A Plain Language Summary on the Effect of the Medication Vibegron on Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in People with Overactive Bladder

Abstract

What is this summary about? This is a plain language summary of an article originally published in the journal Blood Pressure Monitoring. Vibegron is a medicine that was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (also called FDA) in 2020 for treatment of overactive bladder, a condition that causes a frequent and urgent need to urinate. This study took place before the medicine was approved to look at whether vibegron affects blood pressure or heart rate. What were the results? A total of 214 patients with overactive bladder took part in the study. 108 patients took vibegron for 28 days, and 106 took placebo for 28 days. A placebo is a pill with no medicine in it. Their blood pressure was measured on the first day and the last day. A meaningful increase in blood pressure is when a patient's average blood pressure measurements changed by 3.5 mmHg or more. Patients with overactive bladder who took a 75 mg dose of vibegron once daily had no meaningful increase in blood pressure or heart rate. This included people who were already taking medication for their high blood pressure. What do the results mean? This study suggests that patients can use vibegron without concern that it may meaningfully raise blood pressure or heart rate.