Abstract
Overactive bladder syndrome is a prevalent condition comprising urinary urgency and frequency and, in approximately a third of sufferers, urinary incontinence, which causes considerable morbidity in the population. The efficacy of management through behavioral and lifestyle measures is limited, and has led to the development of a range of pharmacological agents for treatment. These are mainly antimuscarinic compounds which, although effective, have limited tolerability due to their side-effect profile. Alternative delivery mechanisms have been explored with the aim of avoiding these side effects. The transdermal route of administering oxybutynin has been found to be efficacious in terms of treating the condition, and avoids the common side effects of dry mouth and constipation. However, its use can be limited by local skin reactions at the application site.
Financial & competing interests disclosure
The author has received research monies, fees for speaking from UCB-pharma, the marketing company for oxybutynin TDS in the UK, Pfizer, Astellas, Ardana and Boehringer Ingelheim. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.