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oxybutynin (oxybutynin, TIMERx / Ditropan CR / Cystrin CR)

✓ Approved

Takeda · CHRM1 · Small Molecule

What is oxybutynin?

oxybutynin is a small molecule developed by Takeda. It is approved for therapeutic indications via oral (po).

Drug Profile

Brand Namesoxybutynin, TIMERx, Ditropan CR, Cystrin CR
CompanyTakeda
Drug ClassSmall Molecule
Molecular TargetCHRM1, CHRM2, CHRM3, CHRM4
RouteOral (PO)
StatusApproved
Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, Takeda

Mechanism of Action

Molecular Targets

oxybutynin acts on 4 molecular targets:

CHRM1cholinergic receptor muscarinic 1 (M1, HM1)
CHRM2cholinergic receptor muscarinic 2 (HM2)
CHRM3cholinergic receptor muscarinic 3 (HM3, PBS)
CHRM4cholinergic receptor muscarinic 4 (HM4, M4R)
Want deeper analysis?Noah AI can explain complex mechanisms and compare to similar drugs.

Therapeutic Indications

oxybutynin is developed for 1 unique indication across 1 therapeutic area.

Therapeutic AreaConditionPhase
Renal and urinary disordersUrinary incontinence✓ Approved

Related Research Articles

PubMedJournal of pediatric urology2026-10-14

An age-matched comparison of early urological outcomes in patients who underwent antenatal versus postnatal myelomeningocele repair: A prospective single centre experience.

Pickett Lianne L, Jayasimha Sudhindra S, Maestri Susan S, Cao Kevin K et al.

Antenatal myelomeningocele (MMC) repair improves neurosurgical outcomes, but its impact on early renal and bladder outcomes remains uncertain. To test the hypothesis that antenatal myelomeningocele repair is associated with fewer symptomatic febrile urinary tract infections during early follow-up than postnatal repair, and to compare secondary upper urinary tract, bladder management and non-invasive bladder function outcomes within a single-centre risk-stratified pathway. We reviewed a prospectively maintained MMC database (2018-2025). All antenatally repaired children were included; postnatal repairs were restricted to children meeting Management of Myelomeningocele Study eligibility criteria. Outcomes included symptomatic febrile UTI, upper urinary tract findings, bladder emptying management, post-void residual urine on non-invasive bladder function assessment, selective uroflowmetry and invasive urodynamics, and symptomatic oxybutynin use. UTI was defined as a febrile episode with UTI-compatible symptoms and urinary leucocytes or pyuria; asymptomatic bacteriuria was not counted. Sixty-six children were managed; Nineteen underwent antenatal repair and 14 formed the MOMS-eligible postnatal comparator group. Prematurity was more frequent after antenatal repair (79% vs 0%, p < 0.001) and ventriculoperitoneal shunt requirement was lower (26% vs 79%, p = 0.005). Symptomatic UTI occurred less often in the antenatal group (21% vs 79%, p = 0.002). Hydronephrosis, VUR, DMSA scarring and overnight drainage all favoured the antenatal group but did not reach statistical significance. Within this small single-centre cohort managed by a consistent risk-stratified pathway, antenatal MMC repair was associated with fewer documented symptomatic febrile UTIs during early follow-up. Differences in upper tract outcomes, bladder emptying management and selectively measured functional outcomes remained uncertain.

PMID 42875283
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PubMedAnnals of internal medicine2026-10-05

Pharmacologic Treatments for Female Menopausal Vasomotor Symptoms: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis for the American College of Physicians.

Diem Susan S, Landsteiner Adrienne A, Langsetmo Lisa L, Ullman Kristen K et al.

