Two medicines, side by side
Fesoterodine vs tolterodine
Fesoterodine and tolterodine are both labeled for overactive bladder. Drugs@FDA records approvals of fesoterodine since 2008 and of tolterodine since 1998. Pharmacies paid $0.794 per fesoterodine ER 4 mg tablet and $0.268 per tolterodine tart ER 2 mg capsule (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like.
Check it at the source: the fesoterodine FDA label on DailyMed (effective April 7, 2026); the tolterodine FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 9, 2026).
Highlights of the fesoterodine record
Fesoterodine (Toviaz) · label of April 7, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsToviaz is indicated for the treatment of: • Overactive bladder (OAB) in adults with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency. ( 1.1 ) • Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) in pediatric patients 6 years of age and older and weighing greater than 25 kg. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- October 31, 2008
- Generic labelers
- 11 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.794 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Highlights of the tolterodine record
Tolterodine (Detrol) · label of February 9, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsTolterodine tartrate extended-release capsules are an antimuscarinic indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency. ( 1 ) Tolterodine tartrate extended-release capsules are indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and frequency [ see CLINICAL STUDIES ( 14 ) ].
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- March 25, 1998
- Generic labelers
- 14 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.268 per capsule
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 4
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Fesoterodine label of April 7, 2026, Tolterodine label of February 9, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do fesoterodine and tolterodine differ on the record?
Generics: fesoterodine since 2015; tolterodine since 2012 (Drugs@FDA).
| Fesoterodine | Tolterodine | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Overactive bladder | Overactive bladder |
| Pharmacologic class | n/a | Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | Fesoterodine is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. | n/a |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal half-life of the active metabolite is approximately 4 hours following an intravenous administration. | n/a |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | October 31, 2008 | March 25, 1998 |
| First generic approved | December 10, 2015 | September 25, 2012 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 11 labelers | 14 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.794 per tablet (Fesoterodine ER 4 mg tablet) | $0.268 per capsule (Tolterodine tart ER 2 mg capsule) |
| 12-month price change | -10% | -27% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 2 | 4 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 10,773 | 12,383 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
Do their labels mention each other?
Fesoterodine label, contraindicationsCONTRAINDICATIONS Toviaz is contraindicated in patients with any of the following: • known or suspected hypersensitivity to Toviaz or any of its ingredients, or to tolterodine tartrate tablets or tolterodine tartrate extended-release capsules [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.1) ].
Fesoterodine label, drug interactionsIn a study in adults, coadministration of the strong CYP3A4 inhibitor ketoconazole with fesoterodine led to approximately a doubling of the maximum concentration (C max ) and area under the concentration versus time curve (AUC) of 5-hydroxymethyl tolterodine (5-HMT), the active metabolite of fesoterodine.
Tolterodine label, contraindicationsTolterodine tartrate extended-release capsules are also contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to the drug or its ingredients, or to fesoterodine fumarate extended-release tablets which, like tolterodine tartrate extended-release capsules, are metabolized to 5-hydroxymethyl tolterodine. …
Tolterodine label, contraindicationsDETROL is also contraindicated in patients who have demonstrated hypersensitivity to the drug or its ingredients, or to fesoterodine fumarate extended-release tablets which, like DETROL, are metabolized to 5-hydroxymethyl tolterodine.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Fesoterodine label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Antimuscarinic Drugs Coadministration of Toviaz with other antimuscarinic agents that produce dry mouth, constipation, urinary retention, and other anticholinergic pharmacological effects may increase the frequency and/or severity of such effects.
Tolterodine label, drug interactionsConcomitant use with other anticholinergic agents may increase the frequency and/or severity of dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision, and other anticholinergic pharmacological effects.
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to fesoterodine
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions