The Effect of Extended-Release Oxybutynin Chloride on Vasomotor Symptoms in Healthy Post-Menopausal Women

The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of extended-release oxybutynin chloride for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms, also known as hot flashes, in healthy naturally postmenopausal women. This is a randomized, double-blind, multi-center, parallel group, placebo-controlled study evaluating the safety and efficacy of extended-release oxybutynin chloride on hot flashes in healthy naturally postmenopausal women. Patients will be randomized to extended-release oxybutynin chloride or placebo in a 1:1 ratio. The total duration of the study for each treatment group is approximately 98 days. Patients will be seen for their Pre-Randomization Visit (Visit 1) fourteen (14) days prior to randomization and a physical examination, medical history, hot flash history, vital signs and laboratory tests will be performed. Patients will also have daily diaries dispensed to record their hot flashes (frequency for each severity). Patients who meet the eligibility criteria for this study will be randomized at Visit 2. At this visit, patients will have vital signs taken, adverse events recorded, study medication dispensed, and complete Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaires. The patient will be instructed to start her study medication beginning the morning after this visit (defined as Study Day 1). In both treatment groups, patients will return for follow-up visits between Study Days 8-14 (Visit 3), 22-28 (Visit 4), and 50-56 (Visit 5). The Final Study Visit (Visit 6) will occur between Study Days 78-84.

A total of approximately 140 women will be recruited into the study (70 patients in the extended-release oxybutynin chloride group and 70 patients in the placebo group). Safety will be assessed by pre- and post- study physical examinations, laboratory analysis, adverse events and vital signs. The primary endpoints in this study are the change in daily frequency of moderate to severe hot flushes from baseline to Week 12 (corresponding to visit 6 that is scheduled from day 78 to day 84) and the change in severity of moderate to severe hot flushes from baseline to Week 12. Daily severity score of moderate to severe hot flashes is the sum of all moderate hot flashes times 2 and all severe hot flashes (including waking episodes) times 3 divided by the total number of moderate to severe hot flashes on that day. Baseline severity is the average of all daily severity scores in the 14 days before the first dose of study medication. Week 12 severity is the average of all daily severity scores in the 7 days before Visit 6 or the 7 days including and before the last double-blind dose if subject withdraws before Visit 6. The baseline value for daily frequency is defined as total number of moderate to severe hot flashes recorded during pre-randomization period divided by the number of days in the corresponding period for which complete diaries are received. The daily frequency for Week 12 is defined as the total number of moderate to severe hot flashes recorded during the last 7 days prior to last dose of study medication divided by the number of days in that week for which complete diaries are received. The secondary endpoints include change in daily frequency of moderate to severe hot flashes from baseline to Week 4, change in severity of moderate to severe hot flashes from baseline to Week 4, change of daily composite score of moderate to severe hot flashes from baseline to Week 4 and Week 12, change in daily frequency of any hot flashes from baseline to Week 4 and Week 12, change in severity of any hot flash from baseline to Week 4 and Week 12, and change in daily composite score of any hot flashes from baseline to Week 4 and Week 12. Other secondary endpoints include all scores from the Profile of Mood States, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Menopause-Specific Quality of Life Questionnaire, Short Form-36 Health Survey, and Sleep Disruption Scale, as well as the Patient Global Assessment score. Patients were dispensed a diary at the Pre-Randomization Visit (Visit 1) and started to record their hot flashes (frequency for each severity). The term hot flash is descriptive of a sudden onset of reddening of the skin over the head, neck, and chest, accompanied by a feeling of intense body heat and concluded by sometimes profuse perspiration. The duration varies from a few seconds to several minutes and, rarely, for an hour. The severity of a hot flash was defined as:1. Mild: sensation of heat without sweating; 2. Moderate: sensation of heat with sweating, able to continue activity; 3. Severe: sensation of heat with sweating, causing cessation of activity. Waking episodes (i.e., episodes that wake the patient from sleep) associated with hot flashes were recorded separately and were considered severe. Patients will receive either extended-release oxybutynin chloride, 15 mg or matching placebo. One tablet will be taken orally every day in the morning for 12 weeks.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must be in good health
* Must be naturally postmenopausal and have not experienced menses for at least 6 months prior to the start of the study
* Must have serum FSH levels \> 40 mIU/mL
* Must average seven or more moderate to severe hot flushes with sweating per day, based upon data obtained from a completed diary for the 14 consecutive days between pre-randomization and Visit 2
* Must have read and signed the informed consent after the nature of the study has been fully explained and received a copy to take home
* Must be highly motivated to complete the study according to protocol requirements
* Must read, write and communicate in English

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients who are currently using an anticholinergic agent
* Are at significant risk of developing complete urinary retention if placed on an anticholinergic agent
* Have undergone a bilateral oophorectomy with or without a hysterectomy
* Have used the following medications within two weeks of the Pre-Randomization Visit (Visit 1): Dopaminergic or antidopaminergic drugs
* Clonidine
* Digitalis preparations
* Psychotropic medication including antidepressants (e.g. selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
* hypnotic sedatives and tranquilizers
* Narcotic analgesics unless approved by monitor
* Chronic use (\> 14 consecutive days) of antihistamines
* Antiepileptics (e.g. neurontin)
* Herbal supplements used to relieve hot flushes
* Belladonna alkaloids
* Patients with a TSH below the normal range
* with uncontrolled narrow angle glaucoma, obstructive uropathy, myasthenia gravis, and/or advanced pelvic organ prolapsed
* Any of the following gastrointestinal (GI) problems: History of partial or complete obstruction, narrowing (pathological or iatrogenic) of the gastrointestinal tract, decreased GI motility, such as paralytic ileus, intestinal atony, or chronic or severe constipation, those at risk of gastric retention
* Patients with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to oxybutynin or components of the dosage form
* Patients with a current drug or alcohol abuse problem as judged by the investigator