What Is Solifenacin Succinate Used For?

Solifenacin succinate is used for treating symptoms of an overactive bladder, such as frequent urination, leaking accidents, and urinary urgency. The medication can help relieve these symptoms by relaxing the muscles of the bladder. There are currently no off-label solifenacin succinate uses, and the drug is not approved for use in children.

 

What Is Solifenacin Succinate Used For? -- An Overview

Solifenacin succinate (VESIcare®) is a prescription medication approved for treating the symptoms of an overactive bladder. It belongs to a group of medications known as anticholinergics or antimuscarinics.
 
An overactive bladder is caused by contractions of the bladder muscle that are too frequent and usually uncontrollable. Normally, the bladder fills slowly until nerve signals tell your brain that the bladder is full and you need to use the bathroom. Then the bladder muscles contract when you urinate. However, in some people, the muscles contract frequently and spastically. This causes the following overactive bladder symptoms:
 
  • A frequent need to urinate (usually defined as needing to go more than eight times in 24 hours)
  • Sudden, frequent urges to urinate (known as urinary urgency)
  • Leaking accidents (known as urinary incontinence or urge incontinence).
     
Sometimes, an overactive bladder is caused by other medical problems, such as an enlarged prostate (also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH). In these cases, it is usually best to treat the underlying problem instead of using solifenacin succinate. The medication is not approved for other types of bladder problems.
 

How Does Solifenacin Succinate Work?

Solifenacin succinate works by binding to specific receptors in the bladder, called muscarinic receptors, which helps the muscles of the bladder to relax. Since an overactive bladder is often caused by muscles that contract too frequently and uncontrollably, solifenacin succinate can help relieve many of the associated symptoms.
 
(What Is Solifenacin Succinate Used For? Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;