Sandoz Solifenacin: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION

What the medication is used for:

Sandoz Solifenacin is used in the treatment of overactive bladder in adults with symptoms of frequent and urgent need to urinate (urinary frequency, urinary urgency) with urine leakage (urge urinary incontinence).

What it does:

Sandoz Solifenacin is a urinary antispasmodic medication that helps to relax the smooth muscle of the bladder which leads to reduction the symptoms caused by overactive bladder.

When it should not be used:

You should not take Sandoz Solifenacin:

• If you are not able to empty your bladder (also called urinary retention).
• If you have End-Stage Kidney Disease and require dialysis.
• If you are not able to empty your stomach (also called gastroparesis).
• If you have narrow-angle glaucoma (high pressure and pain in the eyes).
• If you are allergic to solifenacin succinate or any of the other ingredients in Sandoz Solifenacin. See ‘What the non-medicinal ingredients are’

What the medicinal ingredient is:

The medicinal ingredient in Sandoz Solifenacin tablet is ‘solifenacin succinate’.

What the nonmedicinal ingredients are:

Each Sandoz Solifenacin tablet contains the following inert ingredients: corn starch, hypromellose, iron oxide yellow (5 mg solifenacin tablet) or iron oxide red (10 mg solifenacin tablet),

lactose monohydrate, macrogol, magnesium stearate, talc, titanium dioxide.

What dosage forms it comes in:

Sandoz Solifenacin is available in 5 and 10 mg tablets.

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Before you use Sandoz Solifenacin, talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• Have stomach problems affecting passage and digestion of food, or severe constipation.

• Have glaucoma.

  • Have difficulty urinating, or weak urine stream
  • Have heart disease
  • Have a rare heart problem called QT/QTc prolongation or family history of QT/QTc prolongation.
  • Have kidney or liver problems.
  • Have reduced ability to sweat.

  • Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Women who might get pregnant should use an effective birth control method while taking Sandoz Solifenacin.

  • Are breast feeding or plan to breast feed.

Sandoz Solifenacin should not be given to children or adolescents.

Sandoz Solifenacin may cause blurred vision and drowsiness. Do not drive a car or operate any machinery, or engage in any activities that require accurate vision and full attention.

In hot weather, Sandoz Solifenacin can cause heat prostration (fever and heat stroke due to decreased sweating). Do not stay long in a hot environment while taking the drug. If you have any symptoms of heat prostration, keep yourself cool and drink a lot of water.

Angioedema (the symptoms include swelling of the face or tongue, difficulty breathing) and anaphylactic reactions (the symptoms include hives, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps, rapid heartbeat and feeling faint), which could be life-threatening, have been reported in some patients taking solifenacin succinate. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking Sandoz Solifenacin and see your doctor immediately.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

Before and while taking Sandoz Solifenacin you should tell your doctor about your other medications, even if the medicine you bought without prescription including vitamins and herbal supplements.

Sandoz Solifenacin is known to have drug interactions with the following drugs: drug known to prolong the QT/QTc interval and/or cause torsade de pointes, drugs that decrease electrolyte levels, anticholinergic drugs, drugs that stimulate the motility of the gut such as metoclopramide, ketoconazole, clarithromycin, erythromycin, diclofenac, nefazodone, verapamil.

Drinking grapefruit juice with Sandoz Solifenacin may increase your blood level of solifenacin.

PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION

Usual dose:

5 mg daily. The daily dose may be increased to 10 mg following consultation with your doctor. Swallow the tablet whole with water.

Sandoz Solifenacin tablets can be taken with or without food.

Overdose:

Missed Dose:

If a dose is missed, the next tablet should be taken as planned. Doses should not be doubled to make up for a missed dose.

SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM

The following side effects have been reported in clinical trials with Sandoz Solifenacin:

Most common side effects: dry mouth and constipation.

Common side effects: dry eyes, urinary retention, blurred vision, nausea, abdominal pain, indigestion, urinary tract infection.

The following side effects have been reported with the use of Sandoz Solifenacin in worldwide post-marketing experience, although the frequency of events or a causal relationship with Sandoz Solifenacin could not always be confirmed :acid reflux, change in sense of taste, decreased appetite, delirium, dizziness, dry skin, fast or irregular heartbeat, feeling sleepy, glaucoma, hallucination, headache, high potassium levels, hypersensitivity reactions, intestinal blockage, itchiness, kidney ailment, liver problems, muscle weakness, nasal dryness, voice disorder, severe skin scaling and redness, itching (exfoliative dermatitis), severe skin rash, itchiness and fever (erythema multiforme), swelling in the lower limbs and vomiting.

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any side effects while taking Sandoz Solifenacin. This includes any side effects not listed above.

HOW TO STORE IT

Keep Sandoz Solifenacin and all other medications out of the reach of children.

Store Sandoz Solifenacin between 15° to 30°C.

Do not keep medicine that is out of date or that you no longer need.

Reporting Side Effects

MORE INFORMATION

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found by contacting the sponsor, Sandoz Canada Inc., at:

1-800-361-3062

or by written request at:

110 rue de Lauzon

Boucherville QC

J4B 1E6

Or by e-mail at :

medinfo@sandoz.com

Last revised: March 26, 2019