Solifenacin Succinate Tablets (Strides Pharma Canada): Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

ABOUT THIS MEDICATION

What the medication is used for:

SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS 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:

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

When it should not be used:

You should not take SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS:

• 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 SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS. See ‘What the non-medicinal ingredients are’

What the medicinal ingredient is:

The medicinal ingredient in SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS is ‘solifenacin succinate’.

What the non-medicinal ingredients are:

Each SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS tablet contains the following inert ingredients: hypromellose, lactose monohydrate, macrogel, magnesium stearate, maize starch, silica colloidal anhydrous, talc, and titanium dioxide with yellow iron oxide (5 mg SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS tablet) or red iron oxide (10 mg SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS tablet).

What dosage form it comes in:

SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS is available in 5 and 10 mg tablets

WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS

Before you use SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS, 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 SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS.

• Are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS should not be given to children or adolescents.

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

In hot weather, SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS 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. If you experience any of these symptoms, stop taking SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS and see your doctor immediately.

INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION

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

SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS is known to have drug interactions with the following drugs: Drugs 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 SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS 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.

SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE 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 solifenacin succinate:

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 solifenacin succinate in worldwide post-marketing experience, although the frequency of events or a causal relationship with solifenacin succinate 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 SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS. This includes any side effects not listed above.

HOW TO STORE IT

Keep SOLIFENACIN SUCCINATE TABLETS and all other medications out of the reach of children.

Store between 15°C – 30°C.

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

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

MORE INFORMATION

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found by contacting Strides Pharma Canada Inc., at 1-888-318-0234.

Last Revised: December 23, 2022

REPORTING SUSPECTED SIDE EFFECTS

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following 3 ways:

• Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
• Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345

• Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:

  • Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or

  • Mail to: Canada Vigilance Program Health Canada

    Postal Locator 0701D Ottawa, ON

    K1A 0K9

Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffect^™ Canada Website at: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.

NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice