Methocarbamol vs Oxybutynin for Management of Pain and Discomfort S/P Ureteroscopy Procedure

Stone disease is a common condition, affecting approximately 9% of Americans in 2007. It causes great morbidity and is also a costly condition, estimated to cost the US healthcare system approximately 3.79 billion dollars in 2007. Ureteroscopy (URS) is the most commonly performed surgical treatment for upper tract stone disease. Ureteral stenting is a common practice after ureteroscopy and placed in ~75% of cases to prevent ureteral edema and renal obstruction. Unfortunately, ureteral stenting can be very painful and has been shown to increase the rate of emergency room visits. Many strategies have been attempted to decrease pain with ureteral stenting including modification of stent material and designs, but efforts so far have been unsuccessful in decreasing stent-related morbidity. Stent-related morbidity is hypothesized to be secondary to irritation of ureteral/bladder mucosa and muscle. Analgesics such as alpha blockers and NSAIDs have been shown to reduce stent morbidity. Anticholinergic drugs are also utilized as they decrease bladder spasms and, therefore, are hypothesized to reduce stent irritation. However, the evidence for anticholinergics has been conflicting. Anticholinergics also have a serious side effect profile including dry mouth, dry eyes, constipation, urinary retention, blurred vision, and even dementia. Some authors even hypothesize that these side effects may offset any purported benefits the anticholinergics provide for stent-morbidity.

Methocarbamol is anti-spasmodic muscle relaxant that is believed to work by acting on central neurons and possibly by blocking sodium channels. Given that anticholinergics have many side effects and questionable efficacy, the investigators hypothesize that methocarbamol may achieve superior analgesia for stent morbidity and stent-related bladder spasms.

Oxybutynin is used for the treatment of overactive bladder. The rationale is that the oxybutynin relaxes the muscles in the bladder to help decrease problems of urgency and frequent urination caused by the urinary stent irritation. Since anticholinergics have multiple side effects, finding an equally efficacious alternative with less side effects is highly desirable.

This study will evaluate the clinical and demographic factors of patients undergoing ureteroscopy and treated postoperatively with methocarbamol vs. oxybutynin for stent-related morbidity. Additionally, the study will aim to understand the postoperative outcomes and complication rates of patients discharged with methocarbamol vs. oxybutynin after ureteroscopy with a ureteral stent in place.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Kidney Diseases; Kidney Calculi; Nephrolithiasis; Urolithiasis; Ureteral Calculi; Ureteral Diseases
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Methocarbamol; Drug: Oxybutynin

Detailed Description

This study is comparing the effectiveness of pain control after ureteroscopy for stone removal between two medications: oral Oxybutynin XL 10mg daily and oral Methocarbamol 750mg every six hours as needed for spasms. The study medications will be given in addition to a standard postoperative pain regiment including Tylenol 1000mg every six hours, Tamsulosin 0.4mg daily, phenazopyridine 200mg every eight hours, and diclofenac 50mg every eight hours, and finally the investigational agent (either oral oxybutynin XL 10mg once daily or oral methocarbamol 750mg every six hours as needed for pain depending on which group the participant is randomly assigned).

Patients who will be undergoing ureteroscopy for stone removal (anyone with upper tract stones, total stone burden < 2 cm) will be identified in clinic and consented to participate in the study. Patients will be randomized to either methocarbamol or oxybutynin in a 1:1 fashion using RedCAP prior to the procedure. Pain regimen after surgery includes: Tylenol 1000mg every six hours, Tamsulosin 0.4 mg daily, phenazopyridine 200mg every eight hours, and diclofenac 50mg every eight hours, and finally the investigational agent (either oral oxybutynin XL 10 mg once daily or oral methocarbamol 750mg every six hours as needed for pain). Both drugs are FDA approved, but will be used off-label for the purposes of this study. Although oxybutynin is not FDA approved for the treatment of ureteral spasms, multiple studies have been performed to study its efficacy for this indication and it will be used in an off-label fashion. The study will document age, sex, BMI, preoperative stone burden, laterality of surgery, OR duration, laser energy (kJ), laser settings, ureteral access sheath use, stent size, stent duration, stone analysis, preoperative urine culture, stone culture, and any medical comorbidities. Neither patients nor investigators will be blinded to which drug they are receiving.

