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trospium

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Brand names: Sanctura

Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder) Rx

Trospium chloride (Sanctura) helps control an overactive bladder. It reduces the feeling of needing to go to the bathroom often.

Drug Pricing (NADAC)

Generic Price

$0.26/unit

Generic Available

Yes (10 manufacturers)

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

What it does

This medicine treats overactive bladder (OAB).

Common side effects

Dry mouth, Constipation, Headache

Key warnings

Trospium chloride should be used carefully if you have a bladder blockage or stomach problems, as it can cause you to not be able to urinate or have gastric retention.

How It Works

Trospium chloride blocks the action of a chemical called acetylcholine. This chemical can cause bladder muscles to squeeze too much. By blocking acetylcholine, the medicine helps the bladder relax, reducing the urge to urinate.

How to Take It

Take one 20 mg tablet two times a day. Take it with water on an empty stomach. This means taking it at least 1 hour before a meal. If you have kidney problems, your doctor may tell you to take 20 mg once a day at bedtime. If you are over 75, your doctor may lower your dose to 20mg once daily.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed. It is not known if this medicine passes into breast milk, so talk to your doctor if you are breastfeeding.

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 continue with your regular schedule.

Storage

Store at room temperature between 68°F and 77°F.

Serious Warnings

Trospium chloride should be used carefully if you have a bladder blockage or stomach problems, as it can cause you to not be able to urinate or have gastric retention. This medicine may cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, which can be life-threatening. Get medical help right away if this happens. Trospium may cause sleepiness, so be careful driving or using machines until you know how it affects you.

Known Drug Interactions

( 7.2 ) Concomitant use with metformin immediate release tablets reduced exposure and peak concentration of trospium. 7.4 Metformin Co-administration of 500 mg metformin immediate release tablets twice daily with trospium chloride 60 mg extended release reduced the steady-state systemic exposure of trospium by approximately 29% for mean AUC 0-24 and by 34% for mean C max [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].

Mechanism: Metformin lowers the amount of trospium that gets into your bloodstream. This means there is less medicine available in your body to do its job.

What to do: Your doctor may need to change your dose of trospium to make sure it still works for you.

7.2 Drugs Eliminated by Active Tubular Secretion Although demonstrated in a drug-drug interaction study not to affect the pharmacokinetics of digoxin, trospium chloride tablets has the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with other drugs that are eliminated by active tubular secretion (e.g., procainamide, pancuronium, morphine, vancomycin, and tenofovir).

Mechanism: Both drugs leave the body through the same path in the kidneys. This can cause the drugs to build up or change how they work because they are competing to get out.

What to do: Your healthcare provider should watch you closely for any new side effects or changes in your symptoms.

7.2 Drugs Eliminated by Active Tubular Secretion Although demonstrated in a drug-drug interaction study not to affect the pharmacokinetics of digoxin, trospium chloride tablets has the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with other drugs that are eliminated by active tubular secretion (e.g., procainamide, pancuronium, morphine, vancomycin, and tenofovir).

Mechanism: These medicines are cleared out of the body by the same part of the kidneys. Taking them together might change how much of each drug stays in your system.

What to do: Your doctor may need to monitor your blood levels or symptoms to ensure both drugs are working safely.

minor digoxin

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Concomitant use with digoxin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of either drug. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Digoxin Concomitant use of trospium chloride tablets and digoxin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of either drug [ see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ]. 7.2 Drugs Eliminated by Active Tubular Secretion Although demonstrated in a drug-drug interaction study not to affect the pharmacokinetics of digoxin, trospium chloride tablets has the potential for pharmacokinetic interactions with other drugs that are eliminated by active tubular secretion (e.g., procainamide, pancuronium, mor...

Mechanism: Research shows that these two drugs do not change how the other is handled by the body. They can be processed at the same time without interfering with each other.

What to do: You can typically take these medications together without any special dose changes.

Common Questions

Can I take this medicine with food?
No, take trospium chloride on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour before a meal.
What should I do if I get a very dry mouth?
Try sugar-free candy or gum, or talk to your doctor about other ways to manage dry mouth.
Can I drive while taking this medicine?
Be careful driving or using machines until you know how trospium chloride affects you, as it can cause sleepiness.
Is it okay to take this with my other medications?
Trospium chloride can interact with some other medicines, so make sure your doctor knows all the medicines you are taking.
What if I have narrow-angle glaucoma?
If you have controlled narrow-angle glaucoma, trospium chloride should only be used if the benefits outweigh the risks, and with careful monitoring.
Can this medicine cause allergic reactions?
Yes, angioedema, rash, and anaphylactic reaction have been reported. Stop taking the medicine and seek immediate medical attention if you experience any signs of an allergic reaction.
What if I have kidney problems?
If you have severe kidney problems, the recommended dose is 20 mg once daily at bedtime.
Can I drink alcohol while taking this medicine?
Talk to your doctor about drinking alcohol while taking this medicine, as it may worsen some side effects.
How long will it take for this medicine to work?
It may take a few weeks to notice the full effects of this medicine. Continue taking it as prescribed by your doctor.
What do the tablet markings mean?
The tablets are debossed with ‘E’ on one side and plain on the other.
What are the common side effects of trospium?
The most commonly reported side effects of trospium include Dry mouth, Constipation, Headache. Always consult your healthcare provider about potential side effects.
Does trospium interact with other medications?
Yes, trospium has 4 known drug interactions. Notable interactions include metformin, morphine, vancomycin. Always inform your doctor about all medications you are taking.
What drug class is trospium?
trospium belongs to the Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder) drug class. It requires a prescription (Rx). This medicine treats overactive bladder (OAB).
Is trospium safe during pregnancy?
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. This medicine should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed. Always consult your healthcare provider before using any medication during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Has trospium been recalled?
There is 1 recall associated with trospium products. Failed Tablets/Capsules specifications; missing/broken/extra tablets within the capsules. Check the recalls section below for full details and affected products.

Active Recalls

Class II November 1, 2023

Failed Tablets/Capsules specifications; missing/broken/extra tablets within the capsules

Padagis US LLC

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What the FDA Data Shows for trospium

The FDA label for trospium (sold under brand names such as Sanctura) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Anticholinergic (Overactive Bladder) class. This medicine treats overactive bladder (OAB). Official labeling lists 3 commonly reported side effects, including Dry mouth, Constipation, Headache.

Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. Voluntary reports accumulate over the lifetime of a drug and reflect wide-ranging clinical use. The database also lists 4 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.26.

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 (currently 1 recall record on file), 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: December 19, 2024

All federal data sources used on this page