Tolterodine
Information about Tolterodine
Tolterodine uses
Tolterodine is used in the treatment of Overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms. OAB is a collection of urinary symptoms, including frequent urination, urgent need to urinate, and inability to control urination.
How tolterodine works
Tolterodine is an antimuscarinic. It works by relaxing muscles of the urinary bladder and prevents frequent, urgent or uncontrolled urination.
Common side effects of tolterodine
Dryness in mouth, Constipation, Headache, Dizziness, Sleepiness, Blurred vision, Dry skin
Content Details
Last updated on:
27 Dec 2019 | 01:08 PM (IST)
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Expert advice for Tolterodine
- Tolterodine treats symptoms of an overactive bladder by lowering the urge to urinate and controlling urination.
- It can take up to 4 weeks before you see any improvement in your symptoms. Keep taking it as prescribed.
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and carbonated drinks as they can worsen your symptoms.
- It may cause dizziness and blurring of vision. Don't drive or do anything that requires mental focus until you know how it affects you.
- Dry mouth, dry eyes, and constipation may occur as a side effect. Maintain good oral hygiene, drink water frequently, chew sugarless gum, and wear contact lenses with caution.
Frequently asked questions for Tolterodine
Tolterodine
Q. How long does it take for Tolterodine to show its effect?
Your symptoms may start improving within 1 week of starting Tolterodine. Maximum benefits may be seen after 5-8 weeks of treatment. To maintain this improvement, your doctor may prescribe this medicine to you for a long term of up to 24 months.
Q. What class of drug is Tolterodine? Is it a diuretic?
Tolterodine belongs to a class of medicines known as muscarinic receptor blockers. Tolterodine is not a diuretic, it is a urinary antispasmodic. This means that it relaxes the urinary bladder, decreasing spasm of the bladder wall. This further provides better control upon the release of urine and also increases storage volume of the bladder.
Q. Can I just stop taking Tolterodine?
Tolterodine does not cure your condition but helps to control the symptoms of overactive bladder. Do not stop taking this medicine even if you feel better. Your doctor will reassess your condition at regular intervals, like 6 months, to understand the duration for which you need to take Tolterodine.
Q. Can I crush the tablets of Tolterodine and then take it?
No, do not crush or chew the tablets. Swallow the whole tablet with a glass of water. You can take it with or without food. Take it exactly as directed by your doctor.
Q. Can Tolterodine be used in children?
When studied in children, Tolterodine did not relieve the symptoms of overactive bladder. Therefore, its use in children is not recommended.
Q. Who should avoid taking Tolterodine?
Patients who have urinary retention (unable to pass urine), have delayed emptying of stomach or blocked intestinal tract (toxic megacolon, ulcerative colitis, pyloric stenosis) or uncontrolled high pressure in the eyes (narrow-angle glaucoma). It should also be avoided by patients who have any muscle disease which causes drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, and sometimes muscle weakness in the arms or legs (myasthenia gravis). Patients who are hypersensitive to Tolterodine should avoid it as well.
Q. I am having constipation because of which I want to discontinue Tolterodine. Will I have any harmful effects?
No, discontinuing Tolterodine will not have any harmful effects, but the symptoms of overactive bladder may return. Talk to your doctor regarding constipation and you can stop the medicine if advised by the doctor.
Q. Does Tolterodine cause dementia?
It is unclear whether Tolterodine can cause dementia or not. However, according to some reports, when people with dementia were given Tolterodine, their symptoms (confusion, disorientation and delusion) became worse.