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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Can Taking Oxybutynin Cause Alzheimer S?

I m taking oxybutynin for overactive bladder, and I m concerned about some reports of increased Alzheimer s risk for elderly patients who are taking it, as I seem to recently have some memory lapses that are not typical of me. I ve been taking it for 3 months.
Thu, 30 Jul 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Dear Sir,
Hi & Welcome to HCM.
I appreciate your concern for the safety of Oxybutynin.

Oxybutynin does not cause Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks.
Its exact cause is not known, however it is attributed to selective destruction of neurons in certain parts of the brain.

Basically used to treat overactive bladder symptoms like urgency, frequency, urinary leakage, urge incontinence, & dysuria, the most common side effects of Oxybutynin include:

Dry mouth, dry eyes, blurring of vision, constipation, etc.

On the other hand it should be used with caution in patients with preexisting dementia like Alzheimer's disease due to the risk of aggravation of symptoms like headache, sleep disturbances, nervousness, and memory disturbances.

Hope to have answered your query.
Best regards.



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Can Taking Oxybutynin Cause Alzheimer S?

Dear Sir, Hi & Welcome to HCM. I appreciate your concern for the safety of Oxybutynin. Oxybutynin does not cause Alzheimer s disease. Alzheimer s is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Symptoms usually develop slowly and get worse over time, becoming severe enough to interfere with daily tasks. Its exact cause is not known, however it is attributed to selective destruction of neurons in certain parts of the brain. Basically used to treat overactive bladder symptoms like urgency, frequency, urinary leakage, urge incontinence, & dysuria, the most common side effects of Oxybutynin include: Dry mouth, dry eyes, blurring of vision, constipation, etc. On the other hand it should be used with caution in patients with preexisting dementia like Alzheimer s disease due to the risk of aggravation of symptoms like headache, sleep disturbances, nervousness, and memory disturbances. Hope to have answered your query. Best regards.