Two medicines, side by side
Mirabegron vs oxybutynin
Mirabegron and oxybutynin are both labeled for overactive bladder. Drugs@FDA records approvals of mirabegron since 2012 and of oxybutynin since 1975. Pharmacies paid $9.39 per mirabegron ER 50 mg tablet and $0.048 per oxybutynin 5 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. Oxybutynin's other strengths are brand-only: $2.74 per unit (Oxytrol for women 3.9 mg/24hr). In FDA's classes, mirabegron is a beta3-adrenergic agonist and oxybutynin a cholinergic muscarinic antagonist.
Check it at the source: the mirabegron FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 24, 2025); the oxybutynin FDA label on DailyMed (effective December 16, 2025).
Highlights of the mirabegron record
Mirabegron (Myrbetriq) · label of December 24, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsMirabegron extended-release tablets are beta-3 adrenergic agonist indicated for the treatment of: Overactive bladder (OAB) in adult patients with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- June 28, 2012
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $9.39 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 1
Highlights of the oxybutynin record
Oxybutynin (Ditropan) · label of December 16, 2025
Used for
From the label: indicationsOxybutynin chloride extended-release tablets are a muscarinic antagonist indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency. Oxybutynin chloride extended-release tablets are also indicated for the treatment of pediatric patients aged 6 years and older with symptoms of detrusor overactivity associated with a neurological condition (e.g., spina bifida). […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- July 16, 1975
- Generic labelers
- 39 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.048 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 9
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Mirabegron label of December 24, 2025, Oxybutynin label of December 16, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do mirabegron and oxybutynin differ on the record?
In FDA's classes, mirabegron is a beta3-adrenergic agonist and oxybutynin a cholinergic muscarinic antagonist.
How each works, in its label's words: Mirabegron, “Mirabegron is an agonist of the human beta-3 adrenergic receptor (AR) as demonstrated by in vitro laboratory experiments using the cloned human beta-3 AR.”; Oxybutynin, “Oxybutynin chloride exerts a direct antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle and inhibits the muscarinic action of acetylcholine on smooth muscle.”
Generics: mirabegron since 2019; oxybutynin since 1988 (Drugs@FDA).
| Mirabegron | Oxybutynin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Overactive bladder | Overactive bladder |
| Pharmacologic class | beta3-Adrenergic Agonist | Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | Mirabegron is an agonist of the human beta-3 adrenergic receptor (AR) as demonstrated by in vitro laboratory experiments using the cloned human beta-3 AR. | Oxybutynin relaxes bladder smooth muscle. Oxybutynin chloride exerts a direct antispasmodic effect on smooth muscle and inhibits the muscarinic action of acetylcholine on smooth muscle. |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination Mirabegron Extended-Release Tablets Monotherapy for Adult OAB: The terminal elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) of mirabegron is approximately 50 hours in patients. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | June 28, 2012 | July 16, 1975 |
| First generic approved | December 27, 2019 | November 14, 1988 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 8 labelers | 39 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $9.39 per tablet (Mirabegron ER 50 mg tablet) | $0.048 per tablet (Oxybutynin 5 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -2% | -2% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 1 | 9 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 38,466 | 37,662 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Oxybutynin label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS The concomitant use of oxybutynin with other anticholinergic drugs or with other agents which produce dry mouth, constipation, somnolence (drowsiness), and/or other anticholinergic-like effects may increase the frequency and/or severity of such effects.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to mirabegron
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions