Tolterodine tartrate
Brand names: Detrusitol, Detrusitol XL
Tolterodine tartrate is an oral antimuscarinic, available as immediate- and modified-release forms, used to treat overactive bladder with urinary frequency, urgency and urge incontinence.
ClinCalc Pro is rebuilding its dose data from primary open sources — the manufacturer SmPC (eMC), the WHO Model Formulary and other official references — under clinician review. This drug's structured dose is not yet published here. Confirm all doses against the product SmPC and your local formulary before prescribing.
Clinical monograph
How it works
It is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist that reduces detrusor overactivity, with relative functional selectivity for the bladder over the salivary glands.
Prescribing in practice
- Contraindicated in urinary retention, uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma, significant gastric outflow obstruction and myasthenia gravis.
- Antimuscarinic effects add to those of other anticholinergic drugs and may impair cognition and precipitate falls in the elderly.
- Reduce dose in significant renal or hepatic impairment and with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors; it can prolong the QT interval.
Monitoring
Assess symptom benefit, anticholinergic side effects and cumulative anticholinergic burden after several weeks of treatment.
Counselling the patient
- Dry mouth, constipation and blurred vision are common; report difficulty passing urine.
- Tell your prescriber about all other medicines, as anticholinergic effects can add up.
Evidence & guidelines
NICE recognises antimuscarinics including tolterodine as established pharmacological treatment for overactive bladder after conservative measures.
Reference: NICE NG123; Drug verified in RxNorm (NLM); confirm dosing against the manufacturer SPC (eMC). Verify against your local formulary and current prescribing references before prescribing. Monograph status: clinician-reviewed (2026-07-04).
Related
Curated clinical cross-links plus same-class fallbacks.