Efficacy, safety, and tolerability of extended-release once-daily tolterodine treatment for overactive bladder in older versus younger patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and tolerability of a new, once-daily extended-release (ER) formulation of tolterodine in treating overactive bladder in older (> or =65) and younger (<65) patients.


METHODS
A 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial.


METHODS
An international study conducted at 167 medical centers.


METHODS
One thousand fifteen patients (43.1% aged > or =65) with urge incontinence and urinary frequency.


METHODS
Patients were randomized to treatment with tolterodine ER 4 mg once daily (qd) (n = 507) or placebo (n = 508) for 12 weeks.


METHODS
Efficacy, measured with micturition charts (incontinence episodes, micturitions, volume voided per micturition) and subjective patient assessments, safety, and tolerability endpoints were evaluated, relative to placebo, according to two age cohorts: younger than 65 and 65 and older.


RESULTS
Mean age in the older and younger patient cohorts was 74 (range 65-93) and 51 (range 20-64), respectively. Compared with placebo, significant improvements in micturition chart variables with tolterodine ER showed no age-related differences. Irrespective of age, significantly more tolterodine ER recipients than placebo recipients reported an improvement in urgency symptoms. After 12 weeks of treatment with tolterodine ER, a fivefold increase in the percentage of patients able to finish tasks before voiding in response to urgency was noted in both age groups (<65: from 6.5-32.8%, > or =65: from 5.1-26.2%). Tolterodine ER recipients, irrespective of age, also had significant improvements in their bladder condition than did placebo recipients. Overall, a greater percentage of patients, irrespective of age, perceived any benefit with tolterodine ER than with placebo (P <.001). Dry mouth (of any severity) was the most common adverse event in both the tolterodine ER and placebo treatment arms, irrespective of age (<65: ER 22.7%, placebo 8.1%; > or =65: ER 24.3%, placebo 7.2%). Few patients (<2%) experienced severe dry mouth. No central nervous system, visual, cardiac (per electrocardiogram), or laboratory safety concerns were noted. Withdrawal rates due to adverse events on tolterodine ER 4 mg qd were comparable in the two age cohorts (<65: 5.5%; > or =65: 5.1%; P =.87).


CONCLUSIONS
The new, once-daily ER formulation of tolterodine is efficacious, safe, and well tolerated in the treatment of patients with symptoms of overactive bladder, irrespective of age.
Zinner
Norman R
NR
Doctors Urology Group, Torrance, California 90505, USA. wewedoc@aol.com
Mattiasson
Anders
A
Stanton
Stuart L
SL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003408:Cresols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014987:Xerostomia / Q000139:chemically induced
D001559:Benzhydryl Compounds; D003408:Cresols; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D018727:Muscarinic Antagonists; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D000068737:Tolterodine Tartrate