What Is Tolterodine ER Used For?

Tolterodine ER is used for treating common symptoms of an overactive bladder. By relaxing the muscles of the bladder, the medicine can help reduce sudden urges to urinate, leaking accidents, and frequent urination. The drug is not approved for use in children at this time, and there are no universally accepted off-label tolterodine ER uses.

 

What Is Tolterodine ER Used For? -- An Overview

Tolterodine ER (Detrol LA®) is a prescription medication approved to treat an overactive bladder. It belongs to a group of medications known as anticholinergics or antimuscarinics.
 
An overactive bladder is caused by bladder muscle contractions that are too frequent and uncontrollable. Normally, the bladder slowly fills 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 bladder muscles contract spastically and frequently. This causes the following symptoms:
 
  • Sudden, frequent urges to urinate
  • Frequent urination (needing to go more than eight times in 24 hours)
  • Leaking accidents (known as urinary incontinence or urge incontinence).
     
Sometimes, an overactive bladder is caused by other medical problems, such as an enlarged prostate. In these cases, it is usually best to treat the underlying problem, instead of using tolterodine ER. The medication is not approved for other types of bladder problems.
 

How Does Tolterodine ER Work?

As mentioned, tolterodine ER belongs to a group of medications known as anticholinergics or antimuscarinics. It 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 due to bladder muscle contractions that are too frequent and uncontrollable, tolterodine ER can help relieve many of the associated symptoms.
 
(What Is Tolterodine ER 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;