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Overactive bladder currently affects 1 in 6 adults. Anyone who has experienced the uncomfort of overactive bladder can attest to the importance of drug treatments to treat this condition.
What is Detrol LA?
Detrol LA belongs to a group of drugs called anti-muscarinics, it is used to treat overactive bladder. Detrol LA acts on the bladder to inhibit urinary tract contractions and hence, reduce the frequency of urination. The generic (chemical) name of Detrol is tolterodine and it is a long acting (LA) preparation that needs only to be taken once daily. It is indicated for all symptoms of urinary incontinence including increased frequency, urgency, or urge incontinence or any combination of these.
What dose of Detrol LA should I use? How do I take Detrol LA?
Detrol LA comes in 2 doses 4mg and 2mg. Most often the doctor will start a patient on the higher 4mg dose, if the patient is unable to tolerate the 4mg dose, he may be put on a 2mg dose. The patient may also be put on the lower 2mg dose if he/she has liver/kidney problems that may interfere with him taking a higher dose of Detrol LA.
Detrol LA can be taken with or without food and is taken once daily.
How effective is Detrol LA in controlling my incontinence? How does it compare to other drug treatments?
Detrol LA is very effective in controlling incontinence. Studies have shown that people who took Detrol LA reduced the frequency of wetting accidents by about half. Also, those who took the drug used the bathroom less frequently and were able to pass more urine each time they used the bathroom (the frequent muscle contractions of an overactive bladder usually prevent the bladder from holding a normal amount of urine).
Detrol LA has a better side-effect profile than oxybutynin (other drug commonly used to treat incontinence), and therefore will be more well tolerated by the physician.
What are the potential side effects of Detrol LA?
The most common side effect will be dry mouth, this occurs in almost 23% of patients. Other common adverse effects include constipation, dry eyes and abdominal pain (these will occur in roughly 5% of patients).
Other less common events reported by 1% to less than 5% of patients treated with DETROL LA include the following. These are listed in order of decreasing frequency: abdominal pain, urinary tract infection, dyspepsia, upper respiratory tract infection, somnolence, dizziness, fatigue, flatulence, sinusitis, edema, pain, abnormal vision, and dysuria.
Overall, Detrol LA would be considered as having a safe side effect profile. Very rarely, a patient will discontinue treatment due to adverse effects.
Who should not take Detrol LA or take Detrol LA with Caution?
1)Patients with an eye disease called narrow angle glaucoma.
2)Patients with urinary retention, (the urine is being held up in the bladder)
3)Patients with gastric retention or GI motility disorders. (the food in the stomach is not emptying)
4)Pregnant or nursing women.
5)Patients with congenital or aquired QT prolongation. This is a heart disease that is observed as a lengthening in the interval of the heart rhythm (patients EKG). The patient should be carefully monitored and advised of drug interactions that may prolong his/her QT interval
6)Patients with reduced kidney or liver function. Usually, Detrol LA will be tolerated in these patients with a reduction in dosage, ie. Detrol LA 2mg will be used.
Are there any drug interactions with Detrol LA?
It is important to advise your doctor and pharmacist of any medications that you are currently taking, there exists a number of potential drug interactions with Detrol LA.
Drugs to be careful of include the following:
1)Any Cholinesterase inhibitor (ex.Donepezil-Aricept), the patient uses for Alzheimer's disease. The combination of these drugs may result in worsening symptoms of the patients Alzheimer's (e.g. confusion, disorientation, delusion).
2)Any other Anti-muscarinic drug (i.e. any other drug in the same class as Detrol LA). This will result in increased side-effects of Detrol, i.e. increased dry mouth, constipation etc... The drugs to watch out for include diphenhydramine, trihexyphenidyl, benztropine, scopolamine, dicyclomine, and oxybutynin.
3)It is also advisabe to report to the physician any other medication that may induce drowsiness, these include tranquilizers and sedatives. Examples, include amitriptyline, nortiptyline, and chlorpromazine. All these medications may enhance the side-effects of Detrol LA.
4)Any azole antifungal (ketoconazole,itraconazole), any macrolide antibiotic (azithromycin, erythromycin). These may contribute to a potentially dangerous heart problem called a QT prolongation.
Detrol LA is a safe and effective medication with few drug interactions, however, it is highly advisable that the patient speaks to their physician and lets the physician be aware of all medications that he is currently taking, prior to starting Detrol LA therapy to avoid any potential interactions.
What happens if I overdose of Detrol LA?
Seek emergency medical attention.
Where can I get more information on Detrol LA?
For more information on Detrol LA, Detrol LA prescribed Patients, who are trying place an order for Detrol LA from an online pharmacy store can place their prescription order at CanadaDrugsOnline.com which is an online Canadian pharmacy store.
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