What condition does Tolterodine Tartrate Treat and Its Price?

Tolterodine Tartrate is a prescription used in overactive bladder. This is in the class of medications called antispasmodics. The FDA has already approved this medication as it helps ease some certain symptoms of overactive bladder.

What condition does Tolterodine Tartrate treat?

Tolterodine Tartrate is recommended by most doctors for the treatment of overactive bladder. Overactive bladder makes the bladder squeeze out urine at an erroneous time. You can have this condition if you have two or more of the following symptoms:

• Having a sudden or strong need to urinate right away

• Urinating more than eight times a day and more than two times at night 

• Leaking urine after a strong urge to urinate

To improve your capacity to control your urination, this medicine relaxes the muscles in the bladder. By relaxing the muscles, it helps to lessen a frequent trip to the bathroom, the leaking of urine, and feelings of wanting to urinate immediately.

How does Tolterodine Tartrate work?

Tolterodine Tartrate works by relaxing the involuntary muscle that is found in the wall of the bladder. The detrusor muscle which is a muscle in the wall of the bladder can contract at times in uncontrollable spasms. The overactive detrusor muscle may cause uncontrollable urges to pass urine or increase the number of periods you need to pass urine. By blocking muscarinic receptors, this medicine relaxes the detrusor muscle in the wall of the bladder. These are found on the surface of the muscle cells that prevent acetylcholine from acting on these receptors.

Usually, when acetylcholine acts on these receptors, it causes the detrusor muscle to contract and the bladder to empty. By blocking acetylcholine, Tolterodine Tartrate helps the muscle in the bladder wall to relax. This decreases the unstable and involuntary contractions of the bladder. Thereby, it increases the capacity of the bladder to hold urine as well. In turn, this lessens the need to pass urine. 

What is the dosage of Tolterodine Tartrate?

This medication is usually taken two times a day, by mouth. You may take each dose with or without a meal or as directed by your doctor. The recommended dosage will depend on your medical condition and response to the treatment. Your doctor may start you at a low dose and gradually increase it.

Tolterodine Tartrate is absorbed into the bloodstream from the gut soon after the medication is taken. It is important to continue taking this medication even if you feel well. Some conditions may worsen when the drug is abruptly stopped. Follow the instructions of your doctor carefully. Do not take more or less medication or take it more frequently than the prescription. To help you remember, use it at the same time and in the same way each day. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or if it gets worse.

Risk Reduction: What are the precautions in using Tolterodine Tartrate?

• Tolterodine Tartrate may cause sleepiness and blurred vision which might lessen your ability to operate machinery or drive safely. Do not operate machinery or drive until you know how this medicine affects you and you are sure it won’t affect your performance. 

• This is not recommended for use in people who cannot empty their bladder, with closed-angle glaucoma, myasthenia gravis, ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease. 

• If you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding women consult your doctor first before using Tolterodine Tartrate.

• Use this with caution in elderly people, those with decreased liver/kidney function, any obstruction to the outflow of urine from the bladder, any blockage or decreased activity in the stomach, or people with hiatus hernia. 

• If you missed a dose of this prescription, call your doctor right away for instructions. 

• Let your doctor know if you have any allergies or have ever had an allergic reaction to this drug. This drug may contain an inactive ingredient that causes an allergic reaction. 

• This medication may make you sweat less and make you more likely to get heatstroke. Avoid doing things that may cause you to overheat.

Price of Tolterodine Tartrate vs. Detrol

The generic Tolterodine Tartratecosts a lot cheaper medicine than the branded name Detrol. Per 30 tabs of Tolterodine Tartrateonly costs:

• $26.99 of 1 mg

• $36.99 of 2 mg

• $40.99 of 4 mg

The cost of Detrol per 30 tabs is:

• $40.86 of 1 mg

• $67. 05 of 2 mg

• $111.78 of 4 mg