Vasomotor symptoms (VMS) are common in perimenopausal and postmenopausal females. To evaluate benefits, harms, patient values and preferences, and cost-effectiveness of pharmacologic treatments for VMS. MEDLINE ALL, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to 3 March 2026. Randomized trials of at least 8 weeks' duration of eligible medications in females with VMS reporting VMS frequency and severity, menopause-related quality of life (QoL), sleep quality, endometrial hyperplasia or cancer, and/or serious adverse events (SAEs); U.S. Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency labels for additional harms. Data were abstracted by 1 reviewer and verified by a second reviewer. Independent, dual risk-of-bias assessments were performed. Certainty of evidence (COE) was assessed by 1 reviewer and overread by a second reviewer. Ninety trials were included. COE was low to moderate for most comparisons. Compared with placebo, estrogens with or without progestogens, conjugated estrogen with bazedoxifene (CE/BZA), and oxybutynin reduced VMS frequency and severity. Compared with placebo, neurokinin receptor antagonists (NKRAs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), gabapentin, and progestogens reduced VMS frequency but not severity. Estrogen efficacy varied by dose but not route. Estrogens with and without progestogens, CE/BZA, NKRAs, SNRIs, and SSRIs improved menopause-related QoL; gabapentin, NKRAs, oxybutynin, SNRIs, and SSRIs improved sleep quality. Few SAEs were reported. Evidence was insufficient for patient values and preferences. Estrogens with or without progestogens are of high economic value (high COE). The NKRA fezolinetant has low value (moderate COE). Most studies were short-term and were not designed to evaluate SAEs or long-term harms. Observational studies that could address long-term harms were not included. Estrogens reduced VMS frequency and severity and improved QoL (with or without progestogens and with BZA). NKRAs, SNRIs, and SSRIs improved VMS frequency, QoL, and sleep. Estrogens with and without progestogens were of high economic value. Harms data were limited. Little comparative information exists. American College of Physicians. (PROSPERO: CRD42024558116).

PMID 42832800
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PubMedNeurourology and urodynamics2026-09-21

Sacral Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Versus Oxybutynin in Children With Overactive Bladder: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial.

Arunaa Sathyamurthy S, Babu Ramesh R, Madhu Ramasundaram R, Kumaravel Sambandan S

The aim of this RCT is to compare the efficacy of sacral transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) with oxybutynin in children with overactive bladder (OAB), focusing on subjective & objective treatment response, adverse effects, and relapse rates. In this prospective randomized controlled study, 82 children aged 5-18 years with refractory OAB were randomized to receive either sacral TENS (30 sessions; 20 min each (10 Hz) daily; for 4 weeks) or oral oxybutynin (0.2 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks). Outcomes were assessed using subjective response categories based on bladder diaries and objective measures including the Overactive Bladder Index (OABI) and Dysfunctional Voiding Symptom Score (DVSS). Adverse effects and relapse during 6-12 months of follow-up were recorded. There was no significant difference between age/sex distributions between the groups. Median follow-up was 9 (6-12) months. Complete response was significantly higher with TENS than oxybutynin (68.3% vs. 31.7%; OR 4.63, 95% CI 1.8-11.7; p = 0.001). Mean improvement in OABI (4.6 ± 1.4 vs. 3.7 ± 1.0; p = 0.001) and DVSS (8.8 ± 1.5 vs. 5.7 ± 1.3; p = 0.001) favored TENS. Adverse effects (4.9% vs. 46.3%) and relapse rates (7.3% vs. 29.3%) were significantly lower with TENS. Sacral TENS was associated with higher response rates and fewer adverse effects than oxybutynin in this cohort supporting its role as an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option for pediatric OAB. Further larger trials are warranted.

PMID 42765542
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PubMedUrologiia (Moscow, Russia : 1999)2026-09-15

[Evaluation of tolerability and cognitive safety of trospium chloride in the treatment of overactive bladder: a systematic review and meta-analysis].

Kuzmin I V V, Slesarevskaya M N N, Al-Shukri S Kh K

Overactive bladder (OAB) is one of the most common lower urinary tract dysfunctions, significantly impairing the quality of life of patients. Pharmacotherapy is the leading treatment for OAB; however, poor tolerability of antimuscarinic drugs prescribed for this condition hinders clinical efficacy in a significant number of patients. To evaluate the tolerability and cognitive safety of the anticholinergic drug trospium chloride (TCh) in the treatment of OAB in adults and children. The study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA criteria. A search of eLibrary, PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library was performed for the period 1991-2025. Randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, as well as prospective observational studies, were included in the analysis. A control group was required in adult studies. A total of 23 studies (15 in adults, 8 in children) were included in the analysis. A total of 2,244 patients (1,934 adults, 310 children) received TCh. Most adverse events (AEs) with TCh were due to the drugs systemic antimuscarinic effect. The most common AEs were dry mouth (OR 3.75; 95% CI 2.83-4.97; NNH = 6.0) and constipation (OR 2.69; 95% CI 1.72-4.19; NNH = 17.1). The incidence of peripheral AEs with TCh is comparable to that with other antimuscarinic agents used to treat OAB, with the exception of oxybutynin, which is significantly less well-tolerated. Unlike other anticholinergic drugs, TCh does not affect the central nervous system or cause cognitive impairment. TCh was well tolerated in children at age-appropriate doses. The results of the study demonstrate good tolerability of TCh in adults and children. A significant advantage of TCh is its cognitive safety. Along with its clinical efficacy, this allows TCh to be considered as a first-line anticholinergic therapy in adults with OAB, particularly in elderly patients and those at high risk of cognitive impairment. Further studies of the long-term safety of TCh in patients of different age groups are warranted.

