Treatment for an overactive bladder with tolterodine (a condition in which the bladder muscles contract uncontrollably and cause frequent urination, urgent need to urinate, and inability to control urination). The drug tolterodine belongs to the group of drugs known as antimuscarinics. By calming the bladder’s muscles, it prevents bladder contraction.

Tolterodine is available as a tablet and an oral extended-release (long-acting) capsule. Typically, the tablet is taken twice daily. Typically, one extended-release capsule is taken with beverages each day. Ask your doctor or chemist to explain any instructions on your prescription label that you are unsure about following. Follow the tolterodine directions exactly. Never take it in larger or less amounts or more frequently than directed by your doctor.

Do not break, chew, or crush the extended-release capsules; instead, swallow them whole.

Ask your doctor or chemist for more details if you’re interested in using this medication for any other conditions.

Before taking tolterodine,

• If you have an allergy to tolterodine, fesoterodine fumarate (Toviaz), any other drugs, or any of the ingredients in tolterodine tablets or extended-release capsules, inform your doctor and pharmacist right away. Get a list of the ingredients from your chemist.
• Inform your doctor and chemist about any vitamins, nutritional supplements, herbal items, and prescription and over-the-counter medicines you are now taking or intend to take. Any of the following should be mentioned: the drug amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone); erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, others), atazanavir (Reyataz, in Evotaz), clarithromycin, cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune), donepezil (Aricept, in Namzaric), galantamine (Razadyne), itraconazole (Onmel, Sporanox, Tolsura), and donepezil (Aricept, in Namzaric); drugs for Parkinson’s disease, motion sickness, and irritable bowel syndrome; sotalol (Betapace, Sorine, Sotylize); procainamide; quinidine (in Nuedexta); ritonavir (Norvir, in Kaletra, Technivie, Viekira); rivastigmine (Exelon); saquinavir (Invirase); and vinblastine. Your physician might need to adjust the dosage of your drugs or keep a close eye on you for side effects.
• Inform your physician if you currently have or have ever had glaucoma (increased eye pressure that may result in vision loss), urine retention (inability to completely or at all empty your bladder), or gastric retention (slow emptying of your stomach). You might be advised by your doctor not to take tolterodine.
• Inform your doctor if you or anyone in your family has or has ever had kidney or liver disease, bladder problems, stomach or bowel issues, including constipation, myasthenia gravis (a nervous system disorder that causes muscle weakness), or prolonged QT interval (a rare heart condition that may cause irregular heartbeat, fainting, or sudden death).
• Inform your physician if you are nursing a baby, intend to get pregnant, or are already pregnant. Call your doctor if you become pregnant while taking tolterodine.
• You should be aware that tolterodine can induce blurred vision, drowsiness, and other vision-related issues. Prior to understanding how this drug affects you, avoid using machinery or driving a car.

If you miss a dosage, take it as soon as you recall. If the next dose is soon due, skip the missed one and carry on with your regular dosing plan. To make up for a missing dose, do not take a second one.

There may be negative effects from tolterodine. If any of these symptoms are severe or do not go away, let your doctor know right once:

• Mouth ache
• Heartburn
• Headache
• Constipation
• Diarrhoea
• Wet eyes
• Arid skin
• Joints hurt
• Abdomen ache
• Extreme fatigue
• Bladder empting challenges
• Unpleasant urination
• Gaining weight
• Anxiety

Certain adverse effects can be very harmful. Stop taking tolterodine and call your doctor right away if you develop any of the following symptoms, or seek emergency medical attention:

• Face, throat, tongue, lips, and eye swelling
• Breathing or swallowing challenges

You or your doctor can submit a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting programme online or by phone if you have a serious side event (1-800-332-1088).

Keep this medication tightly closed in the original container and out of the reach of children. Keep it away from light, excessive heat, and moisture at room temperature (not in the bathroom).

Although many containers (such as weekly pill minders and those for eye drops, creams, patches, and inhalers) are not child-resistant and are simple for young children to open, it is crucial to keep all medications out of sight and out of reach of children. Always lock safety caps and promptly stash medication up and away from young children where it is out of their sight and reach to prevent poisoning. http://www.upandaway.org

Unused prescriptions must be disposed of carefully to prevent pets, kids, and other people from ingesting them. You should not, however, dispose of this medication in the toilet. Instead, utilising a medicine take-back programme is the easiest approach to get rid of your medication. To find out about take-back programmes in your area, speak with your chemist or the garbage/recycling agency in your city. If you do not have access to a take-back programme, see the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medications website at http://goo.gl/c4Rm4p for additional information.

Call the poison control hotline at 1-800-222-1222 in the event of an overdose. Moreover, information can be found online at https://www.poisonhelp.org/help. Call 911 right once if the person has collapsed, experienced a seizure, is having difficulty breathing, or cannot be roused.

Overdose signs could include the following

• Confusion
• Mouth ache

Keep all of your doctor’s appointments.

No one else should take your medication. Any queries you may have regarding prescription refills should be directed to your chemist.

You should keep a written record of every medication you take, including any over-the-counter (OTC) items, prescription drugs, and dietary supplements like vitamins and minerals. This list should be brought with you whenever you see a doctor or are admitted to the hospital. You should always have this information with you in case of emergencies.