Solifenacin Succinate

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

Last Reviewed: Dec 12, 2023

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.

Find the best discount on Solifenacin Succinate »