Darifenacin hydrobromide is a medication that treats overactive bladder in adults. It belongs to a drug class called anticholinergics. Darifenacin comes as an extended-release tablet that you take by mouth once a day. Common side effects include dry mouth and constipation. The brand name of the medication, Enablex, has been discontinued. So generic darifenacin is the only version available now.
Overactive bladder (OAB) in adults
Darifenacin is an antimuscarinic medication. But it's more commonly known as an anticholinergic. Antimuscarinics and anticholinergics work in similar ways.
Darifenacin blocks a chemical in the body called acetylcholine from attaching to muscarinic receptors in the bladder. This causes your bladder muscles to relax. The medication helps you go to the bathroom less often and have better control of urination.
Source: DailyMed
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Less common
Bladder pain
bloody or cloudy urine
difficult, burning, or painful urination
frequent urge to urinate
lower back or side pain
Incidence not known
Decrease in the frequency of urination
decrease in the urine volume
difficulty in passing urine
dribbling or painful urination
Get emergency help immediately if any of the following symptoms of overdose occur:
Symptoms of overdose
Changes in vision
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
Acid or sour stomach
belching
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
indigestion
stomach discomfort, upset, or pain
Incidence not known
Accidental injury
bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
changes in vision
chills
congestion
cough producing mucus
difficulty with breathing
difficulty with moving
dryness or soreness of the throat
general feeling of discomfort or illness
headache
hoarseness
itching of the vagina or genital area
itching skin
joint pain
loss of appetite
muscle aches and pains
muscle stiffness
nervousness
pain during sexual intercourse
pain or tenderness around the eyes and cheekbones
pounding in the ears
rash
shortness of breath or troubled breathing
slow or fast heartbeat
tender, swollen glands in the neck
thick, white vaginal discharge with no odor or with a mild odor
tightness in the chest
tingling of the hands or feet
trouble with swallowing
unusual weight gain or loss
voice changes
vomiting
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Commonly causes dry mouth, which can be uncomfortable
Not the best choice for people with severe liver problems, certain gut problems, or trouble urinating
You can take darifenacin with or without food. You can try taking it with food to help lessen side effects from the medication like indigestion, nausea, and stomach pain.
Swallow the darifenacin tablet whole with water. Don't chew, cut, or crush them. Talk to your prescriber if you're having trouble swallowing the tablets whole.
Darifenacin can cause sleepiness, dizziness, and blurry vision, although it isn't common. Don't drive or do things that you need your full attention for until you know how this medication makes you feel.
Darifenacin can make you sweat less. This can put you at risk of getting overheated easily, especially when it's hot. To avoid overheating, try not to be outside during the hottest time of the day and avoid dehydrating beverages like alcohol. Drink plenty of water during the day.
Don't take darifenacin with other anticholinergic medications. Examples include diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and other overactive bladder medications. Taking more than one anticholinergic at the same time can raise your risk of side effects like dry mouth and dizziness. Give your care team a list of all the medications you take so they can check for harmful drug interactions.
Tell your healthcare team if you're pregnant or planning to become pregnant. It's not completely known whether darifenacin can harm your unborn baby. Your care team can talk to you about the risks and benefits of taking the medication.
It's not clear how safe darifenacin is while breastfeeding because it hasn't been studied in humans. But animal studies show darifenacin can get into breastmilk, which might cause side effects to your baby.
Darifenacin can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Some people who took darifenacin had a rare but serious side effect called angioedema. This causes swelling in different parts of the body, like the face, lips, tongue, or throat. In some cases, this happened after the first dose of darifenacin.
If the tongue or throat swells, it can be life-threatening because it can make it hard to breathe. Go to the emergency room right away if you suddenly can't breathe or notice swelling around your face or throat.
Risk factors: Taking other medications that cause nervous system side effects
Darifenacin can cause sleepiness, dizziness, headaches, and confusion. Some people might also have hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that aren't real). See how you feel when you first start taking darifenacin and when your dose gets raised.
Tell your care team if you have these side effects. This is especially important if they make it harder for you to go about your daily life. Don't drive or do any activities that you need a lot of focus for until you know how darifenacin affects you.
Be sure your care team knows about all the medications you take or plan to take. Taking darifenacin with other medications that make you tired can make side effects like sleepiness and dizziness worse. This can raise your risk of falling or having other accidents.
Darifenacin can make it harder to urinate. Let your prescriber know if you already have trouble urinating so they can make sure this medication is safe for you. Some conditions that can block urination include benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Darifenacin can slow down the gut and make some digestive problems worse. Let your prescriber know if you have a condition that affects how your gut moves. Examples include severe constipation, ulcerative colitis, and myasthenia gravis. They can check whether darifenacin is safe for you to take. People with blockages in their gut can't take this medication at all.
Let your ophthalmologist know if you have glaucoma and you're taking darifenacin. They might want to check your eyes more often with regular eye exams.
The typical starting dose is 7.5 mg by mouth once a day.
If you have liver problems or take a medication that interacts with darifenacin, your dose will stay at 7.5 mg a day.
For others, your prescriber might raise your dose of darifenacin to 15 mg once a day after 2 weeks of treatment. This depends on how well the medication is working for you.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma
Can't urinate or fully empty your bladder (urinary retention)
Blockage in the stomach or intestines
Overactive bladder in adults - tablets only
Neurogenic detrusor overactivity (NDO) (urinary incontinence due to a neurologic problem) in children ages 2 years and older - liquid only
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Fernandez, J. (2024). Angioedema. Merck Manual Consumer Version.
Haab, F. (2005). Darifenacin for the treatment of overactive bladder. Women’s Health.
Kroll, P. (2017). Pharmacotherapy for pediatric neurogenic bladder. Paediatric Drugs.
Matta, R., et al. (2022). Receipt of overactive bladder drugs and incident dementia: A population-based case-control study. European Urology Focus.
National Association for Continence. (n.d.). The overactive bladder diet.
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Sam, C., et al. (2023). Physiology, acetylcholine. StatPearls.
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