Tropan (Oxybutynin 5mg)

Tropan general information

What is Tropan used for?

Tropan tablets 5mg are used to treat neurogenic bladder disorder in adults and children over 5 years, which is an overactive bladder that causes loss of bladder control with urine leakage or incontinence, increased need or urgency to urinate and increased night-time urination, including bedwetting.  Neurogenic bladder disorder is caused by neurological damage to the nerve pathway between the brain and the bladder, such as injury to the brain or spinal cord or to neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis or spina bifida.  Tropan tablets 5mg are also used to treat idiopathic detrusor instability, which is a condition where the detrusor muscle in the bladder wall contracts while the bladder is filling without the usual control, causing the loss of bladder control, and is not related to a known neurological condition.  Tropan tablets 5mg help control an unstable bladder to reduce symptoms and restore bladder control. 

How does Tropan work?

Tropan tablets 5mg contain oxybutynin, an antispasmodic and anticholinergic used to treat loss of bladder control caused by an unstable or overactive bladder.  The bladder wall contains the detrusor muscle, which are fibers of smooth muscle that stretch and relax as the bladder fills with urine and when stretched to capacity, this triggers a nerve signal to contract the detrusor muscle which empties the bladder contents.  Anything that damages nervous transmission to the detrusor muscle can disrupt normal bladder function and cause loss of bladder control leading to incontinence.  Oxybutynin in Tropan tablets 5mg acts directly on the detrusor muscle of the bladder wall to relax the smooth muscle and inhibit muscle spasm which is spontaneous and uncontrolled contractions.  This action of oxybutynin in Tropan tablets 5mg decreases urgency to urinate, reduces the frequency of voluntary urination and helps prevent incontinence in adults and bedwetting in children.  Tropan tablets 5mg are effective within one hour and lasts for between 6 and 10 hours. 

What does Tropan contain?

Tropan tablets 5mg contain the active ingredient oxybutynin, an antispasmodic and anticholinergic used to treat loss of bladder control caused by an unstable or overactive bladder.  They also contain FD&C Blue No.1 (Brilliant Blue FCF, C.I. 42090, E133), lactose monohydrate, magnesium Stearate, microcrystalline cellulose.

Treating loss of bladder control with Tropan

Tropan tablets 5mg contain oxybutynin, an antispasmodic and anticholinergic used to treat loss of bladder control caused by an unstable or overactive bladder in adults and children over 5 years.  The bladder wall contains the detrusor muscle, a smooth muscle that stretches and relaxes to allow the bladder to fill with urine.  When the bladder is stretched to capacity, this triggers a nerve signal to contract the detrusor muscle which empties the bladder contents.  Anything that damages nervous transmission to the detrusor muscle can disrupt normal bladder function and cause loss of bladder control leading to incontinence.  Neurogenic bladder disorder is an overactive bladder that causes loss of bladder control with urine leakage or incontinence, increased need or urgency to urinate and increased night-time urination, including bedwetting.  Idiopathic detrusor instability is a condition where the detrusor muscle in the bladder wall contracts while the bladder is filling without the usual control, causing the loss of bladder control, and is not related to a known neurological condition.  Oxybutynin in Tropan tablets 5mg acts directly on the detrusor muscle of the bladder wall to relax the smooth muscle and inhibit muscle spasm, which decreases urgency to urinate, reduces the frequency of voluntary urination and helps prevent incontinence in adults and bedwetting in children. 

What are the side effects of Tropan?

The most commonly reported side effects when taking Tropan tablets 5mg include dizziness, headache, fatigue, sleepiness, dry mouth, dry eyes (reduced tear production), dry skin (decreased sweating), nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, vomiting, confusion, urinary retention, flushing (more marked in children).

When should Tropan not be used?

You should not use Tropan tablets 5mg if you:

• are allergic to oxybutynin or any ingredients in Tropan
• are pregnant or are breastfeeding
• have kidney or liver disease
• have untreated or uncontrolled glaucoma
• have gastric retention (slow stomach emptying after a meal), megacolon (abnormal dilation of the colon) caused by weak intestinal muscles (common in elderly or debilitated) or a blockage in your gastrointestinal system
• have a urinary tract blockage or urinary retention and are unable to urinate
• have a muscle disorder like myasthenia gravis
• have ulcerative colitis, a form of inflammatory bowel disease
• have unstable cardiovascular status in acute haemorrhage (heart problems with severe bleeding)
• are drinking alcohol as this may enhance the drowsiness caused by oxybutynin
• are taking medicines that interact with Tropan including other anticholinergics like atropine (used before surgery) the muscle relaxant hyoscine, amantidine and levodopa for Parkinson’s disease phenothiazines antipsychotics like clozapine, some phenothiazines antihistamines like promethazine, antipsychotics containing butyrophenones like haloperidol, digoxin for heart failure, tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, monoamine oxidase antidepressants like fluoxetine, the antiemetics and prokinetics metoclopramide and domperidone (prevent nausea and promote stomach emptying)

What medications interact with Tropan?

Several medications interact with Tropan tablets 5mg and should either not be taken while you are taking Tropan or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that cause a serious reaction with Tropan by increasing anticholinergic action: other anticholinergics like atropine (used before surgery) the muscle relaxant hyoscine, amantidine and levodopa for Parkinson’s disease phenothiazines antipsychotics like clozapine, some phenothiazines antihistamines like promethazine, antipsychotics containing butyrophenones like haloperidol, digoxin for heart failure, tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline, monoamine oxidase antidepressants like fluoxetine
• Drugs that are affected by Tropan: the antiemetics and prokinetics metoclopramide and domperidone (prevent nausea and promote stomach emptying)

How should Tropan be taken?

You should take your Tropan tablets 5mg swallowed whole with a glass of water, with or without food, 2-3 times daily.  Your dose may be increase to 4 times daily if required to improve symptoms, depending on your condition and your doctor’s recommendations.  You should continue to take your Tropan tablets 5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

How long should you take Tropan?

You should continue to take your Tropan tablets 5mg for as long as recommended by your doctor.

Missed dose of Tropan

If you miss a dose of Tropan tablets 5mg take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose.  Do not take a double dose.

How should Tropan be stored?

You should store your Tropan tablets 5mg below 25°C in a cool dry place.