Detrol LA is a prescription medicine used for treating an overactive bladder. By binding to specific receptors in the bladder, the drug can help bladder muscles relax, which can relieve sudden urges to urinate, leaking accidents, and frequent urination. Detrol LA comes in capsule form and is taken once daily. Side effects may include dry mouth, headache, and constipation.
Detrol® LA (tolterodine ER) is a prescription medication that is used help treat an overactive bladder. Specifically, it is approved to help treat the following overactive bladder symptoms:
- Sudden, frequent urges to urinate
- Frequent urination (needing to go more than eight times in 24 hours)
- Leaking accidents (known as urinary incontinence or urge incontinence).
It is made by Pfizer, Inc.
Detrol LA belongs to a group of medications known as anticholinergics or antimuscarinics. It works by binding to specific receptors (called muscarinic receptors) in the bladder, which helps the muscles of the bladder to relax. Since an overactive bladder is often due to bladder muscle contractions that are too frequent and uncontrollable, Detrol LA can help relieve many of the symptoms of bladder problems.
Studies have shown Detrol LA to be effective in treating several symptoms of an overactive bladder. In studies, people who took Detrol LA reduced the frequency of wetting accidents by about half. Also, those who took the drug used the bathroom less frequently and were able to pass more urine each time they used the bathroom (the frequent muscle contractions of an overactive bladder usually prevent the bladder from holding a normal amount of urine).