Detrol

Generic Name: tolterodine
Other Brand Names: Detrol LA, tolterodine

What is tolterodine?

Tolterodine reduces spasms of the bladder muscles.

Tolterodine is used to treat overactive bladder with symptoms of urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence.

Tolterodine may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.

Uses Side Effects Precautions Interactions Overdose
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Pregnancy

bladder

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking tolterodine?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to tolterodine or if you have:

  • a blockage of the urinary tract (difficulty urinating);

  • a blockage in your stomach or intestines; or

  • untreated or uncontrolled glaucoma.

Before taking tolterodine, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

  • liver disease;

  • kidney disease;

  • glaucoma; or

  • a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome.”

If you have any of these conditions, you may not be able to use tolterodine, or you may need a dosage adjustment or special tests during treatment.

FDA pregnancy category C. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

It is not known whether tolterodine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How should I take tolterodine?

Take this medication exactly as it was prescribed for you. Do not take the medication in larger amounts, or take it for longer than recommended by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results from this medication.

Take this medication with a full glass of water.

Do not crush, chew, break, or open a controlled-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Store tolterodine at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose of tolterodine?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

Where can I get more information about tolterodine?
Your pharmacist has information about tolterodine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of tolterodine?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using tolterodine and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

  • chest pain, fast or uneven heart rate;

  • feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

  • swelling, rapid weight gain;

  • confusion, hallucinations;

  • urinating less than usual or not at all; or

  • painful or difficult urination.

Keep using tolterodine and talk with your doctor if you have any of these less serious side effects:

  • dry mouth, dry eyes;

  • blurred vision;

  • dizziness, drowsiness;

  • constipation or diarrhea;

  • stomach pain or upset;

  • joint pain; or

  • headache.

Side effects other than those listed here may also occur. Talk to your doctor about any side effect that seems unusual or that is especially bothersome.

What is the most important information I should know about tolterodine?

Do not take this medication if you are allergic to tolterodine, if you have uncontrolled glaucoma, or if you have a blockage of the urinary tract, stomach, or intestines.

Before taking tolterodine, tell your doctor if you have a personal or family history of "Long QT syndrome.”

Do not crush, chew, break, or open a controlled-release capsule. Swallow the pill whole. It is specially made to release medicine slowly in the body. Breaking or opening the pill would cause too much of the drug to be released at one time.

Tolterodine can cause side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake and alert.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of tolterodine.

There are many other medicines that can interact with tolterodine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor. Keep a list with you of all the medicines you use and show this list to any doctor or other healthcare provider who treats you.

What should I avoid while taking tolterodine?

Tolterodine can cause blurred vision or side effects that may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be awake, alert, and able to see clearly.

Avoid drinking alcohol. It can increase some of the side effects of tolterodine.

What other drugs will affect tolterodine?

Before taking tolterodine, tell your doctor if you are using any of the following drugs:

  • arsenic trioxide (Trisenox);

  • bepridil (Vascor),

  • cisapride (Propulsid);

  • chloroquine (Arelan) or halofantrine (Halfan);

  • cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

  • droperidol (Inapsine);

  • narcotic medication such as levomethadyl (Orlaam); or methadone (Dolophine, Methadose);

  • methadone (Methadose);

  • pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam);

  • vinblastine (Velban);

  • antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), clarithromycin (Biaxin), dirithromycin (Dynabac), erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin, Ery-Tab), pentamidine (NebuPent, Pentam), sparfloxacin (Zagam), telithromycin (Ketek);

  • medicines to treat psychiatric disorder, such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), haloperidol (Haldol), mesoridazine (Serentil) pimozide (Orap), or thioridazine (Mellaril); or

  • heart rhythm medicine such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), dofetilide (Tikosyn), disopyramide (Norpace), procainamide (Procan, Pronestyl), quinidine (Cardioquin, Quinaglute), or sotalol (Betapace).

If you are using any of these drugs, you may not be able to use tolterodine or you may need dosage adjustments or special tests during treatment.

There may be other drugs not listed that can affect tolterodine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you use. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.

What happens if I have an overdose of tolterodine?

Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medication.

Symptoms of a tolterodine overdose may include dry mouth, blurred vision, and fast heartbeat.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Content provided by Multum - Last Updated 2/11/2008