Solifenacin in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome: efficacy, safety and the relevance of clinical diagnosis Review article
Article Sidebar
Published:
Jun 30, 2025
Keywords:
overactive bladder, lower urinary tract symptoms, nycturia, solifenacin, cholinolytics
Main Article Content
Abstract
Solifenacin is a well-established therapeutic option for patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Anticholinergic drugs reduce the severity of urgency, the number of urgency incontinence episodes, and decrease the frequency of urination, which is crucial for improving the quality of life of patients with overactive bladder syndrome. Due to its more selective action on M3 muscarinic receptors and low affinity for other muscarinic receptors, solifenacin is associated with fewer adverse effects than oxybutynin and tolterodine. Solifenacin is also relatively well tolerated by elderly individuals.
Article Details
How to Cite
Ślusarczyk, A. (2025). Solifenacin in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome: efficacy, safety and the relevance of clinical diagnosis. Medycyna Faktow (J EBM), 18(2(67), 283-287. https://doi.org/10.24292/01.MF.0225.17
Issue
Section
Articles
Copyright © by Medical Education. All rights reserved.
References
1. Ito Y, Oyunzul L, Yoshida A et al. Comparison of muscarinic receptor selectivity of solifenacin and oxybutynin in the bladder and submandibular gland of muscarinic receptor knockout mice. Eur J Pharmacol. 2009; 615(1-3): 201-6. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2009.04.068.
2. Chapple CR, Khullar V, Gabriel Z et al. The Effects of Antimuscarinic Treatments in Overactive Bladder: An Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Eur Urology. 2008; 54(3): 543-62. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2008.06.047.
3. Margulis AV, Linder M, Arana A et al. Patterns of use of antimuscarinic drugs to treat overactive bladder in Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. PLoS One. 2018; 13(9): e0204456. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204456.
4. Wallis CJD, Lundeen C, Golda N et al. Anticholinergics for overactive bladder: Temporal trends in prescription and treatment persistence. Can Urol Assoc J. 2016; 10(7-8): 277-80. http://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.3526.
5. Chapple CR, Fianu-Jonsson A, Indig M et al. Treatment Outcomes in the STAR Study: A Subanalysis of Solifenacin 5 mg and Tolterodine ER 4 mg. Eur Urology. 2007; 52(4): 1195-203. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2007.05.027.
6. bbDuong V, Iwamoto A, Pennycuff J et al. A systematic review of neurocognitive dysfunction with overactive bladder medications. Int Urogynecol J. 2021; 32(10): 2693-702. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-04909-5.
7. Herschorn S, Pommerville P, Stothers L et al. Tolerability of solifenacin and oxybutynin immediate release in older (>65 years) and younger (≤65 years) patients with overactive bladder: sub-analysis from a Canadian, randomized, double-blind study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2011; 27(2): 375-82. http://doi.org/10.1185/03007995.2010.541433.
8. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M et al. The standardisation of terminology in lower urinary tract function: Report from the standardisation sub-committee of the International Continence Society. Urology. 2003; 61(1): 37-49. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0090-4295(02)02243-4.
9. Irwin DE, Milsom I, Hunskaar S et al. Population-based survey of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and other lower urinary tract symptoms in five countries: results of the EPIC study. Eur Urol. 2006; 50(6): 1306-14. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.09.019.
10. Przydacz M, Golabek T, Dudek P et al. Prevalence and bother of lower urinary tract symptoms and overactive bladder in Poland, an Eastern European Study. Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1): 19819. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76846-0.
11. Lee SH, Lee JY. Current role of treatment in men with lower urinary tract symptoms combined with overactive bladder. Prostate Int. 2014; 2(2): 43-49. http://doi.org/10.12954/PI.14045.
12. Gratzke C, Bachmann A, Descazeaud A et al. EAU Guidelines on the Assessment of Non-neurogenic Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms including Benign Prostatic Obstruction. Eur Urol. 2015; 67(6): 1099-109. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2014.12.038.
13. Mostafaei H, Salehi-Pourmehr H, Jilch S et al. Choosing the Most Efficacious and Safe Oral Treatment for Idiopathic Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Eur Urol Focus. 2022; 8(4): 1072-89. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2021.08.011.
14. Nambiar AK, Arlandis S, Bø K et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Female Non-neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Part 1: Diagnostics, Overactive Bladder, Stress Urinary Incontinence, and Mixed Urinary Incontinence. Eur Urol. 2022; 82(1): 49-59. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2022.01.045.
15. Nazir J, Kelleher C, Aballéa S et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of solifenacin 5 mg/day versus other oral antimuscarinic agents in overactive bladder: A systematic literature review and network meta-analysis. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018; 37(3): 986-96. http://doi.org/10.1002/nau.23413.
16. Przydacz M, Gasowski J, Grodzicki T et al. Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Overactive Bladder in a Large Cohort of Older Poles – A Representative Tele-Survey. J Clin Med. 2023; 12(8): 2859. http://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12082859.
17. Nakagawa H, Niu K, Hozawa A et al. Impact of nocturia on bone fracture and mortality in older individuals: a Japanese longitudinal cohort study. J Urol. 2010; 184(4): 1413-8. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2010.05.093.
18. Chancellor MB, Lucioni A, Staskin D. Oxybutynin-associated Cognitive Impairment: Evidence and Implications for Overactive Bladder Treatment. Urology. 2024; 186: 123-9. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2023.11.033.
