The highest dose given to human volunteers of tolterodine L-tartrate is 12.8 mg as a single dose. The most severe adverse events observed were accommodation disturbances and micturition difficulties.
In the event of tolterodine overdose, treat with gastric lavage and give activated charcoal. Treat symptoms as follows:
- Severe central anticholinergic effects (e.g. hallucinations, severe excitation): treat with physostigmine
- Convulsions or pronounced excitation: treat with benzodiazepines
- Respiratory insufficiency: treat with artificial respiration
- Tachycardia: treat with beta-blockers
- Urinary retention: treat with catheterization
- Mydriasis: treat with pilocarpine eye drops and/or place patient in dark room
An increase in QT interval was observed at a total daily dose of 8 mg immediate release tolterodine (twice the recommended daily dose of the immediate release formulation and equivalent to three times the peak exposure of the prolonged release capsule formulation) administered over four days. In the event of tolterodine overdose, standard supportive measures for managing QT prolongation should be adopted.
Tolterodine is contraindicated in patients with
- Urinary retention
- Uncontrolled narrow angle glaucoma
- Myasthenia gravis
- Known hypersensitivity to tolterodine or excipients
- Severe ulcerative colitis
- Toxic megacolon
Not applicable.
Due to the pharmacological effect of tolterodine it may cause mild to moderate antimuscarinic effects, like dryness of the mouth, dyspepsia and dry eyes.
The table below reflects the data obtained with Toltem in clinical trials and from postmarketing experience. The most commonly reported adverse reaction was dry mouth, which occurred in 35% of patients treated with Toltem tablets and in 10% of placebo treated patients. Headaches were also reported very commonly and occurred in 10.1% of patients treated with Toltem tablets and in 7.4% of placebo treated patients.
| Very Common (>1/10) | Common (>1/100 and <1/10) | Uncommon (>1/1000 and<1/100) | Not known (cannot be estimated from the available data) | |
| Infections and infestations | Bronchitis | |||
| Immune system disorders | Hypersensitivity not otherwise specified | Anaphylactoid reactions | ||
| Psychiatric disorders | Nervousness | Confusion, hallucinations, disorientation | ||
| Nervous system disorders | Headaches | Dizziness, somnolence, paresthesia | Memory impairment | |
| Eye disorders | Dry eyes, abnormal vision including abnormal accommodation | |||
| Ear and labyrinth disorders | Vertigo | |||
| Cardiac disorders | Palpitations | Tachycardia, cardiac failure, arrhythmia | ||
| Vascular disorders | Flushing | |||
| Gastrointestinal disorders | Dry mouth | Dyspepsia, constipation, abdominal pain, flatulence, vomiting, diarrhoea | Gastroesophageal reflux | |
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | Dry skin | Angioedema | ||
| Renal and urinary disorders | Dysuria, urinary retention | |||
| General disorders and administration site conditions | Fatigue, chest pain, peripheral oedema | |||
| Investigations | Increased weight |
Cases of aggravation of symptoms of dementia (e.g. confusion, disorientation, delusion) have been reported after tolterodine therapy was initiated in patients taking cholinesterase inhibitors for the treatment of dementia.
Paediatric patients
In two paediatric phase III randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind studies conducted over 12 weeks where a total of 710 paediatric patients were recruited, the proportion of patients with urinary tract infections, diarrhoea and abnormal behaviour was higher in patients treated with tolterodine than placebo (urinary tract infection: tolterodine 6.8 %, placebo 3.6 %; diarrhoea: tolterodine 3.3 %, placebo 0.9 %; abnormal behaviour: tolterodine 1.6 %, placebo 0.4 %).
Reporting of suspected adverse reactions
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorisation of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard
In toxicity, genotoxicity, carcinogenicity and safety pharmacology studies no clinically relevant effects have been observed, except those related to the pharmacological effect of the drug.
Reproduction studies have been performed in mice and rabbits.
In mice, there was no effect of tolterodine on fertility or reproductive function. Tolterodine produced embryo death and malformations at plasma exposures (Cmax or AUC) 20 or 7 times higher than those seen in treated humans.
In rabbits, no malformative effect was seen, but the studies were conducted at 20 or 3 times higher plasma exposure (Cmax or AUC) than those expected in treated humans.
Tolterodine, as well as its active human metabolites prolong action potential duration (90% repolarisation) in canine purkinje fibres (14 - 75 times therapeutic levels) and block the K+-current in cloned human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) channels (0.5 - 26.1 times therapeutic levels). In dogs prolongation of the QT interval has been observed after application of tolterodine and its human metabolites (3.1 - 61.0 times therapeutic levels). The clinical relevance of these findings is unknown.
Symptomatic treatment of urge incontinence and/or increased urinary frequency and urgency as may occur in patients with overactive bladder syndrome.
Pharmacotherapeutic group: Urinary antispasmodics
ATC code: G04B D07
Tolterodine is a competitive, specific muscarinic receptor antagonist with a selectivity for the urinary bladder over salivary glands in vivo. One of the tolterodine metabolites (5-hydroxymethyl derivative) exhibits a pharmacological profile similar to that of the parent compound. In extensive metabolisers this metabolite contributes significantly to the therapeutic effect (see 5.2).
Effect of the treatment can be expected within 4 weeks.
Effect of treatment with Toltem 2 mg twice daily after 4 and 12 weeks, respectively, compared with placebo (pooled data). Absolute change and percentage change relative to baseline.
Variable | 4-week studies | 12-week studies | ||||
| Toltem 2 mg b.i.d. | Placebo | Statistical significance vs. placebo | Toltem 2 mg b.i.d. | Placebo | Statistical significance vs. placebo | |
| Number of micturitions per 24 hours | -1.6 (-14%) n=392 | -0.9 (-8%) n=189 | * | -2.3 (-20%) n=354 | -1.4 (-12%) n=176 | ** |
| Number of incontinence episodes per 24 hours | -1.3 (-38%) n=288 | -1.0 (-26%) n=151 | n.s. | -1.6 (-47%) n=299 | -1.1 (-32%) n=145 | * |
| Mean volume voided per micturition (ml) | +25 (+17%) n=385 | +12 (+8%) n=185 | *** | +35 (+22%) n=354 | +10 (+6%) n=176 | *** |
| Number of patients with no or minimal bladder problems after treatment (%) | 16% n=394 | 7% n=190 | ** | 19% n=356 | 15% n=177 | n.s. |
n.s.=not significant; *=p<0.05; **= p<0.01; ***= p<0.001
The effect of tolterodine was evaluated in patients, examined with urodynamic assessment at baseline and, depending on the urodynamic result, they were allocated to a urodynamic positive (motor urgency) or a urodynamic negative (sensory urgency) group. Within each group, the patients were randomised to receive either tolterodine or placebo. The study could not provide convincing evidence that tolterodine had effects over placebo in patients with sensory urgency.
The clinical effects of tolterodine on QT interval were studied in ECGs obtained from over 600 treated patients, including the elderly and patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease. The changes in QT intervals did not significantly differ between placebo and treatment groups.
The effect of tolterodine on QT-prolongation was investigated further in 48 healthy male and female volunteers aged 18-55 years. Subjects were administered 2 mg BID and 4 mg BID tolterodine as the immediate release formulations. The results (Fridericia corrected) at peak tolterodine concentration (1 hour) showed mean QTc interval increases of 5.0 and 11.8 msec for tolterodine doses of 2 mg BID and 4 mg BID respectively and 19.3 msec for moxifloxacin (400 mg) which was used as an active, internal control. A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model estimated that QTc interval increases in poor metabolisers (devoid of CYP2D6) treated with tolterodine 2 mg BID are comparable to those observed in extensive metabolisers receiving 4 mg BID. At both doses of tolterodine, no subject, irrespective of their metabolic profile, exceeded 500 msec for absolute QTcF or 60 msec for change from baseline that are considered thresholds of particular concern. The 4 mg BID dose corresponds to a peak exposure (Cmax) of three times that obtained with the highest therapeutic dose of Toltem XL capsules.
Paediatric patients
Efficacy in the paediatric population has not been demonstrated. Two paediatric phase 3 randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind 12 week studies were conducted using tolterodine extended release capsules. A total of 710 paediatric patients (486 on tolterodine and 224 on placebo) aged 5-10 years with urinary frequency and urge urinary incontinence were studied. No significant difference between the two groups was observed in either study with regard to change from baseline in total number of incontinence episodes/week.
Pharmacokinetic characteristics specific for this formulation:Tolterodine is rapidly absorbed. Both tolterodine and the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite reach maximal serum concentrations 1-3 hours after dose. The half-life for tolterodine given as the tablet is 2-3 hours in extensive and about 10 hours in poor metabolisers (devoid of CYP2D6). Steady state concentrations are reached within 2 days after administration of the tablets.
Food does not influence the exposure to the unbound tolterodine and the active 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite in extensive metabolisers, although the tolterodine levels increase when taken with food. Clinically relevant changes are likewise not expected in poor metabolisers.
Absorption: After oral administration tolterodine is subject to CYP2D6 catalysed first-pass metabolism in the liver, resulting in the formation of the 5-hydroxymethyl derivative, a major pharmacologically equipotent metabolite.
