Trospium

About trospium

Trospium is prescribed to treat urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency and incontinence. Urinary urgency occurs when you have a sudden and urgent need to pass urine. If you need to take more trips to the toilet than normal, this is called urinary frequency. If you leak urine before you go to the toilet, this is called incontinence.

There are several different causes of these urinary symptoms, such as weakened pelvic floor muscles, problems causing your bladder muscles to contract too much or too early, or something causing an obstruction. Sometimes the cause of these symptoms is unknown.

Trospium works by stopping sudden bladder muscle contractions and increasing the volume of urine that your bladder can hold. This helps to control the release of urine and eases your symptoms.

Trospium is available as tablets and as prolonged-release capsules. The tablets can be prescribed for adults and for children over the age of 12 years. The capsules (brand name Regurin® XL) are only suitable for adults.

Before taking trospium

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking trospium it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

• If you have a heart condition, such as an unusual heart rhythm, problems with the blood vessels in your heart, or heart failure.

• If you have any problems with the way your liver works or with the way your kidneys work.

• If you have any problems with your prostate gland.

• If you have any of the following conditions: increased eye pressure (called glaucoma); hiatus hernia; an overactive thyroid gland; high blood pressure; a condition causing muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.

• If you have a condition which could cause a blockage in your stomach, bowel or urinary tract.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

How to take trospium

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about trospium and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take trospium exactly as your doctor tells you to. If you are given tablets, the recommended dose is one tablet twice a day. If you are given modified-release capsules, the recommended dose is one capsule daily. The directions will be printed on the label of the pack to remind you about what the doctor said to you.

• Try to take your doses at the same times of day each day, as this will help you to remember to take them regularly.

• You should take trospium when your stomach is empty, which means taking your doses one hour before a meal (or waiting until two hours afterwards). This is because your body absorbs less of the medicine after a meal, which means the medicine is less effective.

• Trospium capsules have been specially made to release the medicine they contain evenly over the day, so it is important that you swallow the capsule whole - do not chew or open it before you swallow.

• If you forget to take a dose at your usual time, take it when you remember. However, if it is nearly time to take your next dose when you remember then leave out the forgotten dose and take your next dose when it is due. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.

Getting the most from your treatment

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress and review your treatment.

• Drinks containing caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cola) may make your symptoms worse. This is because caffeine is a natural diuretic and will make you want to pass urine. If you drink a lot of caffeine-containing drinks, consider switching to decaffeinated alternatives.

• Try to maintain a normal life as much as possible with regard to drinking and visiting the toilet. However, drinking late at night may mean your sleep is disturbed by the desire to get up and go to the toilet, so you may want to avoid drinking too much during the evening.

• Your doctor may suggest that you do some pelvic floor exercises to strengthen the muscles around the underside of your bladder. These can help to improve your symptoms.

• If you buy any medicines or herbal remedies, always check with a pharmacist that they are suitable to take with trospium. Some medicines (particularly antihistamines) can increase the chance that you will experience unwanted effects such as a dry mouth and constipation.

Can trospium cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the common ones associated with trospium. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to trospium tablets or capsules, please speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.

How to store trospium

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.

Important information about all medicines