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Detrusitol® 1 mg Tablets – patient leaflet, side effects, dosage

Last updated: · Text from the MHRA, as of · About this document

Medicine status: Prescription only (POM) Details

Medicine strength:
1 mg
Contains active substance:

Patient leaflet - Detrusitol 1 mg tablets

1. WHAT DETRUSITOL IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

The active substance in Detrusitol is tolterodine. Tolterodine belongs to a class of medicinal products called antimuscarinics.

Detrusitol is used for the treatment of the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome. If you have overactive bladder syndrome, you may find that:

  • you are unable to control urination,
  • you need to rush to the toilet with no advance warning and/or go to the toilet frequently.

2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE DETRUSITOL

Do not take Detrusitol if you:

  • are allergic (hypersensitive) to tolterodine or any of the other ingredients in Detrusitol (listed in section 6)
  • are unable to pass urine from the bladder (urinary retention)
  • have an uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma (high pressure in the eyes with loss of eyesight that is not being adequately treated)
  • suffer from myasthenia gravis (excessive weakness of the muscles)
  • suffer from severe ulcerative colitis (ulceration and inflammation of the colon)
  • suffer from a toxic megacolon (acute dilatation of the colon).

Warnings and precautions

  • If you have difficulties in passing urine and/or a poor stream of urine
  • If you have a gastro-intestinal disease that affects the passage and/or digestion of food
  • If you suffer from kidney problems (renal insufficiency)
  • If you have a liver condition
  • If you suffer from neuronal disorders that affect your blood pressure, bowel or sexual function (any neuropathy of the autonomic nervous system)
  • If you have a hiatal hernia (herniation of an abdominal organ)
  • If you ever experience decreased bowel movements or suffer from severe constipation (decreased gastro-intestinal motility)
  • If you have a heart condition such as:

    • √ an abnormal heart tracing (ECG);
    • √ a slow heart rate (bradycardia);
    • √ relevant pre-existing cardiac diseases such as:

      • cardiomyopathy (weak heart muscle)
      • myocardial ischaemia (reduced blood flow to the heart)
      • arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
      • and heart failure
  • If you have abnormally low levels of potassium (hypokalaemia), calcium (hypocalcaemia) or magnesium (hypomagnesaemia) in your blood.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before starting your treatment with Detrusitol if you think any of these might apply to you.

Other medicines and Detrusitol

Tolterodine, the active substance of Detrusitol, may interact with other medicinal products.

It is not recommended to use tolterodine in combination with:

  • some antibiotics (containing e.g. erythromycin, clarithromycin)
  • medicinal products used for the treatment of fungal infections (containing e.g. ketoconazole, itraconazole)
  • medicinal products used for the treatment of HIV.

    Detrusitol should be used with caution when taken in combination with:

    • medicines that affect the passage of food (containing e.g. metoclopramide and cisapride)
    • medicines for the treatment of irregular heartbeat (containing e.g. amiodarone, sotalol, quinidine, procainamide)
    • other medicines with a similar mode of action to Detrusitol (antimuscarinic properties) or medicines with an opposite mode of action to Detrusitol (cholinergic properties). Ask your doctor if you are unsure.

Please tell your doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.

Detrusitol with food and drink

Detrusitol can be taken before, after or during a meal.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding

Pregnancy

You should not use Detrusitol when you are pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you are pregnant, think you are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant.

Breast-feeding

It is not known if tolterodine, the active substance of Detrusitol, is excreted in the mother’s breast milk. Breast-feeding is not recommended during administration of Detrusitol.

Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.

Driving and using machines

Detrusitol may make you feel dizzy, tired or affect your sight; your ability to drive or operate machinery may be affected.

Detrusitol contains sodium

Detrusitol contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per 1 mg and 2 mg film-coated tablets, that is to say essentially ‘sodium-free’.

3. HOW TO TAKE DETRUSITOL

Dosage

Always take Detrusitol exactly as your doctor has told you. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

The usual dose is one 2 mg tablet twice daily, except for patients who have a kidney or a liver condition or troublesome side effects in which case your doctor may reduce your dose to one 1 mg tablet twice daily.

Detrusitol is not recommended for children.

The tablets are for oral use and should be swallowed whole.

Duration of treatment

Your doctor will tell you how long your treatment with Detrusitol will last. Do not stop treatment early because you do not see an immediate effect. Your bladder will need some time to adapt. Finish the course of tablets prescribed by your doctor. If you have not noticed any effect by then, talk to your doctor.

The benefit of the treatment should be re-evaluated after 2 or 3 months.

Always consult your doctor if you are thinking of stopping the treatment.

If you take more Detrusitol than you should:

If you or somebody else takes too many tablets, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately.

