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tolterodine Side Effects

Also known as: Detrol

Analysis of 6,323 adverse event reports submitted to the FDA from 2003 to 2025.

Total Reports

6,323

Death-Related

449

7.1% of reports

Hospitalizations

1,986

31.4% of reports

Top Indication

Product Used For Unknown Indication

Most Reported Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE
466
FALL
408
FATIGUE
406
DIZZINESS
309
DIARRHOEA
308
NAUSEA
308
HEADACHE
269
DYSPNOEA
240
DRUG INTERACTION
234
VOMITING
222
ASTHENIA
216
PAIN
212
URINARY TRACT INFECTION
204
OFF LABEL USE
202
CONSTIPATION
192
PNEUMONIA
180
CONFUSIONAL STATE
170
GAIT DISTURBANCE
163
MALAISE
162
DEATH
151

Who Reports Side Effects

Gender Distribution

Female 3,997 (69%)
Male 1,755 (30%)
Unknown 22

Age Distribution

0-17 57 (1%)
18-44 355 (9%)
45-64 1,283 (31%)
65-74 1,131 (27%)
75+ 1,350 (32%)

Reporting Trend by Year

2003 2025

Reactions in Death Reports

Top reactions reported in 449 reports where death was an outcome. These are voluntarily reported and do not establish causation.

Reaction Reports
DEATH 151
PNEUMONIA 40
COMPLETED SUICIDE 35
FALL 27
ASTHENIA 20
DYSPNOEA 19
URINARY TRACT INFECTION 19
RESPIRATORY FAILURE 18
SEPSIS 17
CARDIAC ARREST 16
RENAL FAILURE 16
GASTROINTESTINAL HAEMORRHAGE 14
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY 13
DIARRHOEA 13
CARDIO-RESPIRATORY ARREST 12
HYPOTENSION 11
MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION 11
OFF LABEL USE 11
PYREXIA 10
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS 10

Reactions in Hospitalization Reports

Top reactions in 1,986 reports where hospitalization was an outcome.

Reaction Reports
FALL 238
PNEUMONIA 148
VOMITING 129
DIARRHOEA 114
URINARY TRACT INFECTION 114
CONFUSIONAL STATE 111
ASTHENIA 108
NAUSEA 106
DYSPNOEA 102
DIZZINESS 99
FATIGUE 92
PYREXIA 86
PAIN 79
DRUG INTERACTION 75
DRUG INEFFECTIVE 68
HYPONATRAEMIA 67
CONSTIPATION 66
OFF LABEL USE 65
ABDOMINAL PAIN 64
HYPOTENSION 63

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What the FAERS Data Reveals About tolterodine Side Effects

The FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) contains 6,323 voluntary reports linked to tolterodine and its brand equivalents (Detrol), spanning 2003 through 2025. Of those, 449 (7.1%) listed death as an outcome and 1,986 (31.4%) involved hospitalization. The most common indication reported alongside adverse events was Product Used For Unknown Indication.

Demographic breakdowns help contextualize who is being exposed to the drug. Of reports with known sex, 69% were female and 30% male; age distribution skews toward 75+, with 1,350 reports in that bracket. The single most reported reaction is drug ineffective with 466 submissions, followed by fall and fatigue.

FAERS is a signal-detection tool, not a scorecard. Reports are voluntary, and a single case may list multiple suspect drugs, so numbers above should not be read as incidence rates or per-patient risk. Widely prescribed drugs naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies even when individual risk is low. These aggregates are useful for spotting patterns that merit further pharmacovigilance, not for choosing between medications. This page is for educational reference only and is not medical advice — speak with a licensed clinician about any side-effect concerns.