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Clinical Differences Between Solifenacin and Tolterodine

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Abstract

Overactive bladder (OAB) is characterized by involuntary detrusor contractions that result in bothersome urinary symptoms. The estimated US prevalence of OAB is 16% among men and 16.9% among women, comprising some 37.4 million Americans. The mainstay of treatment is medication. Although all drugs have variable degrees of efficacy and tolerability, several have emerged that yield good clinical results with tolerable side effects. This review focuses on two frequently prescribed drugs, solifenacin and tolterodine, and compares their clinical efficacy. A PubMed review was conducted with “solifenacin” and “tolterodine” as search words. Articles that compared the two medications were reviewed for content and number of study participants. Those with the most relevant findings and the highest number of participants were included. Both solifenacin and tolterodine show clinical efficacy for the treatment of OAB. Solifenacin seems to have better results in some series, with similar side effects. Antimuscarinic therapy is effective as OAB treatment. Both solifenacin and tolterodine have good clinical efficacy. However, in head—to-head trials, solifenacin seems to have somewhat better outcomes. Solifenacin, 5 mg, has less reported dry mouth than tolterodine, but at 10 mg, the incidence of dry mouth is similar.

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Abbreviations

NOBLE:

National Overactive Bladder Evaluation

SOLAR:

Solifenacin Alone and with Simplified Bladder Re-training

STAR:

Solifenacin Versus Tolterodine Multinational Trial

SUNRISE:

Solifenacin in the Treatment of Urgency Symptoms of OAB in a Rising Dose, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blind, Efficacy Trial

VECTOR:

A Randomized Double-Blind Study to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Solifenacin (Vesicare) in Comparison to Oxybutynin for Overactive Bladder Patients

VENUS:

Vesicare Efficacy and Safety in Patients with Urgency Study

VERSUS:

Vesicare Efficacy and Research Study US

VICTOR:

Vesicare in Combination with Tamsulosin in OAB Residual Symptoms

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Disclosure

No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Longwood Program, Boston, MA, USA

    Anne K. Mongiu

  2. VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston University School of Medicine, 12 Water Street, Hingham, MA, 02043, USA

    Lori B. Lerner

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  1. Anne K. Mongiu
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  2. Lori B. Lerner
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Correspondence to Lori B. Lerner.

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Mongiu, A.K., Lerner, L.B. Clinical Differences Between Solifenacin and Tolterodine. Curr Bladder Dysfunct Rep 6, 1–6 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11884-010-0075-2

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