Solifenacin

The recommended dose of solifenacin is 5 mg once daily. If there are few side effects with a 5 mg dose, the dose can be increased to 10 mg once daily.

If you have severe kidney function impairment or moderate liver function impairment, or if you are taking certain medications (e.g., ketoconazole, clarithromycin, Diclofenac, nefazodone, Verapamil), doses above 5 mg daily are not recommended.

Solifenacin should be taken with liquids and swallowed whole. It may be taken with or without food.

Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.

It is very important to take Solifenacin exactly as prescribed. If you miss a dose of Solifenacin, take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

Store Solifenacin at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.

Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.

In addition to its desired action, this medication may cause some adverse effects, notably: it may cause blurred vision and dryness of the mouth; it may cause constipation - to prevent this, drink plenty of water or juice, and eat more dietary fibre; it may cause indigestion; it may cause unusual tiredness; it may cause nausea or, rarely, vomiting. Each person may react differently to a treatment. If you think this medication may be causing adverse effects (including those described here, or others), talk to your health care professional. He or she can help you to determine whether or not the medication is the source of the problem.

5 mg
Each light yellow, round standard convex, film-coated tablet debossed with "5" on one side and with "TEVA" on the other contains 5 mg of solifenacin. Nonmedicinal ingredients: corn starch, hypromellose, iron oxide yellow, lactose monohydrate, macrogol, magnesium stearate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

10 mg
Each light pink, round standard convex, film-coated tablet debossed with "10" on one side and score line on the other contains 10 mg of solifenacin. Nonmedicinal ingredients: corn starch, hypromellose, iron oxide red, lactose monohydrate, macrogol, magnesium stearate, talc, and titanium dioxide.

Do not take solifenacin if you:

• are allergic to solifenacin or to any of the ingredients of the medication
• are dependent on dialysis
• have gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach)
• have narrow-angle Glaucoma
• have urinary retention (an inability to empty the bladder)

There may be an interaction between solifenacin and any of the following:

• aclidinium
• amantadine
• amiodarone
• Anagrelide
• antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, Chlorpheniramine, Dimenhydrinate, Diphenhydramine)
• Aprepitant
• atropine
• antipsychotics (e.g., Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Clozapine, Quetiapine, Risperidone)
• azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, Voriconazole)
• Benztropine
• Bosentan
• botulinum toxin
• calcium channel blockers (e.g., Amlodipine, Nifedipine, verapamil)
• cannabis
• chloroquine
• Cobicistat
• conivaptan
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Darifenacin
• Deferasirox
• Disopyramide
• dofetilide
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Dronedarone
• Enzalutamide
• Flavoxate
• Flecainide
• Galantamine
• Glucagon
• glycopyrrolate
• grapefruit juice
• HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
• HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., darunavir, indinavir, lopinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir)
• ipratropium
• macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
• Methadone
• Metoclopramide
• mifepristone
• Mirabegron
• Mitotane
• Modafinil
• monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. Moclobemide, Selegiline)
• Nabilone
• narcotic medications (e.g., Morphine, Codeine)
• nefazodone
• Nitroglycerin
• orphenadrine
• Oxybutynin
• potassium chloride, potassium supplements
• pramlitinide
• Primaquine
• procainamide
• Propafenone
• protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., Crizotinib, Dabrafenib, Dasatinib, imatinib)
• quinidine
• quinine
• quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin, Ofloxacin)
• rifabutin
• rifampin
• rilpivirine
• Rivastigmine
• St. John's wort
• scopolamine
• selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI; e.g., Fluoxetine, Paroxetine, Sertraline)
• seizure medications (e.g., Carbamazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin)
• serotonin antagonists (e.g., Granisetron, Ondansetron)
• siltuximab
• simeprevir
• sotalol
• Tetrabenazine
• tiotropium
• thiazide diuretics (e.g., Hydrochlorothiazide, Indapamide)
• Tocilizumab
• Tolterodine
• Trazodone
• tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., Amitriptyline, Desipramine, Nortriptyline)
• umeclidinium

If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:

• stop taking one of the medications,
• change one of the medications to another,
• change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
• leave everything as is.

An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.

Medications other than those listed above may interact with Solifenacin. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, decongestants, alcohol, the Nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.

Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or Allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use Solifenacin.

Abnormal heart rhythm: Solifenacin may cause a heart rhythm disturbance called QT prolongation. If you have a history of QT prolongation or are taking certain medications (e.g., Amiodarone, Sotalol), discuss with your doctor how Solifenacin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Solifenacin, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Bladder outflow obstruction: If you have a medical problem that obstructs the flow of urine from the bladder (e.g., enlarged prostate, Prostate Cancer), Solifenacin may make you unable to urinate. If you have a problem with urinary flow, discuss with your doctor how Solifenacin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Solifenacin, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Blurred vision: Solifenacin may cause blurred vision. Avoid activities such as driving, operating machinery, or performing hazardous work until you know how solifenacin affects your vision.

Gastrointestinal disorders: Solifenacin can slow movement through the gastrointestinal tract. If you have decreased gastrointestinal movement caused by a medical problem (e.g., Diabetes), surgery, or medications, discuss with your doctor how Solifenacin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Solifenacin, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

Heat Stroke: Solifenacin causes a decrease in sweating, which is one of the body's way of cooling off. When solifenacin is taken during very hot weather, it can cause Fever and Heat Stroke due to the body being unable to cool down enough. Take care not to overheat when you are taking Solifenacin. Stay in a cool environment if possible, limit the length of time you spend outdoors, and drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of heat stroke.

Kidney function: If you have reduced kidney function or Kidney Disease, discuss with your doctor how Solifenacin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Solifenacin, and whether any special monitoring is needed. If you have severe kidney function impairment, do not take daily doses greater than 5 mg of solifenacin.

Liver function: The liver is responsible for removing solifenacin from the body. If the liver is not working well, the medication can build up in the body, causing unwanted side effects. If you have reduced liver function or liver disease, discuss with your doctor how Solifenacin may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of Solifenacin, and whether any special monitoring is needed.

If you have moderate liver function impairment, do not take daily doses greater than 5 mg of solifenacin, and have your doctor monitor your condition closely. Do not take solifenacin if you have severe liver function impairment.

Pregnancy: Solifenacin should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Women of childbearing age should talk to their doctor about whether birth control is appropriate. If you become pregnant while taking Solifenacin, contact your doctor immediately.

Breast-feeding: It is not known if solifenacin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking Solifenacin, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.

Children: The safety and effectiveness of using Solifenacin have not been established for children.

This medication is typically used only once a day. However, your pharmacist may have suggested a different schedule that is more appropriate for you. Take it regularly and continuously to maintain its beneficial effects. Important: Follow the instructions on the label. Do not use more of this product, or more often, than prescribed. This medication should be swallowed whole. It should not be split, crushed or chewed. If you forget a dose, take it as soon as you remember -- unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, skip the missed dose. Do not double the next dose to catch up. This medication may be taken with or without food. Avoid grapefruit and grapefruit juice during your treatment. Grapefruit can seriously affect how this medication works.