your dose of Ditropan at the same time each day.

If you miss a dose of Ditropan you should attempt to take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose do not take the missed dose in addition to your regular dose.

Keep Ditropan at room temperature, and away from both heat and moisture. Be sure to keep the bottle tightly closed.

Ditropan Side Effects

If you experience any of the following adverse effects you should stop taking Ditropan and seek medical help immediately:

• allergic reaction that includes breathing difficulties, hives and swelling of your face, lips, throat or tongue
• constipation and severe stomach pain
• eye pain with blurry vision or seeing halos around lights
• hot, dry skin and extreme thirst
• pain or burning when you urinate
• urinating less than usual or not at all

Less serious Ditropan side effects may include:

• blurred vision
• diarrhea
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• dry eyes
• dry mouth
• headache
• insomnia or sleeping problems
• nausea
• runny nose
• stomach upset or pain
• weakness

It should be noted that this is not a complete list of possible side effects of Ditropan. You should contact your physician for a complete list and medical advice regarding these effects.

Ditropan Description and Dosing

Ditropan is available as a 5 mg tablet which is blue, scored, and engraved with Ditropan on one side with 92 and 00, separated by a horizontal score, on the other side.

If you suspect that you have overdosed with the Ditropan you should seek emergency help immediately.

Ingredients in Ditropan

Ditropan contains the active ingredient oxybutynin chloride. Inactive ingredients include calcium stearate, FD&C Blue #1 Lake, lactose, and microcrystalline cellulose.

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The information contained in this drug guide is intended as an educational resource only. This guide is not exhaustive and does not contain all available information about this drug.This guide is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatment.

The information provided in this guide does not replace the need for the advice and services of medical professionals or the need for medical examination. Always talk to your physician or pharmacist before taking any prescription medication or over the counter drugs (including any supplements) or before making any changes to your treatment. Only your doctor, nurse or pharmacist can provide you with safe and effective advice regarding your drug treatment.

The use of the information in this guide is at your sole risk. This information is provided "AS IS" with no warranties to accuracy or timeliness.

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