Is new drug imidafenacin safe and effective in the treatment of overactive bladder? 

This study examined if imidafenacin (Uritos) is as safe and effective as tolterodine (Detrol) in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). This study concluded that imidafenacin is as safe and effective as tolterodine in the treatment of OAB.

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a sudden, frequent urge to urinate. It may result in urge incontinence (inability to hold on to urine). OAB urination involves emptying of the bladder usually eight or more times a day and two or more times at night. OAB can have a negative impact on quality of life. Medications can be taken to calm the muscles and nerves which cause OAB. Imidafenacin and tolterodine are two types of anti-muscarinic medication used in OAB. 

It is not known if imidafenacin is as safe and effective as tolterodine, in the treatment of OAB. 

289 patients with OAB were included in this study. 143 patients received imidafenacin and 146 patients received tolterodine. Patients were followed up over a 12-week period. Patients were required to keep a 5-day bladder diary. The OAB awareness tool was used to measure how bothersome their symptoms were.  

After treatment, patients taking imidafenacin experienced an average of 2.1 fewer episodes of leakage over 24 hours. Patients taking tolterodine experienced 1.9 fewer episodes of leakage over 24 hours. The average number of daytime leakage episodes decreased by 1.7 in the imidafenacin group and 1.5 in the tolterodine group. The OAB symptoms had similar decreases in both groups. 

The most common side effects included dry mouth, nausea, constipation, and abdominal pain. These were experienced by 34.9% of patients in the imidafenacin group and 38% of patients in the tolterodine group. No patients stopped taking the drugs or withdrew from the study due to side effects. 

The authors concluded that imidafenacin is as effective as tolterodine in the treatment of OAB.

This study was funded by the university that developed imidafenacin. Larger studies with longer follow-up are required. This study was carried out on Caucasian patients. The results may not apply to other ethnicities.