Efficacy and Tolerability of Tolterodine Compared to Oxybutynin in Children with a Neurogenic Bladder

Kim, Kwang Myung; Lee, Sang Wook

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and adverse effects of oral tolterodine compared to oxybutynin in children with a neurogenic bladder.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
16 patients, with persistent daytime or nighttime wetting after oxybutynin medication for the treatment of a neurogenic bladder, were enrolled. All 16 patients had been crossed-over from oxybutynin to tolterodine due to serious side effects or lack of improvement. The mean age was 6.4 years (range 3 to 11), and the mean body weight was 22kg (range 16 to 33). All patients were initially treated with oral tolterodine, 2mg, twice daily. The efficacy of tolterodine was assessed in comparison to oxybutynin, and considered as improved with a greater than 50% reduction in wetting episodes, as stationary with a less than 50% reduction or as increased or aggravated with a greater than 50% increase. The tolerability was also assessed using a questionnaire for adverse events.
RESULTS
The mean duration of tolterodine treatment was 193 days (range 14 to 940). After treatment with an initial tolterodine dose of 2mg bid, 5 patients (31%) were improved, 8 (50%) were stationary and 3 (19%) were aggravated. Overall, the initial tolterodine dose showed equal efficacy to that of oxybutynin (p=0.483). Of the 16 patients, side effects developed in 12 (75%) during the oxybutynin treatment, whereas only 2 (13%) developed side effects during the tolterodine treatment (p=0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Compared to oxybutynin, tolterodine was well tolerated in children, allowing greater compliance and offering an equally effective treatment for neurogenic incontinence in children with a neurogenic bladder. Therefore, it seems that tolterodine can be safely and effectively used to replace oxybutynin in children with a neurogenic bladder.