Tolterodine is a medicine used to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder. These can include:
- a sudden and urgent need to pee (urinary urgency)
- needing to pee more often than usual (urinary frequency)
- wetting yourself if you cannot make it to the toilet in time (urinary incontinence)
It's also used to treat bedwetting in children (nocturnal enuresis).
Tolterodine works by relaxing the muscles in your bladder. This means your bladder can hold more liquid and you do not need to pee as often or as urgently.
Tolterodine is only available on prescription.
It comes as standard tablets and slow-release capsules (also called prolonged release or XL). This means the capsules release tolterodine slowly and evenly throughout the day.
Key facts
- You'll usually take tolterodine tablets twice a day or slow-release capsules once a day.
- Tolterodine starts to work within 3 to 6 hours but it may take 4 weeks or longer to work fully. If your symptoms do not start to improve after 1 to 2 weeks, talk to your doctor.
- Your doctor will check after 4 weeks that tolterodine is working and is the best treatment for you. They'll also review, every 6 to 12 months, whether your treatment is still needed.
- Common side effects of tolterodine include a dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and feeling dizzy or sleepy.
- Do not drive a car or ride a bike if tolterodine makes you sleepy, gives you blurred vision, or makes you feel dizzy, clumsy or unable to concentrate.
- It's best not to drink alcohol when you first start taking tolterodine, as it can make you very sleepy.