darifenacin and Chronic-Disease

Antimuscarinics (AMs) are the mainstay of pharmacological treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), a symptom complex defined by the presence of urinary urgency, usually associated with frequency and nocturia, with or without urgency urinary incontinence. The AMs used to treat OAB differ in their pharmacological profiles, which may affect their potential for causing adverse effects (AEs).. The present article aims to review the literature about pharmacokinetics (PK) of the different AMs used in the treatment of OAB. Furthermore, the AEs related to the use of these drugs and their incidence are presented. This systematic review is based on material searched and obtained via Medline, Pubmed and EMBASE up to March 2012 using the search terms "adverse events, pharmacokinetics, tolerability" in combination with "darifenacin, fesoterodine, imidafenacin, oxybutynin, propiverine, solifenacin, tolterodine, and trospium.". Antimuscarinics are the first-line pharmacological treatment for OAB. Despite the development of new molecules that improve their efficacy/safety profile, there are some drugs that are pharmacokinetically more appropriate to be prescribed in specific populations such as patients with neurological disease or the elderly. Moreover, research should be encouraged in evaluating antimuscarinics in conjunction with other drugs such as estrogens or beta-agonists. The identification of prognostic criteria for pharmacological therapy would be helpful.

Topics: Benzhydryl Compounds; Benzilates; Benzofurans; Chronic Disease; Cresols; Drug Combinations; Female; Humans; Imidazoles; Mandelic Acids; Muscarinic Antagonists; Nocturia; Phenylpropanolamine; Pyrrolidines; Quinuclidines; Solifenacin Succinate; Tetrahydroisoquinolines; Tolterodine Tartrate; Urinary Bladder, Overactive; Urinary Incontinence

To evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and safety of a flexible-dosing strategy with darifenacin, an M(3)-selective receptor antagonist, in patients with symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB).. In this multicentre double-blind 12-week study, 395 patients (aged 22-89 years; 84% female) with OAB symptoms for >6 months were randomized (2 : 1) and received once-daily treatment with darifenacin controlled-release tablets 7.5 mg (268 patients) or matching placebo (127). After 2 weeks of treatment, the efficacy, safety and tolerability were assessed and the dose increased to 15 mg once daily (pseudo-increase for placebo recipients) if additional efficacy was required by both the patient and physician. In the week before clinic visits (at 2 and 12 weeks), patients recorded incontinence episodes (primary efficacy endpoint) and several secondary efficacy variables in an electronic daily diary. Safety and tolerability were evaluated from withdrawal rates and adverse-event reports.. The treatment groups had comparable baseline characteristics. Similar proportions of darifenacin (59%) and placebo (68%) recipients increased the dose at 2 weeks; at 12 weeks patients on darifenacin (overall group) had a significantly greater reduction in the median number of incontinence episodes per week than had those on placebo, at - 8.2 (-62.9%) and - 6.0 (-48.1%), respectively (P = 0.035). There were also significant improvements in voiding frequency (P = 0.001), bladder capacity (volume voided; P = 0.036), frequency of urgency (P < 0.001), severity of urgency (P = 0.013) and number of significant leaks/week (i.e. incontinence episodes needing a change of clothing or pads, per week; P = 0.010) for darifenacin over placebo. Subset analysis suggested that some patients (those remaining on darifenacin 7.5 mg) were more sensitive to darifenacin than those who increased the dose, based on both efficacy and adverse events. Continued treatment with 7.5 mg for 'sensitive' patients, and an increased dose (to 15 mg) for remaining patients, resulted in comparable outcomes by 12 weeks. The most common treatment-related adverse events were mild-to-moderate dry mouth and constipation, which led to discontinuation in < 3.0% of darifenacin-treated patients and < 1.0% of the placebo group. Central nervous system and cardiovascular adverse events were comparable to those with placebo.. Darifenacin appears to be an effective, well-tolerated and flexible treatment for patients with OAB, allowing individualized dosing according to patient needs.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Benzofurans; Chronic Disease; Double-Blind Method; Drug Administration Schedule; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Pyrrolidines; Severity of Illness Index; Treatment Outcome; Urinary Incontinence