If you forget to take Detrusitol

If you forget to take a dose at the usual time, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for your next dose. In that case, omit the forgotten dose and follow the normal dose schedule.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

You should see your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department if you experience symptoms of angioedema such as:

  • swollen face, tongue or pharynx
  • difficulty to swallow
  • hives and difficulty in breathing

You should also seek medical attention if you experience a hypersensitivity reaction (for example itching, rash, hives, difficulty breathing). This occurs uncommonly (occurs in less than 1 in 100 patients).

1624, 1625

10.02.22[17]

Tell your doctor immediately or go to the casualty department if you notice any of the following:

  • chest pain, difficulty breathing or getting tired easily (even at rest), difficulty breathing at night, swelling of the legs.

These may be symptoms of heart failure. This occurs uncommonly (occurs in less than 1 in 100 patients).

The following side effects have been observed in Detrusitol with the following frequencies.

Very common: may affect more than 1 in 10 people

  • Dry mouth
  • Headache

Common: may affect up to 1 in 10 people

  • Bronchitis
  • Dizziness, sleepiness, sensation of pins and needles in the fingers and toes
  • Dry eyes, blurred vision
  • Vertigo
  • Palpitations
  • Difficulty with digestion (dyspepsia), constipation, abdominal pain, excessive amounts of air or gases in the stomach or the intestine, vomiting
  • Dry skin
  • Painful or difficult urination, inability to empty the bladder
  • Tiredness, chest pain, extra fluid in the body causing swelling (e.g. in the ankles)
  • Increased weight
  • Diarrhoea

Uncommon: may affect up to 1 in 100 people

  • Allergic reactions
  • Nervousness
  • Increased heart rate, heart failure, irregular heartbeat
  • Heart burn
  • Memory impairment

Additional reactions reported include severe allergic reactions, confusion, hallucinations, flushed skin angioedema, and disorientation. There have also been reports of worsening symptoms of dementia in patients being treated for dementia.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. HOW TO STORE DETRUSITOL

  • Keep Detrusitol out of the sight and reach of children.
  • Do not store above 30oC.
  • Store in the original package.
  • Do not use Detrusitol after the expiry date which is stated on the label/carton. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
  • If your tablets become discoloured or show any signs of deterioration, consult your pharmacist who will tell you what to do.
  • Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6. CONTENT OF THE PACK AND OTHER INFORMATION

What Detrusitol contains

The active substance in Detrusitol is tolterodine

Each Detrusitol 1 mg tablet contains 1 mg of tolterodine L-tartrate.

Each Detrusitol 2 mg tablet contains 2 mg of tolterodine L-tartrate.

The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate, sodium starch glycollate, magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silica, hypromellose, stearic acid, titanium dioxide (E171).

What Detrusitol looks like and contents of the pack

Detrusitol 1 mg tablets are round, white film-coated tablets, marked with arcs above and below the lettering “TO” on one side and plain on the reverse.

Detrusitol 2 mg tablets are round, white film-coated tablets, marked with arcs above and below the lettering “DT” on one side and plain on the reverse.

Detrusitol 1 mg tablets are available in blister packs of 20, 28 and 56 tablets.

Detrusitol 2 mg tablets are available in blister packs of 20, 28 and 56 tablets.

Manufacturer and product licence holder Detrusitol is manufactured by Pfizer Italia S.r.l., 63046, Marino del Tronto, Ascoli Piceno, Italy.

Procured from within the EU by the product licence holder Star Pharmaceuticals Ltd, 5 Sandridge Close, Harrow, Middlesex, HA1 1XD. Repackaged by Servipharm Ltd.

Leaflet revision and issue date 10.02.22[17]

Detrusitol is a trademark of Pfizer Enterprises Sarl.

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Call 020 8423 2111 to obtain the leaflet in a format suitable for you.

POM

Detrusitol 1 mg tablets - PL 20636/1624

Detrusitol 2 mg tablets - PL 20636/1625

About this document

Source: MHRA - Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (products.mhra.gov.uk) · Marketing authorisation: PLPI 20636/1624

Last revision stated in the text: 10 February 2022 · MHRA data as of 13 October 2026

Found a mistake? Tell us on the contact page.

The information on this site does not replace the advice of a doctor or pharmacist.

Facts about Detrusitol 1 mg tablets

Prescription needed? Yes, prescription-only medicine (POM)
Active substance Tolterodine
Strength 1 mg
Pharmaceutical form Oral tablet
How is it taken Oral
Is it available? Listed as available (NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices – not a record of current supplies)
Drug group (ATC)
  1. G Genito urinary system and sex hormones
    1. G04 Urologicals
      1. G04B Urologicals
        1. G04BD Drugs for urinary frequency and incontinence
          1. G04BD07 tolterodine
Marketing authorisation PLPI 20636/1624
Codes BNF 07040200

Sources: the MHRA product information (products.mhra.gov.uk) and the NHS Dictionary of Medicines and Devices (dm+d), release 10.1.0 of 12 October 2026, NHS Business Services Authority. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.