Ditropan XL® Lawsuit | Ditropan XL Lawyer, Attorney

Ditropan XL is a medication for overactive bladder that may increase the risk of dementia, especially for older adults who take higher doses.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Ditropan and Ditropan XL induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with dementia after using Ditropan XL, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

Ditropan XL Linked to Dementia Risk

Experts are growing concerned about evidence linking Ditropan XL and dementia. In recent years, dozens of victims have come forward to pursue lawsuits against Janssen Pharmaceuticals for failing to adequately warn about the risk of dementia and other side effects.

What is Ditropan XL?

Ditropan XL® is a once-daily pill for the treatment of overactive bladder symptoms. It is the long-acting version of Ditropan®, but the active ingredient in both medications is oxybutynin.

Studies Linking Ditropan XL and Dementia

Several recent studies found that Ditropan increases a patient’s risk of dementia by 50% or more, especially if the person is elderly and has been taking higher doses of Ditropan for several years. For example:

March 2015: A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found a 54% increased risk of dementia for people who took Ditropan or other anticholinergic medications for at least 3 years.
June 2019: Another study concluded that elderly adults on high doses Ditropan or other anticholinergics were almost 50% more likely to develop dementia.

In 2022, the Society for Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine, and Urogenital Reconstruction (SUFU) warned that long-term use of Ditropan XL and other anticholinergic medications was linked to a “small but significant” risk of dementia.

Other Medications May Pose Little Risk of Dementia

“There is compelling evidence of cognitive impairment with oxybutynin,” warned researchers in a study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice in 2008. Furthermore, another medication for overactive bladder called darifenacin showed “no impairment of memory or other cognitive function” in three other large studies.

Symptoms of Dementia Linked to Ditropan

Dementia is a brain-damaging disease that involves a group of symptoms, which may include:

Memory loss
Trouble concentrating or focusing
Mood changes and unusual behaviors
Confusion
Unable to carry out daily tasks

Side Effects of Ditropan in the Brain

It is well-known that Ditropan XL can have damaging side effects in the brain, especially older adults with pre-existing health problems like Alzheimer’s disease, but the long-term risk of dementia is not fully understood.

The Prescribing Information for Ditropan XL warns that it can have a variety of severe side effects in the central nervous system, such as hallucinations, agitation, confusion and somnolence (sleepiness).

The label also warns that Ditropan XL can worsen symptoms of dementia in some patients: “Ditropan XL should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing dementia treated with cholinesterase inhibitors due to the risk of aggravation of symptoms.”

The risk of worsening dementia or other neurological side effects is most important for older adults, especially in the first few months of treatment with Ditropan XL, or after an increase in the dosage.

Older Age May Worsen Risk of Dementia From Ditropan XL

Ditropan XL causes side effects in the brain because it easily crosses the blood-brain barrier, which is a protective membrane that helps keep harmful substances in the bloodstream out of the brain.

Unfortunately, the blood-brain barrier breaks down as we age, becoming less effective at keeping harmful substances out. This is why older adults are more vulnerable to the toxic side effects of harmful substances in the body, including drugs like Ditropan XL.

How Does Ditropan Work?

Ditropan XL controls overactive bladder symptoms by blocking the action of acetylcholine, which is a neurotransmitter that stimulates bladder muscles. This effectively relaxes the bladder muscles. The problem is that acetylcholine also plays a crucial role in learning and memory in the brain, so medications that stop it from working could have severe, unintended side effects in the brain.

What is Overactive Bladder?

Overactive bladder (also known as OAB), is a condition that causes a frequent and sudden urge to urinate. People with OAB may suffer from involuntary muscle spasms in the bladder and incontinence. Around 33 million people in the U.S. have OAB, mostly older adults over 65 years of age.

Medications That Treat Overactive Bladder

Ditropan and Ditropan XL are medications that have been approved since the 1970s for the treatment of overactive bladder. However, there are many newer medications, and even skin patches.

The newer medications include trospium, tolterodine, and darifenacin, which are less likely to cause dementia because they do not cross the blood-brain barrier as easily as Ditropan, Ditropan XL, or oxybutynin.

What Should I Do?

Patients who were prescribed Ditropan XL and developed dementia (or are experiencing early symptoms of dementia) may qualify to file a lawsuit or join a class action against Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Our law firm may be able to help you seek financial compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, decreased quality of life, and more.

Do I have a Ditropan XL Lawsuit?

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Ditropan XL Lawsuit