vesicare

What is Vesicare?

From the FDA label:VESIcare (solifenacin succinate) is a muscarinic receptor antagonist. Chemically, solifenacin succinate is a butanedioic acid compound with (1 S )-(3 R )-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]oct-3-yl 3,4-dihydro-1-phenyl-2(1 H )-iso-quinolinecarboxylate (1:1) having an empirical formula of C 23 H 26 N 2 O 2 •C 4 H 6 O 4 , and a molecular weight of 480.55. The structural formula of solifenacin succinate is: Solifenacin succinate is a white to pale-yellowish-white crystal or crystalline powder. It is freely soluble at room temperature in water, glacial acetic acid, dimethyl sulfoxide, and methanol. Each VESIcare tablet contains 5 or 10 mg of solifenacin succinate and is for oral administration. In addition to the active ingredient solifenacin succinate, each VESIcare tablet also contains the following inactive ingredients: lactose monohydrate, corn starch, hypromellose 2910, magnesium stearate, talc, polyethylene glycol 8000 and titanium dioxide with yellow ferric oxide (5 mg VESIcare tablet) or red ferric oxide (10 mg VESIcare tablet). structure of Solifenacin succinate

How to use

Side effects

Warnings

Who should not take Vesicare

Overdose — what happens if you take too much

Interactions

How long does Solifenacin Succinate stay in your body?

The elimination half-life of solifenacin succinate is about 45 to 68 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. The label gives this range for solifenacin itself after chronic (repeat) dosing, so a dose change takes roughly a week to fully settle. The label names one pharmacologically active metabolite, 4R-hydroxy solifenacin, but states it occurs at low concentrations and is unlikely to contribute significantly to clinical activity — no half-life is given for it. Solifenacin is cleared mainly by CYP3A4 in the liver, so the half-life stretches in several groups: about 20 to 25% longer in adults 65 to 80 compared with adults 18 to 55; about 1.6-fold longer with severe kidney impairment (AUC 2.1-fold higher); and about 2-fold longer with moderate liver impairment. It has not been studied in severe liver impairment. Strong CYP3A4 inhibitors such as ketoconazole raise exposure about 2.7-fold. In the US solifenacin is sold as immediate-release tablets and an oral suspension; there is no extended-release form, so no ER-versus-IR difference applies.

This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: Solifenacin Succinate Tablets — FDA Prescribing Information, Section 12.3 Pharmacokinetics (DailyMed).

Frequently asked questions

What does Vesicare treat?

Vesicare (Solifenacin Succinate) may be used to treat overactive urinary bladder, urge urinary incontinence, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.

How does Vesicare work?

Vesicare is a cholinergic muscarinic antagonist. These drugs block muscarinic receptors, the docking sites for the nerve signal acetylcholine. By preventing acetylcholine from acting, they calm the 'rest-and-digest' nervous system, which can dry secretions, relax airway and bladder muscles, and speed up the heart, depending on the drug.

How is Vesicare rated?

pharmaranks gives Vesicare a composite score of 3.6 out of 5, currently based on 1 weighted source (FDA regulatory recall-safety data weighted highest). See our methodology at /how-we-rate.

How much does Vesicare cost?

Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $5.40 for 30, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins. Pharmacies pay less for a same-class option, Oxytrol — about $1.42 on the same basis.

Is there a coupon or discount for Vesicare?

pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Vesicare. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.

Who makes Vesicare?

Vesicare is marketed by Astellas. You can see Astellas's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.

Is Vesicare a brand-name or generic drug?

Vesicare is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Solifenacin Succinate. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Solifenacin Succinate are available — ask your pharmacist.

Is Vesicare available over the counter?

No. Vesicare is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.

What forms does Vesicare come in?

Vesicare is currently marketed as tablet, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.

What class of drug is Vesicare?

Vesicare is classified as cholinergic muscarinic antagonist, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.

Is Vesicare FDA-registered?

Vesicare is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021518. You can verify this on its official FDA label.

Has Vesicare been recalled by the FDA?

Vesicare has no FDA recalls recorded under its own application in the openFDA enforcement database. Its recall-safety score reflects its manufacturer's overall recall record. This is general reference, not medical advice — check the FDA recall database for the latest alerts.

Is Vesicare safe?

There's no single safe-or-not verdict. pharmaranks gives Vesicare a recall-safety score of 72/100, based on its FDA recall history (no recalls under its own FDA application) — not an efficacy or side-effect rating. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings before use, and always consult a licensed professional.

What are the side effects of Vesicare?

Vesicare's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The most common adverse reactions (> 4% in VESIcare-treated patients and > placebo-treated patients) were dry mouth and constipation at both 5 mg and 10 mg doses; and urinary tract infection and blurred vision at the 10 mg dose. ( 6.1 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS,… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.