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fesoterodine

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Brand names: Toviaz

Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder) Rx

Fesoterodine is a medicine that helps control an overactive bladder. It reduces the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom so often.

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Generic Price

$0.81/unit

Generic Available

Yes (7 manufacturers)

Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →

What it does

This medicine treats overactive bladder (OAB) in adults.

Common side effects

Dry mouth, Constipation

Key warnings

Fesoterodine can cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat.

How It Works

Fesoterodine belongs to a class of drugs called anticholinergics. It works by blocking certain nerve signals to the bladder. This helps to relax the bladder muscles and reduce the urge to urinate.

How to Take It

Take fesoterodine tablets once a day by mouth. Swallow the tablet whole with some liquid. Do not chew, crush, or divide the tablet. You can take it with or without food.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

It is not known if fesoterodine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if fesoterodine passes into breast milk. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you are taking this medicine.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time.

Storage

Store at room temperature (68° to 77°F) and protect from moisture.

Side Effects (from patient reports)

Based on 6,279 FDA adverse event reports.

Drug not working
1,662
Dry mouth
823
Fall
529
Tiredness
505
Using the drug for something it's not approved for
505
Constipation
503
Unable to empty bladder
502
Pain
440
Headache
416
Dizziness
394

Serious Warnings

Fesoterodine can cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat. This can be life-threatening, so stop taking the medicine and get medical help right away if this happens. Fesoterodine is not recommended if you have a blockage in your bladder or have problems with food moving through your digestive system. Use with caution if you have narrow-angle glaucoma or myasthenia gravis.

Known Drug Interactions

Urinary antispasmodics fesoterodine ↑ fesoterodine When fesoterodine is co-administered with darunavir/ritonavir, do not exceed a fesoterodine dose of 4 mg once daily.

Mechanism: Darunavir interferes with the way your body clears fesoterodine, leading to higher levels of the medication in your blood.

What to do: When taking these medicines together, do not exceed a fesoterodine dose of 4 mg once daily.

Fesoterodine Patients with moderate to severe renal or hepatic impairment : Contraindicated during and 2 weeks after itraconazole treatment.

Mechanism: Itraconazole prevents the body from getting rid of fesoterodine, leading to higher amounts of the drug in your blood.

What to do: Avoid this combination if you have moderate to severe kidney or liver disease.

7.2 CYP3A4 Inhibitors Doses of fesoterodine fumarate greater than 4 mg are not recommended in adult patients taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, and clarithromycin [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] . In a study in adults, co-administration 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. Compared with CYP2D6 extensive metabolizers not tak...

Mechanism: Ketoconazole stops your body from breaking down fesoterodine properly, which can double the amount of medicine in your blood.

What to do: If you take ketoconazole, your daily dose of fesoterodine should be limited to 4 mg.

7.2 CYP3A4 Inhibitors Doses of fesoterodine fumarate greater than 4 mg are not recommended in adult patients taking strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, and clarithromycin [see Dosage and Administration (2.5) ] .

Mechanism: Clarithromycin blocks the process your body uses to get rid of fesoterodine, causing the drug levels to rise.

What to do: You should not take more than 4 mg of fesoterodine each day if you are also using clarithromycin.

7.6 Oral Contraceptives In the presence of fesoterodine, there are no clinically significant changes in the plasma concentrations of combined oral contraceptives containing ethinyl estradiol and levonorgestrel [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .

Mechanism: Fesoterodine does not change the amount of estradiol in your blood, so the two drugs do not have a meaningful effect on each other.

What to do: No special dosage changes are usually needed when taking these medications together.

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Common Questions

Can I cut the tablet in half?
No, swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew, crush, or divide it.
Can I take this medicine if I have glaucoma?
Use with caution if you are being treated for narrow-angle glaucoma. Do not use if you have uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.
What should I do if I get a very dry mouth?
Try sugar-free candy or gum. Talk to your doctor if it bothers you.
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
Fesoterodine can cause sleepiness. Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until you know how it affects you.
What if I have kidney problems?
Your doctor may need to adjust your dose if you have kidney problems.
Can I take this with other medicines?
Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements.
How long does it take for this medicine to work?
It may take a few weeks to notice the full effects of this medicine.
What if I am taking medicine for depression?
Talk to your doctor. Some medicines for depression can interact with fesoterodine.
Can I drink grapefruit juice while taking this?
Grapefruit juice can affect how this medicine works. Talk to your doctor.
What is the starting dose?
The usual starting dose is 4 mg once a day.
What are the common side effects of fesoterodine?
The most commonly reported side effects of fesoterodine include Dry mouth, Constipation. Based on 6,279 FDA adverse event reports. Always consult your healthcare provider about potential side effects.
Does fesoterodine interact with other medications?
Yes, fesoterodine has 15 known drug interactions. Notable interactions include darunavir, itraconazole, ketoconazole. Always inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
What drug class is fesoterodine?
fesoterodine belongs to the Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder) drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This medicine treats overactive bladder (OAB) in adults.
Is fesoterodine safe during pregnancy?
It is not known if fesoterodine can harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Always consult your healthcare provider before using any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Related Medications in Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder)

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Related Health & Safety Data

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What the FDA Data Shows for fesoterodine

The FDA label for fesoterodine (sold under brand names such as Toviaz) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder) class. This medicine treats overactive bladder (OAB) in adults. Official labeling lists 2 commonly reported side effects, including Dry mouth, Constipation.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 6,279 voluntary reports. The database also lists 15 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated major severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.81.

Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.

Data Sources

Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).

FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.

Last updated: April 12, 2024

All federal data sources used on this page