Experiences with
SolifenacinSolifenacin is not suitable for some people. For example, check with your doctor if you have liver or kidney problems or glaucoma, or you're pregnant.
Solifenacin comes as tablets or liquid that you take once a day. Follow the instructions that come with your medicine.
Common side effects of solifenacin include feeling sick, indigestion and constipation. More serious side effects can happen in rare cases.
It can cause problems to take solifenacin with some other medicines, such as medicines that cause drowsiness, a dry mouth or difficulty peeing.
Who can take solifenacin
Most adults (aged 18 years old and over) can take solifenacin.
Who may not be able to take solifenacin
Solifenacin is not suitable for some people. To make sure it's safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist before starting to take it if you:
- have ever had an allergic reaction to solifenacin or any other medicine
- have liver or kidney problems
- have myasthenia gravis, a rare long-term condition that causes muscle weakness
- have glaucoma, as solifenacin can increase the pressure in your eye
- have a severe stomach or bowel condition, including a rare complication of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease called toxic megacolon
- are not able to pee or empty your bladder completely (urinary retention)
- are pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding
Dosage and how to take solifenacin
Solifenacin tablets contain either 5mg or 10mg. The liquid contains 5mg in 5ml.
The usual dose of solifenacin is 5mg, taken once a day.
If your symptoms do not improve, your doctor may increase your dose to 10mg a day.
If you're taking solifenacin with tamsulosin (Vesomni or Vecit) for an enlarged prostate, the usual dose is 1 tablet once a day.
How to take it
You can take your dose at any time but try to take it at the same time each day.
Swallow your tablets whole with a drink of water. Do not chew or crush them.
If you're taking the liquid, it will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure your dose. If you do not have a syringe or spoon, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not measure the correct amount.
You can take solifenacin with or without food.
Common side effects of solifenacin
These common side effects of solifenacin happen in more than 1 in 100 people. They're usually mild and do not last long. 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 alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Talk to your doctor if your headache is severe or does not go away.
Try taking your tablets with food. It may also help if you avoid rich or spicy food.
Get more fibre into your diet, such as fresh fruit and vegetables and cereals, and drink plenty of water. Try to exercise more regularly, for example, by going for a daily walk or run.
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 indigestion.
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 pain or your pain does not go away, speak to your doctor.
Do not drive, ride a bike or use tools or machinery until you can see clearly again. Do not take your next dose of solifenacin if your vision is still blurred. Speak to your doctor or pharmacist if your vision does not return to normal.
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.
Solifenacin and pregnancy
Solifenacin is not usually recommended in pregnancy because there's not enough information available to say if it's safe for your baby.
However, in some cases, you may benefit from staying on solifenacin. If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about whether taking solifenacin is right for you.
Solifenacin and breastfeeding
If your doctor, health visitor or midwife says your baby is healthy, you can take solifenacin 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 solifenacin gets into breast milk, but it's likely to be a very small amount. However, the amount in breast milk could build up if you're taking it for a long time, which could mean your baby is more likely to get side effects.
Talk to your health visitor, midwife, doctor or pharmacist or call 111 as soon as possible if you have any concerns about your baby. This could include:
- feeding more or less than usual
- not putting on weight as you would expect
- constipation
- peeing less
- being irritable
- colic
Cautions with other medicines
Some medicines and solifenacin can affect each other. This can increase the chance of side effects.
Tell your pharmacist or doctor if you're taking:
- any medicine that makes you drowsy, gives you a dry mouth, or makes it difficult for you to pee – taking solifenacin might make these side effects worse
- itraconazole, a medicine used to treat fungal infections
- ritonavir, a medicine used to treat HIV
Taking solifenacin with painkillers
It's safe to take solifenacin with everyday painkillers like paracetamol and ibuprofen.
Related links
HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence