Briefing Note - fesoterodine fumarate (Toviaz)

SMC has accepted fesoterodine fumarate prolonged-release tablets for the treatment of symptoms in patients with overactive bladder syndrome. It is restricted to second-line use (when another treatment has already been tried and has not worked or has caused side effects).

• Overactive bladder syndrome is when the bladder contracts suddenly without the patient having control, and when the bladder is not full. It is a common condition and usually no cause can be found. Symptoms include increased urinary frequency (need to pass urine often), urgency (sudden urge to pass urine) and urgency incontinence (sudden lack of control resulting in urine leaking before the person can get to the toilet).
• Fesoterodine fumarate is a medicine to treat the symptoms of overactive bladder syndrome. It is given as a prolonged-release tablet which means that the medicine is released slowly from the tablet and can be taken once daily. Fesoterodine fumarate works by causing the bladder muscles to relax, which helps prevent unwanted urination.
• Studies have shown that fesoterodine fumarate caused a modest reduction in urinary frequency and the effect was similar to that of a comparator medicine.
• The side effects of fesoterodine fumarate are similar to those of other related medicines.
• SMC accepted fesoterodine fumarate as a second-line treatment because it is effective and costs about the same as some medicines currently used as second-line treatments. Other less expensive medicines are available and would normally be tried first.