Randomized, Single-Blind, Parallel Study of the Effectiveness and Safety of Solifenacin versus Propiverine in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder.

OBJECTIVES

To compare the effectiveness and safety of solifenacin versus propiverine in the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB), in a single-blind, randomized parallel study.

METHODS

Sixty-six patients with OAB (14 men and 52 women) were randomly assigned to groups: solifenacin (5 mg/day) or propiverine (20 mg/day) and treated for 8 weeks. The primary outcome variable was mean change from baseline to end of treatment in urgency of the OAB symptom score (OABSS). Secondary outcomes were bladder diary variables: change over 24 h in the mean number of voids (daytime and nighttime), episodes of micturition urgency and incontinence, and mean volume voided. Patients also completed total OABSS and the King's Health questionnaires.

RESULTS

Group backgrounds were comparable except for the male to female proportion; 11:22 for solifenacin (n = 33) versus 3:30 for propiverine (n = 33). Adverse events were 6 of 29 (21%) for solifenacin versus 14 of 26 (54%) for propiverine (P = 0.017). Three patients were withdrawn for voiding difficulty (one in solifenacin and two in propiverine) and one patient for dry mouth (propiverine group). Change in OABSS urgency score was -2.3 ± 1.4 for solifenacin (n = 28) versus -1.3 ± 1.7 for propiverine (n = 23), (P = 0.0169). Total OABSS and other individual scores, and voiding diary parameters for both drugs showed improvements; however, between-group difference was not established.

CONCLUSION

Although both solifenacin 5 mg and propiverine 20 mg were effective in the treatment of OAB, solifenacin appeared to be more effective and tolerable.