Experiences with
Tolterodine

ContraindicationsHow it's used (previously Dosage and administration)Side effectsPregnancyInteractions

Tolterodine is not suitable for some people. For example, check with your doctor if you have heart, kidney or liver problems.

Tolterodine comes as tablets you take twice a day and slow-release capsules you take once a day. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.

Common side effects of tolterodine include a dry mouth, headache and feeling dizzy. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.

Tolterodine is not usually recommended during pregnancy. Always check with a doctor or pharmacist.

It can cause problems to take tolterodine with some other medicines, such as antibiotics. Check with a pharmacist or doctor.

Who can take tolterodine

Most adults (aged 18 years old and over) can take tolterodine.

Children aged 2 years and over can also take it, on the advice of their specialist.

Who may not be able to take tolterodine

Tolterodine is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor before starting it if you:

have ever had an allergic reaction to tolterodine or any other medicine
have problems digesting food, or have severe constipation
have kidney or liver problems
have myasthenia gravis, a rare condition that causes muscle weakness
have an eye problem called angle closure glaucoma, as tolterodine can increase pressure in your eye
are not able to pee or empty your bladder completely (urinary retention)
have heart problems, including long QT syndrome, heart failure, irregular or slow heartbeats or cardiomyopathy
have dementia or cognitive impairment – tolterodine may make this worse
have a hiatus hernia
have nerve damage that affects blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, pooing, peeing and digestion (autonomic neuropathy)
have digestive problems such as heartburn and acid reflux
are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
have a severe stomach or bowel condition, including a rare complication of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease called toxic megacolon
have an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia)

How to take tolterodine

You can take tolterodine with or without food.

How to take tablets

Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.

How to take slow-release capsules

Slow-release capsules release tolterodine slowly and evenly throughout the day. This means you do not need to take them as often as the standard tablets.

Swallow the capsules whole with a drink of water. Do not chew them.

Take the capsules at the same time each day. This will help you to remember to take them.

Common side effects of tolterodine

These common side effects of tolterodine happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Try chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free sweets.

Having a dry mouth can cause tooth decay or a fungal infection. It also might stop medicine that you put under your tongue from dissolving properly, such as medicine for angina.

Make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Avoid drinking alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller.

Talk to your doctor if your headache is severe or does not go away.

Do not drive, cycle, use tools, or operate machinery. Avoid drinking alcohol, as this may make your symptoms worse.

Drink lots of fluids, such as water or squash, to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. Do not take any other medicines to treat diarrhoea without speaking to a pharmacist or doctor.

If you take the combined contraceptive pill or progestogen-only pill and you have severe, watery diarrhoea or any diarrhoea that lasts for more than 24 hours, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Look on the pill packet to find out what to do.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if diarrhoea lasts more than 1 or 2 days.

Try small frequent sips of water to avoid dehydration. Signs of dehydration include peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee.

If you take the combined pill or progestogen-only pill and you're being sick, your contraception may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet for advice.

Speak to a pharmacist or doctor if you're being sick for more than 1 to 2 days.

Eat less foods that cause wind, like lentils, peas, beans and onions. It might also help to eat smaller and more frequent meals, eat and drink slowly, and exercise regularly.

Ask your pharmacist about remedies you can buy to help with trapped wind.

Try to rest and relax. It can help to eat and drink slowly and have smaller and more frequent meals. Putting a heat pad or a covered hot water bottle on your stomach may also help.

If you're in a lot of sudden severe pain, speak to your pharmacist or doctor.

Ask your pharmacist or optician to recommend some eye drops. If you wear contact lenses and these become uncomfortable, you might want to wear glasses instead while you're taking tolterodine.

Do not drive or ride a bike until you can see clearly again. Do not take your next dose of tolterodine. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if your blurred vision does not go away.

Try to relax when you pee. Do not try to force the flow of pee. If it does not happen, try again later.

Talk to a doctor urgently if you cannot pee at all.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or does not go away.

Tolterodine and pregnancy

Tolterodine is not usually recommended in pregnancy because there's not enough information available to say if it's safe for you and your baby.

If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether taking tolterodine is right for you.

Tolterodine and breastfeeding

If your baby is healthy, you can take tolterodine if you need to while you're breastfeeding. However, other medicines might be better. Your doctor or pharmacist will help you decide.

It's not known how much tolterodine gets into breast milk, but it's likely to be very low levels.

It's very rare for breastfed babies to have side effects from medicines you're taking. But it's important to keep monitoring your baby if you're taking any medicine while breastfeeding.

Contact your healthcare professional or call 111 as soon as possible if you notice that your baby:

is not feeding as normal or gaining weight as expected
is behaving differently, for example being irritable or unusually sleepy
has difficulty pooing (constipation) or is peeing less (fewer wet nappies)
has diarrhoea, or is being sick (vomiting)
has dry skin

If your baby has any symptoms that are not listed, or if you're worried about them, you can also call 111 or contact any healthcare professional.

Carry on taking the medicine, and keep breastfeeding as usual until you've got advice about your baby's symptoms.

Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines and tolterodine can affect each other. This can increase the chance of side effects.

Tell your doctor if you're taking any other medicines, including:

antibiotics like erythromycin or clarithromycin
itraconazole or fluconazole, which are used to treat fungal infections
medicines used to treat HIV
anti-sickness medicines like metoclopramide, prochlorperazine or domperidone
amiodarone, sotalol, quinidine or procainamide, which are used to treat irregular heartbeats
other medicines that work in a similar way to tolterodine, such as fesoterodine
any medicines used to treat irritable bowel syndrome, asthma, incontinence, motion sickness or movement disorders related to Parkinson's disease, that work in a similar way to tolterodine
phenothiazines, clozapine, haloperidol or benperidol, medicines for mental health problems
donepezil, rivastigmine, galantamine or tacrine, medicines used for dementia
medicines for depression such as amitriptyline, imipramine or dosulepin (tricyclic antidepressants)
medicines used to make you feel sleepy (sedatives)

These are not all the medicines that may cause problems if you take them with tolterodine. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.