Two medicines, side by side
Solifenacin vs darifenacin
Solifenacin and darifenacin are both labeled for overactive bladder. Drugs@FDA records approvals of solifenacin since 2004 and of darifenacin since 2004. Pharmacies paid $0.162 per solifenacin 10 mg tablet and $0.432 per darifenacin ER 15 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Solifenacin, “Solifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist.”; Darifenacin, “Darifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist.”
Check it at the source: the solifenacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 4, 2026); the darifenacin FDA label on DailyMed (effective February 10, 2026).
Highlights of the solifenacin record
Solifenacin (Vesicare) · label of February 4, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsSolifenacin Succinate Tablets are indicated for the treatment of adults with overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency. Solifenacin Succinate Tablets are a muscarinic antagonist indicated for the treatment of adults with overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency, and urinary frequency.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- November 19, 2004
- Generic labelers
- 20 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.162 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 6
Highlights of the darifenacin record
Darifenacin (Enablex) · label of February 10, 2026
Used for
From the label: indicationsDarifenacin extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency. Darifenacin extended-release tablets are a muscarinic antagonist indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency.
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- December 22, 2004
- Generic labelers
- 8 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.432 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Solifenacin label of February 4, 2026, Darifenacin label of February 10, 2026); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do solifenacin and darifenacin differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Solifenacin, “Solifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist.”; Darifenacin, “Darifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist.”
Both are in FDA's class cholinergic muscarinic antagonists.
Half-life, in each label's words: Solifenacin, “Elimination The elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) of solifenacin following chronic dosing is approximately 45-68 hours.”; Darifenacin, “The elimination half-life of darifenacin following chronic dosing is approximately 13 to 19 hours.”
Generics: solifenacin since 2014; darifenacin since 2015 (Drugs@FDA).
| Solifenacin | Darifenacin | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | Overactive bladder | Overactive bladder |
| Pharmacologic class | Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist | Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist |
| How it works (label) | Solifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Muscarinic receptors play an important role in several major cholinergically mediated functions, including contractions of urinary bladder smooth muscle. | Darifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Muscarinic receptors play a role in cholinergically mediated functions, including contractions of the urinary bladder smooth muscle. |
| Half-life (label) | Elimination The elimination half-life (t 1/2 ) of solifenacin following chronic dosing is approximately 45-68 hours. | The elimination half-life of darifenacin following chronic dosing is approximately 13 to 19 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | November 19, 2004 | December 22, 2004 |
| First generic approved | April 2, 2014 | March 13, 2015 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 20 labelers | 8 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.162 per tablet (Solifenacin 10 mg tablet) | $0.432 per tablet (Darifenacin ER 15 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | -3% | +21% |
| Boxed warning | No | No |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 6 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 1,846 | 857 |
| 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)
What do the labels say about using others of their kind?
Darifenacin label, drug interactionsDRUG INTERACTIONS Caution should be taken when darifenacin extended-release tablets is used concomitantly with medications that are predominantly metabolized by CYP2D6 and which have a narrow therapeutic window, such as flecainide, thioridazine and tricyclic antidepressants ( 7.2 ) The concomitant use of darifenacin extended-release tablets with other anticholinergic agents may increase the frequency and/or severity …
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA
What next?
- Alternatives to solifenacin
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions