Solifenacin
Solifenacin is an antimuscarinic tablet for overactive bladder, easing urgency, frequency and urge incontinence; this page lists Vesicare 5mg and 10mg tablets.
What solifenacin is used for
Overactive bladder (OAB) means needing to pass urine suddenly and often, with an urge that is hard to hold. Solifenacin is an antimuscarinic: it blocks muscarinic receptors on the bladder wall, so the detrusor (the muscle that squeezes urine out) is less inclined to contract before the bladder has filled. People notice fewer sudden urges, fewer trips to the toilet and less urge incontinence, which is leaking that follows a strong urge. The condition is not cured, and the full effect takes a few weeks to show. Leaks that come with coughing, sneezing or lifting are a different problem (stress incontinence), and solifenacin does not treat them.
Strengths and timing
Solifenacin is one small tablet, once a day, swallowed whole with water. Eating changes nothing. Starting on 5mg is usual; 10mg is the next step up for anyone still getting urgent trips to the toilet, and the routine stays the same. Choose a time that suits your day, stick to it, and allow several weeks at each strength before deciding whether it is working.
What you may notice
The effect to expect is a dry mouth, which usually settles down within a few weeks. Constipation, blurred vision, dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, dry eyes and dry skin come up too, and so do urinary tract infections. The tablets damp down some nerve signals, so a drink can leave you drowsier and less steady than usual. Hallucinations and confusion are uncommon. Being unable to pass urine at all calls for urgent treatment, as does a swollen face or throat, or a rash with difficulty breathing.
Interactions and who should not take it
Other anticholinergic medicines, among them some antidepressants, antihistamines and antipsychotics, pile extra dryness, constipation and drowsiness on top. Ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir and clarithromycin raise the amount of solifenacin in the body. The tablets also slow the gut, which makes existing constipation worse. People who cannot pass urine, or who have untreated narrow-angle glaucoma, myasthenia gravis or a severe bowel condition, are not given solifenacin. Store below 25°C.
The Vesicare listing
This page covers one listing: Vesicare, the brand name for solifenacin, in 5mg and 10mg tablets, also sold as generic solifenacin tablets. You will find it in the bladder category.
Sources
- Solifenacin: MedlinePlus Drug Information — MedlinePlus / U.S. National Library of Medicine
- Solifenacin - a medicine to treat symptoms of an overactive bladder - NHS — NHS UK
Is Solifenacin available to order in Hong Kong?
Solifenacin can be ordered online with delivery to Hong Kong. The page lists generic Vesicare tablets in 5mg and 10mg, also sold as Solifenacin tablets. Orders can be cancelled within 24 hours if not dispatched, and support replies 24/7 in English and Cantonese.
What is the price of Solifenacin?
It depends on the product, strength and pack size. The solifenacin product listed here shows its current prices in HKD or the currency you select.
Do I need a prescription to order Solifenacin?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order solifenacin. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What is another name for solifenacin?
Vesicare is a brand name of solifenacin. Here, solifenacin can be bought online as generic Vesicare. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does solifenacin take to work?
Slowly. Over several weeks of daily tablets the sudden urges and leaks ease off, and early doses tell you little either way.
Can I drink alcohol with solifenacin?
Alcohol can add to the drowsiness, dizziness and dry mouth that solifenacin may cause, so keep it light and see how you feel before driving. The effect is likelier in the first days or after a move to a higher strength.
What is the difference between Vesicare and solifenacin?
Vesicare is the brand name; solifenacin is the ingredient inside it. The tablets on this page are Vesicare 5mg and 10mg, also sold as generic solifenacin, and both are taken once a day.
Does solifenacin cause constipation?
Often, yes, because the medicine slows the bowel as well as the bladder. Drink enough fluid, add fibre to meals, and use a laxative if it persists.
Should I choose 5mg or 10mg solifenacin?
Most people start on 5mg once a day. The 10mg tablet is for those whose symptoms still break through, and either strength is one tablet daily. Both are listed here under Vesicare.