Darifenacin, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antispasmodic; anticholinergic

Generic and brand names: darifenacin, oral; Enablex

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to treat the symptoms of urinary frequency, urinary urgency, urinary leakage, and incontinence caused by bladder spasms.

This medicine may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• an enlarged prostate or trouble urinating
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or esophagitis (trouble swallowing)
• glaucoma
• heart problems such as heart failure or a fast heartbeat
• high blood pressure
• liver disease
• myasthenia gravis
• severe ulcerative colitis
• stomach or intestinal problems, or problems with constipation.

Females of childbearing age: Talk with your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I take it?

Take this medicine exactly as prescribed. Do not take more than directed because increasing the dosage increases the risk of side effects.

Do not break, crush, or chew the tablets. Swallow them whole with a full glass of water. You may take this medicine with or without food. Taking it with meals may lessen the chance the drug will upset your stomach.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your healthcare provider.

What should I watch out for?

Dry mouth is a common side effect of this medicine. If it becomes bothersome, tell your healthcare provider.

This medicine may cause blurred vision, dizziness, or drowsiness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert and able to see clearly.

This medicine increases the risk of heat stroke because it reduces sweating. Avoid extreme heat, saunas, hot tubs, and exercising too much.

This medicine may make your eyes more sensitive to light. Wear sunglasses to help protect your eyes.

This medicine may make you constipated. You may need to take a laxative or stool softener while taking this medicine. Talk with healthcare provider or pharmacist about this.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe vision problems or eye pain, confusion, clumsiness, fast heartbeat, slurred speech, hallucinations, muscle weakness, severe diarrhea, trouble urinating, high or low blood pressure.

Other: Constipation, dry mouth, dry eyes, decreased sweating, nausea, vomiting, change in sense of taste, stuffy nose, restlessness, dizziness, headache, dilated pupils, heartburn, stomach cramps.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• anastrozole (Arimidex)
• antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro), clarithromycin (Biaxin), erythromycin (Ery-Tabs, E.E.S., Eryc), and norfloxacin (Noroxin)
• anticholinergic medicines such as benztropine (Cogentin), dicyclomine (Bentyl), atropine sulfate, belladonna, propantheline (Pro-Banthine), methscopolamine (Pamine), l-hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex), amantadine (Symmetrel), procyclidine (Kemadrin), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
• antidepressants such as fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), paroxetine (Paxil), amitriptyline (Elavil), nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan)
• antifungal medicines such as fluconazole (Diflucan), metronidazole (Flagyl), miconazole (Monistat, Micatin), clotrimazole (Mycelex), itraconazole (Sporanox), and ketoconazole (Nizoral)
• anti-HIV medicines such as indinavir (Crixivan), nelfinavir (Viracept), nevirapine (Viramune), delavirdine (Rescriptor), ritonavir (Norvir), and saquinavir (Fortovase, Invirase)
• antipsychotic medicines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin, Permitil), haloperidol (Haldol), perphenazine, and thioridazine
• antiseizure medicines such as carbamazepine (Tegretol), phenobarbital, primidone (Mysoline), and phenytoin (Dilantin)
• asthma medicines such as zafirlukast (Accolate) and zileuton (Zyflo)
• chloramphenicol (AK-Chlor, Chloroptic)
• danazol (Danocrine)
• heart medicines such as amiodarone (Cordarone; Pacerone), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor, Tiamate, Tiazac), flecainide (Tambocor), quinidine, verapamil (Calan, Covera, Isoptin), and digoxin (Lanoxin, Digitek, Lanoxicaps)
• heartburn medicines such as cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac)
• isoniazid (Nydrazid)
• omeprazole (Prilosec)
• propoxyphene (Darvon)
• rifampin (Rifadin).

Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while taking this medicine. Grapefruit affects the way this medicine works and may increase the risk of side effects.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.