Solifenacin is a medication that is primarily prescribed to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder. An overactive bladder may cause a person extreme difficulty in controlling his or her urinary functions. Medication may be used as a treatment option to reduce how often a person has to urinate, as well as the urgency; however, it cannot cure the condition permanently.
An overactive bladder occurs as a result of the bladder muscles contracting more frequently than normally. The bladder muscles typically contract when the bladder is filled with urine, which sends a message to the brain that the bladder needs to be emptied. If the bladder muscles contract more often than necessary, it makes a person have to urinate much more often and the feeling of the need to urinate may even become so urgent that a person can no longer voluntarily control it. Solifenacin is an anticholinergic medication, a type of medication that can help control nerve impulses. It may help treat overactive bladder by preventing the excessive nerve impulses that contribute to the frequent contractions of the bladder.
Solifenacin comes as a tablet, generally prescribed to be administered orally once each day. In more serious cases of overactive bladder, a doctor may recommend taking two tablets of the medication per day, but generally that is the maximum dosage due to the risk of overdosing.
Although it is not common, overdosing on solifenacin is possible if dosing and administration guidelines are not followed correctly. It is typically recommended for a person to seek immediate medical attention if he or she experiences any of the symptoms of an overdose. Common overdose symptoms for solifenacin include confusions, hallucinations, drowsiness, shaking, and difficulty breathing. It may also result in dizziness, changes in vision, vomiting, and abnormal heartbeat.
There are some potential side effects that may occur with the use of solifenacin. The most common side effects generally occur when a person begins taking the medication, but will usually subside with regular use as the body becomes used to the medication. These side effects include dryness of the mouth and eyes, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, blurred vision, and constipation. Medical attention is usually only advised if these side effects worsen over time. More serious side effects may also occur that require emergency medical attention. These include trouble breathing or swallowing, facial or leg swelling, or changes in urine, such as discoloration, pain while urinating, or increased frequency in urination.