19. Wagg A, Dale M, Tretter R et al. Randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study investigating the effect of solifenacin and oxybutynin in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment: the SENIOR study. Eur Urol. 2013; 64(1): 74-81. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2013.01.002.
20. Palleschi G, Pastore AL, Maggioni C et al. Overactive bladder in diabetes mellitus patients: a questionnaire-based observational investigation. World J Urol. 2014; 32(4): 1021-5. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-013-1175-3.
21. Zhang L, Cai N, Mo L et al. Global Prevalence of Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Feb 14. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-024-06029-2.
2. Chapple CR, Khullar V, Gabriel Z et al. The Effects of Antimuscarinic Treatments in Overactive Bladder: An Update of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Eur Urology. 2008; 54(3): 543-62. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2008.06.047.
3. Margulis AV, Linder M, Arana A et al. Patterns of use of antimuscarinic drugs to treat overactive bladder in Denmark, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. PLoS One. 2018; 13(9): e0204456. http://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0204456.
4. Wallis CJD, Lundeen C, Golda N et al. Anticholinergics for overactive bladder: Temporal trends in prescription and treatment persistence. Can Urol Assoc J. 2016; 10(7-8): 277-80. http://doi.org/10.5489/cuaj.3526.
5. Chapple CR, Fianu-Jonsson A, Indig M et al. Treatment Outcomes in the STAR Study: A Subanalysis of Solifenacin 5 mg and Tolterodine ER 4 mg. Eur Urology. 2007; 52(4): 1195-203. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2007.05.027.
6. bbDuong V, Iwamoto A, Pennycuff J et al. A systematic review of neurocognitive dysfunction with overactive bladder medications. Int Urogynecol J. 2021; 32(10): 2693-702. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-04909-5.
7. Herschorn S, Pommerville P, Stothers L et al. Tolerability of solifenacin and oxybutynin immediate release in older (>65 years) and younger (≤65 years) patients with overactive bladder: sub-analysis from a Canadian, randomized, double-blind study. Curr Med Res Opin. 2011; 27(2): 375-82. http://doi.org/10.1185/03007995.2010.541433.
8. Abrams P, Cardozo L, Fall M et al. The standardisation of terminology in lower urinary tract function: Report from the standardisation sub-committee of the International Continence Society. Urology. 2003; 61(1): 37-49. http://doi.org/10.1016/S0090-4295(02)02243-4.
9. Irwin DE, Milsom I, Hunskaar S et al. Population-based survey of urinary incontinence, overactive bladder, and other lower urinary tract symptoms in five countries: results of the EPIC study. Eur Urol. 2006; 50(6): 1306-14. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2006.09.019.
10. Przydacz M, Golabek T, Dudek P et al. Prevalence and bother of lower urinary tract symptoms and overactive bladder in Poland, an Eastern European Study. Sci Rep. 2020; 10(1): 19819. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-76846-0.
11. Lee SH, Lee JY. Current role of treatment in men with lower urinary tract symptoms combined with overactive bladder. Prostate Int. 2014; 2(2): 43-49. http://doi.org/10.12954/PI.14045.
12. Gratzke C, Bachmann A, Descazeaud A et al. EAU Guidelines on the Assessment of Non-neurogenic Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms including Benign Prostatic Obstruction. Eur Urol. 2015; 67(6): 1099-109. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2014.12.038.
13. Mostafaei H, Salehi-Pourmehr H, Jilch S et al. Choosing the Most Efficacious and Safe Oral Treatment for Idiopathic Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-analysis. Eur Urol Focus. 2022; 8(4): 1072-89. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.euf.2021.08.011.
14. Nambiar AK, Arlandis S, Bø K et al. European Association of Urology Guidelines on the Diagnosis and Management of Female Non-neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms. Part 1: Diagnostics, Overactive Bladder, Stress Urinary Incontinence, and Mixed Urinary Incontinence. Eur Urol. 2022; 82(1): 49-59. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2022.01.045.
15. Nazir J, Kelleher C, Aballéa S et al. Comparative efficacy and tolerability of solifenacin 5 mg/day versus other oral antimuscarinic agents in overactive bladder: A systematic literature review and network meta-analysis. Neurourol Urodyn. 2018; 37(3): 986-96. http://doi.org/10.1002/nau.23413.
16. Przydacz M, Gasowski J, Grodzicki T et al. Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and Overactive Bladder in a Large Cohort of Older Poles – A Representative Tele-Survey. J Clin Med. 2023; 12(8): 2859. http://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12082859.
17. Nakagawa H, Niu K, Hozawa A et al. Impact of nocturia on bone fracture and mortality in older individuals: a Japanese longitudinal cohort study. J Urol. 2010; 184(4): 1413-8. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2010.05.093.
18. Chancellor MB, Lucioni A, Staskin D. Oxybutynin-associated Cognitive Impairment: Evidence and Implications for Overactive Bladder Treatment. Urology. 2024; 186: 123-9. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2023.11.033.
19. Wagg A, Dale M, Tretter R et al. Randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, double-blind crossover study investigating the effect of solifenacin and oxybutynin in elderly people with mild cognitive impairment: the SENIOR study. Eur Urol. 2013; 64(1): 74-81. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2013.01.002.
20. Palleschi G, Pastore AL, Maggioni C et al. Overactive bladder in diabetes mellitus patients: a questionnaire-based observational investigation. World J Urol. 2014; 32(4): 1021-5. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00345-013-1175-3.
21. Zhang L, Cai N, Mo L et al. Global Prevalence of Overactive Bladder: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Int Urogynecol J. 2025 Feb 14. http://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-024-06029-2.