Purpose: Tolterodine was recently approved for the treatment of incontinence and overactive bladder in adults, and has fewer side effects than oxybutynin. We evaluated the safety and efficacy of tolterodine in children with dysfunctional voiding.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed our experience with 30 pediatric patients treated with tolterodine for a primary diagnosis of dysfunctional voiding. Patients were treated with adult doses of tolterodine and behavioral modifications. Standard definitions determined by the International Children's Continence Society were adapted to designate final treatment outcomes on medication as cured-greater than 90% reduction in wetting episodes, improved-greater than 50% reduction or failed-less than 50% reduction.
Results: The children were 4 to 17 years old (mean age 8.7) and were treated with tolterodine for an average of 5.2 months. The final dose was 1 mg. twice daily in 1, 2 mg. twice daily in 27 and 4 mg. twice daily in 2 patients. Wetting episodes were cured in 10 (33%), improved in 12 (40%), and failed to show improvement in 8 (27%) cases. Four patients (13.3%) reported side effects and only 1 discontinued the medication due to diarrhea. There were no reports of hyperpyrexia, flushing or intolerance to sunshine and outdoor temperature.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that tolterodine at adult doses without titration can be used safely to decrease wetting episodes in children with dysfunctional voiding. Controlled clinical trials should be completed to evaluate further efficacy and safety in children.