Expert on how recent study findings will affect her counseling of patients with OAB

In this video, Katherine Shapiro, MD, discusses how the findings of the recent Urology paper “Analyzing Access and Costs of Oral Medications for Overactive Bladder (OAB): Uncovering Disparities?” can help with counseling patients with OAB. Shapiro was a fellow in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery at New York University in New York, New York at the time of the study.

Transcription:

How will these findings affect how you counsel patients with overactive bladder?

It's unfortunate because the majority of complaints or concerns about these medications are about costs, and not really if it's working, or [what] the side effects [are]. I feel like most of the messages we get are about cost, which is very unfortunate. When it comes to beta 3 agonists, providers should really encourage these patients to try and stick with this medication because once they get over that deductible, the copayment can be much lower. That was one of the most surprising things we found—that 100% of plans cover mirabegron [Myrbetriq] and the copayment averages about $47, which is cheaper than some of the anticholinergics like tolterodine, solifenacin, and darifenacin. Providers can use this information to counsel patients that that initial sticker shock goes away once you stick with that medication. And this is a medication that a lot of providers prefer because of that side effect profile that I had discussed. So if you can really get providers and patients to stick with it, it's worth it.

This transcript was edited for clarity.