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Vesicare (SOLIFENACIN)
Vesicare works by blocking the action of a chemical called acetylcholine at the muscarinic receptors in the bladder muscle, reducing muscle contractions and urgency.
Vesicare (Solifenacin) is a small molecule cholinergic muscarinic antagonist developed by Astellas, targeting the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1. It is used to treat bladder muscle dysfunction, including overactive bladder, increased urinary frequency, urge incontinence of urine, and urgent desire to urinate. Vesicare was FDA approved in 2004 and is currently owned by Astellas. The drug has a half-life of 52 hours and 90% bioavailability. It is available as a generic medication with multiple manufacturers.
At a glance
| Generic name | SOLIFENACIN |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Astellas Pharma |
| Drug class | Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonist |
| Target | Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 |
| Modality | Small molecule |
| Therapeutic area | Urology |
| Phase | FDA-approved |
| First approval | 2004 |
Mechanism of action
Solifenacin is competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Muscarinic receptors play an important role in several major cholinergically mediated functions, including contractions of urinary bladder smooth.
Approved indications
- Bladder muscle dysfunction - overactive
- Increased Urinary Frequency
- Urge incontinence of urine
- Urgent desire to urinate
Common side effects
- Dry Mouth
- Constipation
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Blurred Vision
- Nausea
- Dyspepsia
- Abdominal Pain Upper
- Vomiting
- Dizziness
- Urinary Retention
- Edema Lower Limb
- Fatigue
Drug interactions
- atazanavir
- boceprevir
- clarithromycin
- conivaptan
- indinavir
- itraconazole
- mibefradil
- nefazodone
- nelfinavir
- posaconazole
- ritonavir
- saquinavir
Key clinical trials
- Low-intensity Shockwave Therapy Versus Solifenacin for the Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Women (PHASE4)
- Solifenacin Compared to Clonidine for Reducing Hot Flashes Among Breast Cancer Patients (PHASE2)
- Efficacy of Gabapentin Combined With Solifenacin for Non-neurogenic Overactive Bladder in Women (PHASE3)
- Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Low Dose Tadalafil Versus Solifenacin For Management of Overactive Bladder in Women: Multicenter Egyptian National Study (PHASE4)
- Mirabegron in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration
- Risk Factors for Treatment Failure in Women With Detrusor Overactivity Receiving Combined Pharmacotherapy
- Solifenacin Plus Tadalafil vs Solifenacin Alone for Overactive Bladder in Females (NA)
- Efficacy of Solifenacin, Mirabegron and Combination Therapy in Children With Daytime Urinary Incontinence (BeDry) (PHASE3)
Patents
| Patent | Expiry | Type |
|---|---|---|
Primary sources
Every claim on this page is sourced from regulatory or scientific primary sources. See our editorial policy for full methodology.
| Source | Used for |
|---|---|
| FDA label | Mechanism, indications, dosing, boxed warnings, drug interactions |
| ClinicalTrials.gov | Trial enrolment, design, endpoints, results |
| FDA Orange Book | Patents + exclusivity |
Competitive intelligence
For the full competitive landscape — auto-detected comparators, recent regulatory actions across the set, upcoming PDUFA, patent timeline, sponsor landscape:
- Vesicare CI brief — competitive landscape report
- Vesicare updates RSS · CI watch RSS
- Astellas Pharma portfolio CI