Solifenacin Succinate, Oral

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KEY POINTS

• This medicine is taken by mouth to treat overactive bladder. Take it exactly as directed.
• This medicine may cause unwanted side effects. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that are serious, continue, or get worse.
• Tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take.

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What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antispasmodic; anticholinergic

Generic and brand names: solifenacin succinate, oral; VESIcare

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat the symptoms of urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary leakage, and incontinence caused by an overactive bladder.

This medicine may be used to treat other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• An allergic reaction to any medicine
• A blockage in the intestines, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, or severe constipation
• Asthma or COPD
• Dementia
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), hiatal hernia, or esophagitis (trouble swallowing)
• Glaucoma
• Heart problem such as heart failure, an irregular heartbeat, or a fast heartbeat
• High blood pressure
• Kidney or liver disease
• Long QT syndrome (problems with electrical activity in the heart muscle)
• Mental health problems such as hallucinations or delusions
• Muscle diseases such as myasthenia gravis or Parkinson’s disease
• Nerve problems from diabetes, alcohol abuse, or injury
• Thyroid problems
• Trouble urinating or an enlarged prostate gland

Tell your healthcare provider if you take medicines that can irritate your esophagus such as alendronate (Fosamax) or risedronate (Actonel).

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Take this medicine exactly as your healthcare provider prescribes. Do not take more or less or take it longer than prescribed.

Check with your healthcare provider before using this medicine in children under age 18.

You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach. Do not break, crush, or chew the tablets. Swallow them whole.

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take 2 doses of this medicine in the same day. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: large pupils, hot dry skin, blurred vision, dry mouth, drowsiness, stomach pain, decreased urination.

What should I watch out for?

Dry mouth and constipation are common side effects of this medicine. If these become bothersome, contact your healthcare provider.

This medicine may cause blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and able to see clearly. You may feel dizzy or faint when you get up quickly after sitting or lying down. Getting up slowly may help.

You may sweat less while you are taking this medicine. Avoid extreme heat, saunas, hot tubs, and exercising too much. You can overheat which can cause heat stroke.

This medicine may make your eyes more sensitive to light. Wear sunglasses to help protect your eyes.

This medicine increases the effects of alcohol and other drugs that slow down your nervous system. Do not drink alcohol or take other medicines unless your healthcare provider approves

Adults over the age of 65 may be at greater risk for side effects such as nervousness or drowsiness. Talk with your healthcare provider about this.

Contact your healthcare provider if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse. Keep appointments for follow up visits.

If you need emergency care, surgery, lab tests, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help.): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (Report these to your healthcare provider right away.): Fainting, confusion, hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there), inability to urinate, fast or irregular heartbeat, severe abdominal pain or back pain.

Other: Constipation, dry mouth, dry eyes, blurred vision, nausea, dizziness, stomach ache, headache, tiredness, drowsiness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• Alzheimer’s disease medicines such as donepezil (Aricept), galantamine (Razadyne), and rivastigmine (Exelon)
• Antianxiety medicines such as alprazolam (Xanax), chlordiazepoxide, clorazepate (Gen-Xene, Tranxene), diazepam (Valium), lorazepam (Ativan), midazolam (Versed), and oxazepam
• Antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (E.E.S., Ery-Tab, Erythrocin), isoniazid, metronidazole, moxifloxacin (Avelox), rifampin (Rifadin), and telithromycin (Ketek)
• Anticholinergic medicines such as atropine/diphenoxylate (Lomotil), benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (HyoMax, Levbid, Levsin), methscopolamine (Pamine), propantheline, and trihexyphenidyl
• Antidepressants such as amitriptyline, fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone, and nortriptyline (Pamelor)
• Antifungal medicines such as itraconazole (Sporanox), ketoconazole (Nizoral), posaconazole (Noxafil), and voriconazole (Vfend)
• Antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), hydroxyzine (Vistaril), and meclizine (Dramamine)
• Antipsychotic medicines such as asenapine (Saphris), chlorpromazine, haloperidol, olanzapine (Zyprexa), paliperidone (Invega), pimozide (Orap), risperidone (Risperdal), thioridazine, and ziprasidone (Geodon)
• Antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol), phenobarbital, phenytoin (Dilantin, Phenytek), and primidone (Mysoline)
• Barbiturates such as butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), phenobarbital, and secobarbital (Seconal)
• Conivaptan (Vaprisol)
• Corticosteroids such as dexamethasone, hydrocortisone (A-Hydrocort, Cortef), methylprednisolone (Medrol, Solu-Medrol), and prednisone (Prednisone Intensol)
• Decongestants such as oxymetazoline (Afrin, Dristan), phenylephrine (Neo-Synephrine, Sudafed PE), and pseudoephedrine (Sudafed)
• Digoxin (Lanoxin)
• Doxepin (Silenor)
• Heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone, Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Cartia, Tiazac), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), flecainide, mexiletine, procainamide, propafenone (Rythmol), quinidine, sotalol (Betapace, Sorine), and verapamil (Calan, Covera, Verelan)
• HIV medicines such as atazanavir (Reyataz), delavirdine (Rescriptor), efavirenz (Sustiva), indinavir (Crixivan), lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Invirase)
• Hydroxyzine (Vistaril)
• Imatinib (Gleevec)
• MAO inhibitors such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), selegiline (Eldepryl, Emsam, Zelapar), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take this medicine and an MAO inhibitor within 14 days of each other.)
• Medicines to block or prevent stomach acid such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
• Medicines to treat breathing or lung problems such as ipratropium (Atrovent) and tiotropium (Spiriva)
• Metoclopramide (Metozolv, Reglan)
• Muscle relaxants such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), and cyclobenzaprine (Amrix)
• Natural remedies such as gotu kola, kava, St. John's wort, and valerian
• Nitrate medicines such as isosorbide (Dilatrate, Isordil, Monoket) and nitroglycerin (Minitran, Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat)
• Osteoporosis medicines such as alendronate (Fosamax), ibandronate (Boniva), and risedronate (Actonel, Atelvia)
• Other bladder control medicines such as darifenacin (Enablex), flavoxate (Urispas), oxybutynin (Ditropan XL, Oxytrol), and tolterodine (Detrol)
• Pain medicines such as codeine, hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Exalgo), meperidine (Demerol), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin, Roxicodone), and tapentadol (Nucynta)
• Parkinson’s disease medicines such as amantadine (Symmetrel) and levodopa/carbidopa (Duopa, Rytary, Sinemet)
• Paroxetine (Brisdelle, Paxil, Pexeva)
• Potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium
• Pramlintide (Symlin)
• Sleeping pills such as butabarbital (Butisol), flurazepam, phenobarbital, suvorexant (Belsomra), temazepam (Restoril), triazolam (Halcion), zaleplon (Sonata), and zolpidem (Ambien, Edluar, Intermezzo)
• St. John’s wort
• Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, desipramine (Norpramin), imipramine (Tofranil), and nortriptyline (Pamelor)

Do NOT eat or drink products that contain grapefruit, Seville oranges, and tangelos at any time while you are taking this medicine. These fruits and juices affect the way this medicine works and increase your risk of serious side effects. Talk with your healthcare provider or pharmacist about this.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

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This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.