Indications
Trospium Chloride is used to treat overactive bladder in adults, a condition that causes a sudden, strong urge to pass urine, needing to pass urine often (frequency), and leaking urine before reaching the toilet (urge incontinence).
How It Works
Trospium is an antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) medicine. It blocks the action of acetylcholine on the bladder muscle, so the muscle relaxes and contracts less often. This lets the bladder hold more urine and reduces urgency and leaks. It does not easily enter the brain, so confusion is less common than with some similar medicines.
Dosage and Administration
Adults: 20 mg twice a day, taken on an empty stomach at least 1 hour before a meal, with water. For people with severe kidney impairment, and for some people aged 75 or older, the doctor may lower the dose to 20 mg once a day at bedtime. Extended-release forms are taken once a day as directed on the label. The benefit is usually reviewed after about 3 months.
Interactions
Other anticholinergic medicines (such as Oxybutynin, Tricyclic antidepressants, some antihistamines and Amantadine) can increase side effects like dry mouth and constipation. It may weaken the effect of Metoclopramide and Domperidone. Some medicines removed through the kidneys, such as Metformin and Digoxin, may interact. Avoid alcohol within 2 hours of extended-release forms.
Contraindications
- Allergy to Trospium Chloride.
- Urinary retention (being unable to empty the bladder).
- Untreated narrow-angle glaucoma.
- Gastric retention, severe ulcerative colitis or toxic megacolon.
- Myasthenia gravis.
Side Effects
The most common side effects are dry mouth, constipation, indigestion, stomach pain, headache, dry eyes and blurred vision. Some people have difficulty passing urine or a fast heartbeat.
Get urgent medical help if you cannot pass urine, have eye pain with blurred vision, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, confusion, or signs of allergy such as swelling of the face, lips or throat and difficulty breathing.
Pregnancy and Lactation
There is limited information on use in pregnancy; use only if a doctor considers it clearly needed. It is not known whether it passes into human breast milk, so ask your doctor before using it while breastfeeding.
Precautions and Warnings
Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, an enlarged prostate, a bowel blockage, reflux disease, heart rhythm problems, or an overactive thyroid. It can cause blurred vision and drowsiness, so take care when driving. It reduces sweating, so avoid overheating in hot weather.
Overdose
Overdose may cause strong anticholinergic effects: very dry mouth, blurred vision, fast heartbeat, flushing, inability to pass urine, agitation or hallucinations. Seek medical help immediately and take the pack with you.
Therapeutic Class
Urinary antispasmodic; antimuscarinic (anticholinergic) agent.
Storage
Store below 30°C in a dry place, away from light and out of the reach of children.
Prepared by the Oshud Alo team from standard drug references. For information only; always follow your doctor's advice.