Tolterodine

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. -- Tolterodine tartrate given at a dosage of 2 mg twice daily for the treatment of overactive bladder maintains its efficacy over a 2-year period and becomes more tolerable with time, according to the results of a study of more than 700 patients.

"The incidence of adverse effects actually decreased over 2 years, and only 1.1% of patients withdrew because of dry mouth," study investigator Dr. Harold Drutz said at the annual meeting of the American Urogynecologic Society.

Until now the long-term safety and efficacy of tolterodine (Detrol) has not been documented. The study showed that there was an average 22% drop in daily micturition episodes and an 81% drop in daily incontinence episodes after 1 year of treatment. Those improvements were maintained over the course of a second year of follow-up.

In addition, the incidence of side effects decreased from 79% in the first year to 71% in the second year, said Dr. Drutz, who is professor and head of the section of urogynecology at the University of Toronto. The most common side effect reported was dry mouth, occurring at a rate of 36% in the first year and 19% in the second year.

A total of 80% of the patients completed the second year of treatment, with 6.5% withdrawing because of side effects and 13.5% withdrawing due to other reasons such as insufficient drug efficacy protocol violation, and consent withdrawal. Among those who withdrew, eight (1.1%) said they quit because of dry mouth. Other side effects that led to study withdrawal were "scattered among the different body systems," Dr. Drutz said at the meeting, cosponsored by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The study was supported by a grant from the Pharmacia Corp., which markets the drug.

COPYRIGHT 2001 International Medical News Group
COPYRIGHT 2001 Gale Group