PMID 42742564
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PubMedThe journal of spinal cord medicine2026-08-20

Off-target effects of percutaneous epidural spinal cord and dorsal root ganglion stimulation with task-specific training on lower urinary tract function in individuals with chronic spinal cord injury.

Soong Christina C, Veith Daniel D DD, Gill Megan L ML, Beck Lisa A LA et al.

This study aimed to evaluate the off-target effects of motor-optimized SCS-enabled task-specific training (SCS-TST) on lower urinary tract function through self-reported data from individuals with chronic spinal cord injury (SCI), using the Neurogenic Bladder Symptom Score (NBSS). A secondary objective was to explore whether participant characteristics or bladder treatments were associated with changes in NBSS outcomes. Datasets from two prospective pilot trials using percutaneous spinal cord stimulation (SCS) to enable motor function were analyzed and reported. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota. Adults ≥ 1-year post traumatic SCI. Participants received either 12 days of epidural stimulation (ES) or 10 days of ES and dorsal root ganglion stimulation (ESDRS), each coupled with 6-8 SCS-TST sessions. NBSS was administered pre- and post-intervention. Analysis of 23 participants (ES, n = 3; ESDRS, n = 20) showed no significant group-level changes in total NBSS (p = 0.49) or functional domains (p = 0.56-0.85). Individually, 83% demonstrated no clinically meaningful change, while 9% improved and 9% worsened. Exploratory analyses identified that symptom change was associated with neurological level of injury (p = 0.017), age (p = 0.026), and marginally associated with injury severity (p = 0.055). Oxybutynin use was associated with lower symptom variability, without statistical significance (p = 0.074). Motor-optimized SCS-TST did not lead to significant group-level changes in patient-reported urinary symptoms. However, a subset of individuals experienced improvement or worsening, suggesting that injury characteristics and medication use may influence urinary outcomes. These preliminary findings warrant confirmation in larger, adequately powered trials.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifiers: NCT05095454, NCT04736849.

PMID 42622482
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PubMedSleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung2026-08-06

Pharmacotherapy in obstructive sleep apnoea: a clinical guide.

Shastry Shashank S, Kimoff John R JR, Pinto Lancelot Mark LM

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA) is a common, yet underdiagnosed disorder, with significant health implications. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) remains the reference standard and first-line therapy. However, successful CPAP usage is influenced by factors such as access, cost, tolerance, patient education, early troubleshooting, and long-term adherence, all of which can be challenging and resource-demanding. Adding therapeutic options to the armamentarium is therefore welcome. There is a need for clinicians to be abreast of all the available therapeutic options for treatment of OSA. We conducted an extensive literature review of the published studies that were conducted using non-CPAP pharmacotherapeutic modalities for OSA. This narrative review summarises the current landscape of OSA pharmacotherapy, focusing on mechanisms of action, clinical trial evidence, and endotype-based selection strategies. Emerging therapies such as the atomoxetine-oxybutynin combination and topiramate show promise in reducing severity of OSA, and improving sleep quality. GLP-1 receptor agonists like liraglutide and tirzepatide offer benefits beyond reducing the severity of OSA. Other agents such as sulthiame, solriamfetol, and pitolisant have also demonstrated efficacy. Wake-promoting agents like modafinil and armodafinil target the commonest symptom of OSA, sleepiness. This review provides a practical, endotype-aligned summary of pharmacologic options for the management of OSA.

PMID 42557390
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