Detrusitol

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Reviewed on Jul 24, 2026. by Mr Craig Marsh Independent Prescriber Registered with GPhC (No. 2070724) Next review due on July 24, 2029.

Last updated on Jul 24, 2026.

Product info

Detrusitol relaxes the bladder muscle to treat urinary urgency and incontinence.
It relaxes the bladder muscle, reducing the frequency and urgency of urination.
It is available in 1mg, 2mg and 4mg doses, taken as tablets or capsules.

Price checker

Prices include:

Express shipping
24 hour shipping by secure courier.
Consultation + Access to our clinicians
Ask our experts anything you like, any time you want.
Total
£70.95

Save £0.00 each order

Detrusitol: essential info
Detrusitol: instructions
Important stuff you need to know
FAQ

What is Detrusitol?

Detrusitol is a treatment that’s used to treat both urinary urgency and urinary incontinence.

Urinary urgency is the sudden need to pass urine, which for a lot of people can result in them urinating before they have actually been able to reach the toilet. Incontinence is slightly different as this is the unwanted passage of urine triggered by a sudden surge of pressure, which is usually caused by sneezing or laughing.

There are a number of factors that can lead to urgency and incontinence. These can include:

Your lifestyle
Drinking a large amount of alcohol or caffeine
Not drinking enough fluids^[1]
Some medications or underlying conditions like urinary tract infections (UTIs)
Physical factors such as pregnancy

Detrusitol is able to combat the effects of urinary urgency and incontinence by relaxing the detrusor muscle around the bladder. It can be taken both as a regular film-coated tablet and also as an XL capsule. The XL capsule contains a higher dose and is not designed to be taken as regularly as the tablet.

How does Detrusitol work?

When you experience urgency or incontinence, it’s because of certain signals being transmitted from the brain to muscle walls which surround the bladder. When this happens, it can result in unpredictable bladder contractions, and this may lead to the unwanted passage of urine.

When you take Detrusitol, the active ingredient tolterodine blocks these signals from being passed from the brain to the walls of the bladder by binding to receptors called muscarinic (or cholinergic) receptors that are found on the surface of the muscle cells. This should help reduce the symptoms of urgency and incontinence.

What doses of Detrusitol are there?

Detrusitol is available in 1mg, 2mg and 4mg doses. Adults tend to take 2mg each morning and 2mg every night, with a gap of 12 hours between doses.

If you experience kidney or liver disease, or if you get side effects, our clinician can bring your dose down to 1mg per day.

The 4mg dose is a modified release tablet that you take just once a day, so it’s a convenient option. It’s also a good dosage option if you’re prone to dry mouth, which is less common with the 4mg dose than the 2mg tablet.

Treated trusted sources:

NHS Choices (2019). Causes – Urinary incontinence. [online] NHS.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh on July 24, 2026. Next review due on July 24, 2029.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

How to take Detrusitol

The way that you take Detrusitol will depend on the dosage prescribed to you by your clinician. Generally speaking, people usually take a 2mg tablet, twice a day. This can be reduced to 1mg a day if you have some kind of kidney or liver condition, or if you experience side effects while using the treatment. The tablets are designed for oral use and should be swallowed whole.

There are also the XL capsules that contain 4mg. These should be taken orally and should be swallowed whole, not chewed. Your clinician will again prescribe you a recommended dosage, but these are usually only taken once a day.

How long does it take Detrusitol to work?

Detrusitol is an ongoing treatment, but it usually starts to have an effect within four weeks. Tolterodine can affect the amount of urine that stays in the bladder after going to the bathroom, so monitoring this before you start the medication is important. It’s normal for a little bit of urine to stay in your bladder, but too much of it increases your risk of developing a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Generally, your clinician will be able to guide you on how long the treatment should last. You’re unlikely to see immediate effects from the medication because your bladder needs time to adapt. A review of how effective Detrusitol is will take place two to three months after use.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking Detrusitol?

If you make a mistake when taking Detrusitol, for instance if you miss a dose, then you should speak to our clinician for advice. You should not make up for a missed dose by taking more the next time round.

If you accidently take too much Detrusitol then you should contact a clinician or a medical professional immediately.

Detrusitol should also not be ingested by children. If this does happen, you should seek medical assistance immediately.

This page was written by The Treated Content Team.

This page was medically reviewed by Mr Craig Marsh on July 24, 2026. Next review due on July 24, 2029.

How we source info.

FAQ: Detrusitol

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

How effective is Detrusitol at treating urinary urgency and urinary incontinence?

Answer:

Clinical studies have shown that Detrusitol can reduce the mean number of urge incontinence instances by up to 71% compared with a placebo.^[1]

The exact effects of Detrusitol can vary from one person to the next though, so your clinician should stay in touch with you to make sure your medication is working and review things two to three months down the line.

Which dose of Detrusitol should I use?

Answer:

It depends on you and your body. Our clinician can advise you on what the right dose is for you in light of your health background.

Your options are:

1mg tablets – this is the smallest dosage available and is usually prescribed if you’re prone to side effects with the medication. With the 1mg dose, you usually need to take it twice a day.

2mg tablets – this is the standard dose, and you normally take it twice a day. Our clinician can guide you on your treatment course for it.

XL capsules – these are capsules that contain 4mg of tolterodine, and it’s the maximum dose available. They’re designed for modified release and as such are usually prescribed to only be taken once a day.

Do I need a prescription for Detrusitol?

Answer:

Yes. Detrusitol is a prescription only treatment, so you’ll need to speak to a clinician to make sure that it’s safe and suitable for you to use. A clinician will need to ensure that you’re not allergic to any ingredients in the medication, and take any health conditions that you might have into consideration before prescribing Detrusitol.

Are there alternatives to Detrusitol?

Answer:

Detrusitol is a branded version of Tolterodine, which is the generic version of the same treatment. They both contain the same active ingredient, tolterodine, and work in the same way. The only differences are the packaging and the appearance of the tablets or capsules, and the price. Tolterodine, as the generic option, is usually slightly cheaper.