Description
Tolterodine tartrate is an antimuscarinic medicine. It reduces contractions of the bladder muscle and is licensed for the symptoms of overactive bladder: urgency, passing urine more often than usual, and urge incontinence. The immediate-release tablets are taken twice a day, swallowed with water, with or without food. A prolonged-release capsule taken once daily also exists, and the two forms are not interchangeable dose for dose, so check the label.
Dry mouth is the most common side effect, along with constipation, dry eyes, blurred vision, headache and drowsiness; if vision is affected, do not drive. It is not suitable if you have urinary retention, uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, severe ulcerative colitis or toxic megacolon. Tell your prescriber if you have kidney or liver problems or a heart rhythm disorder, or take other antimuscarinic medicines.
- Antimuscarinic for urgency, frequency and urge incontinence
- Immediate-release tablets in 1mg and 2mg, taken twice a day
- Not interchangeable dose for dose with the once-daily capsules
- Dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision are common
- Do not drive if your vision is affected
- Not suitable with urinary retention or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma
