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If you have experienced any adverse side effects from a medication or therapy - Report it

Tolterodine - Detrusitol® -  Detrusitol XL®                                                                                                                                                                               

For urinary frequency and urgency. Anticholinergic drugs reduce the action of the chemical messenger that passes nerve messages to the muscle in the bladder wall. This reduces the bladder's tendency to contract. The same chemical messenger activates the salivary glands, meaning that a dry mouth is a common side effect of the medication. Tolterodine is taken orally as tablets.

Side effects may occur                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

• Dry mouth.
• Pregnant and breastfeeding women must consult their clinician.

All anticholinergic drugs may worsen urinary retention so monitoring how much urine is retained in the bladder before starting on medication is important.

The urinary bladder is a muscular bag like structure. Urine coming from the kidneys fills the bladder and causes it to stretch like a balloon. As it stretches, pressure in the bladder increases and, when the bladder reaches a certain level of stretch, a desire to urinate is felt.

Nerves in the muscular wall of the bladder release acetyl- choline, a chemical that attaches to receptors on the muscle cells and causes the cells to contract - tighten. This adds further to the increase in pressure within the bladder and increases the desire to urinate. Usually at an appropriate time there is conscious relaxation of the muscle at the outlet of the bladder, and the high bladder pressure forces urine out of the bladder. Normally, urination is under conscious control, however, for some this normal control as well as normal sensation is lost. The desire to urinate may be felt when there is little urine in the bladder, and urination may occur without warning or control. By blocking the effect of acetyl-choline on the muscle cells, tolterodine slows the build-up of pressure in the bladder, reduces the sensation to urinate, and prevents uncontrolled urination.

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