Patients will be administered the PROMIS questionnaire, which has been validated for assessing ureteral stent symptoms. The VAS pain scale will also be administered to assess pain (scores from 1-10). The PROMIS questionnaire and VAS pain scale will be administered at time of study enrollment or prior to surgery. The questionnaire and VAS pain scale will be administered daily by text message (RedCAP electronic survey) from POD1 until the day of stent removal, and 1 day after the stent is removed. Stent removal typically occurs 3-7 days after surgery. The questionnaires will be completed by the patient on a mobile device. Patients will be asked to complete a drug diary, so study investigators can ensure they took the medication as prescribed. On the final survey (the one sent 1day after stent removal), the study investigators will also inquire about if the patient had any unplanned clinic or ED visits during the period the stent was in.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 126
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Illinois
    • Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60611
      • Northwestern University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Men and women between age 18-80 years who are diagnosed with stones who undergo ureteroscopy and ureteral stent placement.
2. Patients who consent to the procedure will be randomized in 1:1 fashion by RedCAP either to the methocarbamol or oxybutynin arm. All patients will receive standard of care diclofenac, tamsulosin, and pyridium for pain control plus one of the study drugs.
3. Willing to take only diclofenac (or tramadol for patients with contraindication to diclofenac), phenazopyridine, and acetaminophen for post stent placement discomfort.
4. Willing to sign the Informed Consent Form.
5. Able to read, understand, and complete patient questionnaires, pain texts, and medication diary.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active, symptomatic urinary tract infection.
2. Non-stone related ureteral obstruction or stricture.
3. Procedural trauma or significant retained stone burden that could significantly contribute to patient discomfort.
4. Spinal cord injuries (sensory loss due to injury).
5. Non-stone related voiding dysfunction requiring supplemental bladder drainage tubes for more than 24 hours post operatively.
6. Chronic opioid usage for pain.
7. Members of vulnerable patient populations.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Methocarbamol; Patients will receive oral Methocarbamol 750mg every six hours after ureteroscopy as needed for pain in addition to the standard postoperative pain regimen (Tylenol 1000mg every six hours, Tamsulosin 0.4mg daily, phenazopyridine 200mg every eight hours, and diclofenac 50mg every eight hours).	Drug: Methocarbamol; Patients will receive oral Methocarbamol 750mg every six hours as needed for pain post ureteroscopy in addition to the standard postoperative pain regimen.
Active Comparator: Oxybutynin; Patients will receive oral Oxybutynin XL 10mg daily after ureteroscopy as needed for pain in addition to the standard postoperative pain regimen (Tylenol 1000mg every six hours, Tamsulosin 0.4mg daily, phenazopyridine 200mg every eight hours, and diclofenac 50mg every eight hours).	Drug: Oxybutynin; Patients will receive oral Oxybutynin XL 10mg daily for pain post ureteroscopy in addition to the standard postoperative pain regimen.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Patient discomfort/pain after ureteroscopy and ureteral stent placement	Patients will be administered the VAS pain scale to assess pain scores (score from 1-10). The VAS pain scale will be administered at the time of study enrollment, daily from POD1 until the day of stent removal, and 1 day after the stent is removed.	1 week
Patient ureteral stent symptoms after ureteroscopy and ureteral stent placement	Patients will be administered the PROMIS questionnaire, which has been validated for assessing ureteral stent symptoms. The questionnaire will be administered at the time of study enrollment, daily from POD1 until the day of stent removal, and 1 day after the stent is removed.	1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Northwestern University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 30, 2021
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 30, 2025
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 5, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 20, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 29, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 26, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Urogenital Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases; Calculi; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Urologic Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urinary Calculi; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Ureterolithiasis; Kidney Calculi; Nephrolithiasis; Kidney Diseases; Ureteral Calculi; Urolithiasis; Ureteral Diseases; Organic Chemicals; Ethers; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Acids, Acyclic; Carboxylic Acids; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Phenols; Benzene Derivatives; Phenyl Ethers; Carbamates; Methyl Ethers; Phenylcarbamates; Guaifenesin; Guaiacol; Methocarbamol; oxybutynin
• Other Study ID Numbers: STU00214901

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No