Drug Details

Solifenacin Succinate

( Vesicare )

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Dec 12, 2023

Solifenacin Succinate Drug Details

Generic Name:

Solifenacin succinate

Common Brands:

VESICare, VESICare LS

Availability:

Prescription only

Therapeutic Class:

Anticholinergics (muscarinic antagonists)

Forms:

Tablet, liquid suspension

Administration:

By mouth

Therapeutic Uses:

Overactive bladder

Controlled Status:

Not a controlled substance

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Drug Class

Solifenacin (sole-eh-fen-ah-sin) belongs to a group of drugs called antimuscarinics.

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Age Range

Solifenacin is approved for use in adults. This medicine may be used in adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older to treat overactive bladder caused by nerve problems, spinal cord injury, or brain problems.

Solifenacin Succinate Uses

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Uses

Solifenacin is used to treat overactive bladder, a condition in which the bladder muscle contracts or spasms excessively, causing urinary frequency, urgency, and urge urinary incontinence (inability to control urination and get to the bathroom on time).

There may be other uses of solifenacin—your doctor or health system pharmacists can give you further solifenacin drug information.

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Mechanism of Action

Solifenacin is an anticholinergic (antimuscarinic) medication that works by relaxing the bladder muscle.

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Doses

Solifenacin comes as a 5-mg tablet and 5 mg/5 mL oral suspension. The usual dose is 5 mg once daily. This may be increased, if needed, to 10 mg once daily. The maximum recommended dose is 10 mg once daily. However, some people may require a dose reduction. For example, those with moderate hepatic impairment (reduced liver function) or severe renal impairment (reduced kidney function) should not receive more than 5 mg of solifenacin daily. This medication is not recommended for people with severe liver impairment.

Solifenacin Succinate Directions

How To Use Solifenacin (Vesicare)

Solifenacin comes in the form of a tablet and liquid suspension to be taken by mouth once daily. You can take this medicine with or without food. Try to take it at around the same time every day — this will help you remember to take your medicine.

Read the prescription label carefully and follow your doctor’s dosing instructions. Do not change the dose or dosing frequency without your doctor’s approval.

Swallow the tablets whole without cutting, chewing, or crushing them. Shake the oral suspension of solifenacin well before use. Use a medicine dose-measuring device such as a dosing syringe (and not a kitchen spoon) to measure liquid medicine accurately. You can swallow the solifenacin oral suspension directly from the syringe and follow it up with a little bit of milk or water (other drinks and food may cause a bitter taste).

Your doctor may increase your dose after you have been on the medicine for some time, depending on how you tolerate it. Solifenacin will help to control overactive bladder symptoms but will not treat the condition. Continue taking the medicine even if your symptoms are well controlled.

Missed dose: If you miss a dose of solifenacin, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take a double dose or extra medicine to make up for a missed dose. Make sure you don’t take more than one dose of solifenacin on the same day, i.e., in a 24-hour period.

Storage: Store solifenacin at room temperature (between 15-30° C or 59-86° F) away from moisture, heat, and direct light in its original container, tightly closed. Do not store medications in the bathroom where they can be exposed to moisture and heat. Keep all medications safely out of reach of children and pets.

Unused medicine: Unused solifenacin should be disposed of in a way that other people, children, and pets cannot get to them. Do not throw solifenacin in the trash or flush it down the toilet. The best way to dispose of expired or unneeded solifenacin is through a drug take-back program or your local waste disposal company. Learn more about proper medication disposal.

NOTE: This medication guide is a summary and may not contain all possible drug information on solifenacin. The information contained here may not be up-to-date. This sheet is for information purposes only. If you have questions about solifenacin, talk to your doctor for medical advice.

Discounted prices for solifenacin (Vesicare) start at $28.34.

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Solifenacin Succinate Side Effects

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Side Effects

Common adverse effects of solifenacin are listed below. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects if they are severe or persist after a few days.

Dry mouth
Constipation
Stomach ache
Heartburn
Vomiting
Upset stomach
Blurred vision
Dry eyes
Dry skin

Some of the side effects of solifenacin are more serious. Call your doctor right away or seek emergency medical help if you develop the following signs and symptoms.

Constipation for more than 3 days
Pain with urination or frequent urination
Cloudy or bloody urine
Severe stomach pain or back pain
Skin pain, skin rash, hives, itching (severe skin reaction)
Swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, throat, hands, feet, lower legs, ankles, or feet
Difficulty breathing or swallowing
Hoarseness
Hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that are not there)
Headache
Confusion
Extreme fatigue

The above list may not include all the possible adverse reactions of solifenacin. Contact your healthcare provider if the adverse reactions are unusual or severe or if they do not get better over time. You can also report unusual or severe adverse effects to the Food and Drug Administration at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Overdose: In case of an overdose of solifenacin, call your doctor immediately. You can also call your local poison control center or the national poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. Overdose symptoms may include dry mouth, dry skin, dry eyes, enlarged pupils, blurred vision, flushing, fever, fast heartbeat, uncontrolled shaking, difficulty walking, confusion, and hallucinations.

