What is the brand name for solifenacin (Vesicare)?

Brand Name for Solifenacin

The brand name for solifenacin is VESIcare. 1

Medication Information

• Solifenacin succinate (VESIcare) is a competitive M3 receptor antagonist with anticholinergic properties used for the symptomatic treatment of overactive bladder (OAB) 2
• It is available as a once-daily oral medication in two dosage strengths: 5 mg and 10 mg tablets 2
• The recommended starting dose is 5 mg once daily, with the option to increase to 10 mg if needed and well tolerated 3

Pharmacological Properties

• Solifenacin has a long half-life of 33-85 hours, which allows for convenient once-daily dosing 4
• It has high absolute bioavailability of approximately 90%, which is not affected by food intake 4
• The drug is primarily metabolized through hepatic pathways via cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4, with only about 7% excreted unchanged in urine 4

Clinical Applications

• Solifenacin is effective for treating all symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome, including urgency, incontinence, micturition frequency, and nocturia 3
• It is used in combination therapy with tamsulosin for men with both storage and voiding lower urinary tract symptoms 5
• The European Association of Urology guidelines mention solifenacin as an effective antimuscarinic agent for treating storage symptoms in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms 5

Therapeutic Considerations

• Full therapeutic effects of solifenacin typically occur after 2-4 weeks of treatment and are maintained with long-term therapy 4
• Dose adjustments are recommended for patients with moderate hepatic impairment, severe renal impairment, or those taking CYP3A4 inhibitors, with doses not exceeding 5 mg/day in these populations 4
• The American College of Physicians recommends solifenacin as an effective option for reducing episodes of urgent urinary incontinence 6

Combination Therapy

• Solifenacin has been studied in combination with mirabegron, showing superior efficacy to either monotherapy for treating overactive bladder symptoms 6
• The combination of solifenacin and tamsulosin in a single tablet has shown efficacy and safety for treating lower urinary tract symptoms in men 5

Adverse Effects

• The most common adverse effect is mild dry mouth, with other potential anticholinergic effects including constipation and blurred vision 7, 3
• Solifenacin appears to have better tolerability compared to immediate-release oxybutynin and tolterodine based on withdrawal rates due to adverse effects 4