What Is Detrusitol Used For?

Detrusitol contains tolterodine tartrate and belongs to a group of medicines called antispasmodics. It helps control bladder function by reducing muscle spasms and relaxing the bladder wall.

Primary Uses

Detrusitol is used to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder, including urinary frequency (needing to urinate often), urgency (sudden strong need to urinate), and incontinence (involuntary loss of urine).

How It Works

Detrusitol works by reducing spasm and relaxing the smooth muscle of the bladder wall. It also increases the storage volume of the bladder and can act on the brain to delay the desire to urinate.

How to Take Detrusitol

Take Detrusitol exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The tablets should be swallowed whole with a full glass of water and can be taken with or without food.

Dosage Instructions

The usual dose is 1 mg or 2 mg twice daily. Your doctor will prescribe the dose that is right for you. Take your medicine at about the same time each day for best results. Continue taking your medicine for as long as your doctor tells you, even if you feel well.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If you miss a dose and it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. If it’s not almost time for your next dose, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal schedule.

Available Tablet Strengths

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Dry mouth
• Heartburn
• Headache
• Constipation, stomach pain or diarrhea
• Dry eyes
• Nausea
• Tiredness
• Swollen ankles

Important Warnings

Before taking Detrusitol, tell your doctor about all your medical conditions and medications to ensure this medicine is safe for you.

Who Should Not Take Detrusitol

Do not take Detrusitol if you are allergic to tolterodine or any ingredients in the medicine, unable to pass urine, have a blocked gastro-intestinal tract or other gastro-intestinal disorders (ulcerative colitis, toxic megacolon), have uncontrolled high pressure in the eye (narrow angle glaucoma), or have myasthenia gravis (a muscle disease causing drooping eyelids, double vision, and difficulty speaking and swallowing).

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, heart problems, problems with urine retention, intestinal blockage or other intestinal or stomach problems, autonomic neuropathy (a nerve problem sometimes occurring with diabetes), hiatus hernia, severe constipation, or raised pressure in the eye(s).

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Check with your doctor if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Your doctor will discuss the risks and benefits of taking Detrusitol during pregnancy. Do not take Detrusitol if you are breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines may interfere with Detrusitol and affect how it works. Tell your doctor about all medicines you are taking.

• Depression medicines (fluoxetine, amitriptyline)
• Heart rhythm medicines (flecainide, quinidine, procainamide, disopyramide, sotalol, amiodarone)
• Antifungal medicines (fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, miconazole)
• Antibiotics (erythromycin, clarithromycin)
• Cisapride (for heartburn/reflux)
• Metoclopramide (for nausea and gastric retention)
• Tranquillizers (haloperidol, chlorpromazine, thioridazine, pimozide)
• HIV medicines (ritonavir, indinavir)
• Droperidol (for nausea and vomiting)

Alcohol & Driving

Detrusitol may affect your ability to drive or operate machinery and can interact with alcohol.

Alcohol

Be careful when drinking alcohol while taking Detrusitol. If you drink alcohol, dizziness may be worse. If you feel light-headed, dizzy or faint when getting out of bed or standing up, get up slowly.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Detrusitol affects you. Detrusitol may cause dizziness and blurred vision in some people. If you have these symptoms, do not drive, operate machinery or do anything else that could be dangerous.

Storage

Keep your tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them. Store in a cool dry place where the temperature stays below 25°C. Keep away from moisture, heat or sunlight – do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car or on window sills. Keep where young children cannot reach it. A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.

Overdose Information

If you think you or anyone else has taken too much Detrusitol, urgent medical attention may be needed. Immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (Australia 13 11 26, New Zealand 0800 POISON or 0800 764 766), contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Symptoms of overdose may include shortness of breath, fits, fast heart beat, inability to pass urine, dilated pupils, feeling excited or hallucinations.

Frequently Asked Questions