Source: FDA

Solifenacin Succinate Warnings

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Risks, Warnings, and Complications

Solifenacin can cause or worsen health problems in some people. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other treatments for overactive bladder if you are at an increased risk of adverse reactions from this drug.

SERIOUS ALLERGIC REACTION: A small number of people can develop severe allergic reactions with angioedema (swelling of the face, eyes, lips, tongue, throat, hands, and feet) after taking solifenacin. The swelling can be severe enough to cause difficulty breathing. Stop taking solifenacin and tell your doctor immediately or seek emergency medical attention if you develop an unusual or allergic reaction with head and neck swelling, trouble breathing, or chest pain.
URINARY RETENTION: Solifenacin should be used with caution in people with bladder outflow obstruction because of the risk of urinary retention. Before starting this medicine, tell your doctor if you have any bladder problems.
GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS: Solifenacin and other anticholinergic medications should be used with caution in people with gastrointestinal problems such as reduced gastrointestinal motility. Before starting this medicine, tell your health care professional if you have any history of stomach or intestine problems.
NARROW ANGLE GLAUCOMA: Solifenacin should be used with caution in people who have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma or are being treated for this condition.
LIVER DISEASE: Solifenacin is not recommended for people with severe hepatic impairment (severely reduced liver function). Doses of more than 5 mg daily are not recommended in people with moderate hepatic impairment.
KIDNEY DISEASE: Solifenacin should be used with caution in people with renal impairment (reduced kidney function). Doses of more than 5 mg daily are not recommended in people with severe renal impairment.
QT PROLONGATION: Solifenacin can increase the risk of developing a heart abnormality called QT prolongation, in which the interval between the contraction and relaxation of the heart is prolonged. This condition is associated with a higher risk of heart rhythm abnormalities and sudden cardiac arrest. Solifenacin should be used with caution in people with congenital QT prolongation (present since birth) and those taking other medications that can also cause prolongation of the QT interval.
HEAT STROKE: Solifenacin can cause decreased sweating and raise your body temperature. Avoid becoming overheated during hot weather or strenuous exercise, as this could lead to heat stroke. Tell your doctor immediately if you develop dehydration symptoms such as headache, dizziness, confusion, or fast pulse.

Precautions Before Starting Solifenacin (Vesicare)

Tell your doctor if you have ever had an allergic reaction to solifenacin, any of the active or inactive ingredients in solifenacin tablets or oral suspension, other anticholinergic drugs, or any other medicines. Your pharmacy can give you a list of ingredients.

Give your doctor and pharmacist a complete list of all the medicines you are taking, including prescription, over-the-counter medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products. This can help avoid possible interactions between solifenacin and your other medicines.

Give your doctor a complete medical history. Solifenacin may not be safe for people with certain medical conditions such as narrow-angle glaucoma, constipation, gastric retention, ulcerative colitis, other digestive system problems, urinary retention, bladder problems, prostate enlargement, prolonged QT interval, myasthenia gravis, kidney disease, or liver disease.

This medicine may be harmful to an unborn baby or breastfeeding infant. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, could be pregnant, plan to get pregnant, or are nursing an infant with breast milk.

Precautions During Use of Solifenacin (Vesicare)

Keep all your medical and lab appointments while on solifenacin. Your doctor may increase your dose based on your response. Continue taking solifenacin even if your symptoms are well controlled. This medicine will help control symptoms of overactive bladder but will not cure the condition.

Stay well hydrated and avoid getting overheated while on solifenacin. Tell your doctor without delay if you develop signs of heat stroke, such as headache, dizziness, confusion, fast heartbeat, or stomach upset.

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while on solifenacin.

Solifenacin can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Exercise caution while driving and doing other hazardous activities until you know how this medicine affects you.

Tell your doctor if you become pregnant while on solifenacin.

Tell all your healthcare providers you are on solifenacin before any surgery, including dental procedures.

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Drug Interactions

Concomitant use of certain medicines with solifenacin can affect how the medicines work and cause severe adverse effects due to drug interactions. Your doctor may adjust the doses of your medications, monitor you carefully for side effects, or switch you to different medicines if there are known interactions between solifenacin and your other drugs. Solifenacin can have interactions with the following drugs:

Medications prescribed for heart rhythm abnormalities, such as amiodarone (Nexterone, Pacerone), disopyramide (Norpace), dofetilide (Tikosyn), procainamide, quinidine, and sotalol (Sorine, Betapace, Sotylize)

Certain antibiotics such as clarithromycin and erythromycin (ERYC, E.E.S., Erythrocin)

Medications used to treat HIV such as indinavir (Crixivan), saquinavir (Invirase), nelfinavir (Viracept), and ritonavir (Norvir, in Viekira, in Kaletra)

Antifungal agents such as itraconazole (Sporanox) and ketoconazole

Antidepressants such as nefazodone

Medications used to treat Tourette’s syndrome, such as pimozide

Medications prescribed for psychiatric conditions, such as thioridazine

The above list may not include all the potential interactions of solifenacin. Give your doctor or pharmacist a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, nutritional supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your healthcare professional if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with prescription medications.

