Tolterodine: an overview

Tolterodine has emerged as a new anticholinergic drug to treat detrusor ins tability in recent years. This substance and its major metabolite DD01 exhi bit a favourable effect-to-side-effect ratio for the bladder. Several clini cal studies demonstrated the drug's efficacy in reducing the symptoms of an overactive bladder (urgency, urge incontinence and high micturition freque ncy) and in increasing functional bladder volume. With a clinical effective ness comparable to oxybutynin, the side effect-profile measures up favourab ly to oxybutynin. Consequently, though some limitations need to be addresse d, tolterodine can be regarded as he drug of first choice to treat overacti ve bladders in a variety of patient groups: the young (and otherwise health y), the elderly, as well as in patients with renal and hepatic insufficienc y. A new extended release formula of tolterodine has been launched that may improve patients' compliance.