The absolute bioavailability of tolterodine is 17 % in extensive metabolisers, the majority of the patients, and 65% in poor metabolisers (devoid of CYP2D6).
Distribution: Tolterodine and the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite bind primarily to orosomucoid. The unbound fractions are 3.7% and 36%, respectively. The volume of distribution of tolterodine is 113 l.
Elimination: Tolterodine is extensively metabolised by the liver following oral dosing. The primary metabolic route is mediated by the polymorphic enzyme CYP2D6 and leads to the formation of the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite. Further metabolism leads to formation of the 5-carboxylic acid and N-dealkylated 5-carboxylic acid metabolites, which account for 51 % and 29 % of the metabolites recovered in the urine, respectively. A subset (about 7%) of the population is devoid of CYP2D6 activity. The identified pathway of metabolism for these individuals (poor metabolisers) is dealkylation via CYP3A4 to N-dealkylated tolterodine, which does not contribute to the clinical effect. The remainder of the population is referred to as extensive metabolisers. The systemic clearance of tolterodine in extensive metabolisers is about 30 L/h. In poor metabolisers the reduced clearance leads to significantly higher serum concentrations of tolterodine (about 7-fold) and negligible concentrations of the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite are observed.
The 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite is pharmacologically active and equipotent with tolterodine. Because of the differences in the protein-binding characteristics of tolterodine and the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite, the exposure (AUC) of unbound tolterodine in poor metabolisers is similar to the combined exposure of unbound tolterodine and the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite in patients with CYP2D6 activity given the same dosage regimen. The safety, tolerability and clinical response are similar irrespective of phenotype.
The excretion of radioactivity after administration of [14C]-tolterodine is about 77% in urine and 17% in faeces. Less than 1% of the dose is recovered as unchanged drug, and about 4% as the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite. The carboxylated metabolite and the corresponding dealkylated metabolite account for about 51% and 29% of the urinary recovery, respectively.
The pharmacokinetics is linear in the therapeutic dosage range.
Specific patient groups:
Impaired liver function: About 2-fold higher exposure of unbound tolterodine and the 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite is found in subjects with liver cirrhosis.
Impaired renal function: The mean exposure of unbound tolterodine and its 5-hydroxymethyl metabolite is doubled in patients with severe renal impairment (inulin clearance GFR ≤ 30 ml/min). The plasma levels of other metabolites were markedly (up to 12-fold) increased in these patients. The clinical relevance of the increased exposure of these metabolites is unknown. There is no data in mild to moderate renal impairment.
Paediatric patients
The exposure of the active moiety per mg dose is similar in adults and adolescents. The mean exposure of the active moiety per mg dose is approximately two-fold higher in children between 5-10 years than in adults.
Tolterodine shall be used with caution in patients with
- Significant bladder outlet obstruction at risk of urinary retention
- Gastrointestinal obstructive disorders, e.g. pyloric stenosis
- Renal impairment
- Hepatic disease.
- Autonomic neuropathy
- Hiatus hernia
- Risk for decreased gastrointestinal motility
Multiple oral total daily doses of immediate release 4 mg (therapeutic) and 8 mg (supratherapeutic) tolterodine have been shown to prolong the QTc interval. The clinical relevance of these findings is unclear and will depend on individual patient risk factors and susceptibilities present.
Tolterodine should be used with caution in patients with risk factors for QT-prolongation including:
- Congenital or documented acquired QT prolongation
- Electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalaemia, hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia
- Bradycardia
- Relevant pre-existing cardiac diseases (i.e. cardiomyopathy, myocardial ischaemia, arrhythmia, congestive heart failure)
- Concomitant administration of drugs known to prolong QT-interval including Class IA (e. g. quinidine, procainamide) and Class III (e. g. amiodarone, sotalol) anti-arrhythmics
This especially holds true when taking potent CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Concomitant treatment with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors should be avoided.
As with all treatments for symptoms of urgency and urge incontinence, organic reasons for urge and frequency should be considered before treatment.
Since this drug may cause accommodation disturbances and influence reaction time, the ability to drive and use machines may be negatively affected.
Adults (including elderly):
The recommended dose is 2 mg twice daily except in patients with impaired liver function or severely impaired renal function (GFR<30 ml/min) for whom the recommended dose is 1 mg twice daily. In case of troublesome side effects the dose may be reduced from 2 mg to 1 mg twice daily.
The effect of treatment should be re-evaluated after 2-3 months.
Paediatric patients:
Efficacy of Toltem has not been demonstrated in children. Therefore, Toltem is not recommended for children.
Any unused product or waste material should be disposed of in accordance with local requirements.
