What Is Oxybutynin ER Used For?

An Overview of Oxybutynin ER Uses

Oxybutynin ER (Ditropan XL^®) is a prescription medication approved to treat an overactive bladder in adults. It belongs to a group of medications known as anticholinergics or antimuscarinics. Oxybutynin ER is also approved to treat bladder problems due to overactive bladder muscles (caused by spina bifida or other neurological problems) in children age six years and older.

 

An overactive bladder is caused by bladder muscle contractions that are too frequent and uncontrollable. Normally, the bladder slowly fills until nerve signals tell your brain that the bladder is full and you need to use the bathroom. Then, the bladder muscles contract when you urinate. However, in some people, that bladder muscle contracts spastically and frequently. This causes the following symptoms:

 

For most people, an overactive bladder is not dangerous, although it may be embarrassing and uncomfortable. However, in some situations (such as in children with neurological disorders, such as spina bifida), overactivity of bladder muscles can lead to kidney damage. In addition to treating an overactive bladder in adults, oxybutynin ER is also approved to treat overactive bladder muscles caused by neurological disorders (such as spina bifida) in children as young as six years old.