What is Detrol (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 other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about detrol?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to detrol, if you have uncontrolled glaucoma, or if you have a blockage of the urinary tract, stomach, or intestines.
Before taking detrol, 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 detrol. There are many other medicines that can interact with detrol. 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 discuss with my healthcare provider before taking detrol?
Do not take this medication if you are allergic to detrol 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 detrol, 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 need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take detrol.
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 detrol 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 detrol?
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 detrol at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
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.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medication.
Overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, blurred vision, and fast heartbeat.
What should I avoid while taking detrol?
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 detrol.
Tolterodine side effects
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 detrol 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.
Less serious side effects may include:
- dry mouth, dry eyes;
- blurred vision;
- dizziness, drowsiness;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- stomach pain or upset;
- joint pain; or
- headache.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect.
What other drugs will affect detrol?
Before taking detrol, 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);
- 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).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with detrol. 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.