Solifenacin Succinate Pros & Cons

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Pros and Cons

pros header.svg

Solifenacin works well to treat overactive bladder.
You only need to take this medicine once daily.
It is available as a lower-cost generic.
There is an oral suspension for people who have trouble swallowing pills.

cons header.svg

Solifenacin may not be the best choice for geriatric patients (older adults 65 years and above).
This medicine may not be safe for people with narrow-angle glaucoma, urinary retention, and gastric retention.
It can treat symptoms of overactive bladder but does not cure the condition.

Solifenacin Succinate Pharmacist Tips

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Tips from Pharmacists

Measure the oral suspension of solifenacin with a medicine dose-measuring device and not a kitchen spoon. Drink some water or milk after you swallow the oral suspension. Other drinks and food may give you a bitter taste in your mouth.
To manage dry mouth, which is a common side effect of solifenacin, try sucking on ice chips or chewing gum. Tell your doctor if this side effect is severe. They may recommend lozenges, sprays, or mouthwashes to counteract dry mouth.
Solifenacin can cause dizziness, drowsiness, and blurred vision. Be careful while driving, operating heavy machinery, and doing other hazardous activities until you know how it affects you.
This medicine can cause decreased sweating and an increase in body temperature, putting you at risk of heat stroke. Avoid strenuous exercise in hot weather and stay well hydrated. Seek emergency medical help if you develop dehydration symptoms.

Solifenacin Succinate Rx Savings Tips

Solifenacin (Vesicare) Rx Savings Tips

Solifenacin is a generic medication and is available at significantly lower prices than the brand names. Brand names VESICare and VESICare LS and generic solifenacin contain the same medicine and are equally effective and safe. Like with most medications, the generic version offers better value. A BuzzRx solifenacin coupon can result in big savings on the brand name and generic forms of the drug. With a BuzzRx discount card, savings card, or discount coupons, the medication could cost you a fraction of retail prices. Solifenacin may be under $28.50 for 90 tablets of the 10 mg dose at Walmart, Walgreens, Rite Aid, CVS Pharmacy, and other participating pharmacies with a BuzzRx discount card or free coupon. For the biggest discounts on solifenacin, give the checkout clerk your BuzzRx solifenacin discount coupon when you drop off your prescriptions.

Lowest Price for Solifenacin (Vesicare)

Brand
$33.21

Generic
$28.34

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Pricing based on most commonly-filled versions. Select the strength and quantity of your medication for the most accurate pricing.

Solifenacin Succinate Common Questions

Common Questions about Solifenacin (Vesicare)

What does solifenacin do for the bladder?

Solifenacin relaxes the bladder muscle. It is used to treat overactive bladder symptoms such as frequent or urgent urination and urge incontinence that occur due to muscle spasms (excessive contractions) of the bladder.

How long does it take for solifenacin to work?

It can take 4-12 weeks for solifenacin to have its full effects and control overactive bladder symptoms. Your doctor may increase your dose from 5 mg daily to 10 mg daily if needed.

Can solifenacin make you pee more?

Solifenacin should not make you pee more. This medicine controls an overactive bladder and should improve symptoms of urinary frequency.

Can I drink alcohol while taking solifenacin?

It is best to avoid drinking alcohol while on solifenacin. Alcohol can irritate the bladder and cause urinary frequency. It can also make side effects like drowsiness and dizziness worse.

What is the best time of day to take solifenacin?

You can take solifenacin at any time of the day, with or without food. If nighttime urinary frequency is bothersome for you, taking solifenacin in the evening may prove beneficial.

What is the price of solifenacin without insurance?

Without insurance, solifenacin can be as high as $1,036.99, but with a free BuzzRx prescription discount coupon, you could pay as low as $28.34 for the most common version of this medication. Use the BuzzRx drug price look-up tool to find the lowest discounted price, and be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity for the most accurate pricing. While generics tend to have the best savings, you can also use your BuzzRx card and coupons to purchase brand-name versions. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescription drugs—whether you have insurance or not.

What is the price of solifenacin with insurance?

Ask your pharmacist or insurance provider for your copay price on solifenacin—Copay amounts vary depending on the type of insurance plan you have and if there is a deductible to reach before prescription drug coverage begins.

You could save up to 80% on your prescription medication with a free BuzzRx discount coupon for solifenacin. When using the BuzzRx lookup tool to find the price of your medicine, be sure to enter the correct dosage, form, and quantity to receive the most accurate discounted pricing. It never hurts to ask your pharmacist to try BuzzRx when filling or refilling any of your prescriptions—whether you have insurance or not.

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