Overactive bladder is a combination of symptoms that can cause you to need to urinate more frequently, have more urgency, experience incontinence (leakage) and a need to urinate at night. One or all of these symptoms can cause considerable stress and a negative impact on your quality of life.
An overactive bladder can be caused by several things, or even a combination of causes. Some possible causes can include:
- Weak pelvic muscles: Pregnancy and childbirth can cause your pelvic muscles (the muscles and tissues that support the organs in your lower abdomen) to stretch and weaken. This can cause the bladder to sag out of its normal position. All of these factors can cause leakage.
- Nerve damage: Sometimes signals are sent to the brain and bladder to empty at the wrong time. Trauma and diseases can cause this to happen.
What is G 51 Pill?
The yellow, round pill with the imprint G 51 has been identified as Solifenacin Succinate 5 mg supplied by Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Inc.. Solifenacin belongs to the family of medications known as antispasmodics. G 51 pill is used to relieve symptoms associated with an overactive bladder, such as urinary urgency (a need to urinate right away), urinary frequency, and urge incontinence (leaking or wetting caused by an unstoppable urge to urinate).
This medication works by relaxing the bladder. It helps to reduce bladder spasms, the urge to pass urine, and the frequency of urination. It is usually necessary to take this medication for at least 4 weeks before you can expect maximum benefit from the treatment.
How should I take G 51 pill?
The recommended dose of solifenacin is 5 mg once daily. If there are few side effects with a 5 mg dose, the dose can be increased to 10 mg once daily.
If you have severe kidney function impairment or moderate liver function impairment, or if you are taking certain medications (e.g., ketoconazole, clarithromycin, diclofenac, nefazodone, verapamil), doses above 5 mg daily are not recommended.
Solifenacin should be taken with liquids and swallowed whole. It may be taken with or without food.
Many things can affect the dose of a medication that a person needs, such as body weight, other medical conditions, and other medications. If your doctor has recommended a dose different from the ones listed here, do not change the way that you are taking the medication without consulting your doctor.
It is very important to take this medication exactly as prescribed. If you miss a dose of this medication, take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take a double dose to make up for a missed one. If you are not sure what to do after missing a dose, contact your doctor or pharmacist for advice.
Store this medication at room temperature and keep it out of the reach of children.
Do not dispose of medications in wastewater (e.g. down the sink or in the toilet) or in household garbage. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medications that are no longer needed or have expired.
Who should NOT take G 51 pill?
Do not take solifenacin if you:
- are allergic to solifenacin or to any of the ingredients of the medication
- are dependent on dialysis
- have gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach)
- have narrow-angle glaucoma
- have urinary retention (an inability to empty the bladder)
What are the side effects of G 51 pill?
The following side effects have been reported by at least 1% of people taking G 51 pills. Many of these side effects can be managed, and some may go away on their own over time.
Contact your doctor if you experience these side effects and they are severe or bothersome. Your pharmacist may be able to advise you on managing side effects.
- blurred vision
- constipation
- dry eyes
- dry mouth
- headache
- heartburn
- nausea
- tiredness
- upper abdominal pain
- vomiting
Although most of these side effects listed below don’t happen very often, they could lead to serious problems if you do not check with your doctor or seek medical attention.
Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
- constipation for more than 3 days
- fatigue
- severe abdominal pain
- signs of liver problems (e.g., nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, weight loss, yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes, dark urine, pale stools)
- signs of a urinary tract infection (e.g., burning when passing urine, blood in the urine, or increased urgency to urinate)
- swelling of the feet, ankles, or lower leg
Stop taking the medication and seek immediate medical attention if any of the following occur:
- fast or irregular heartbeat
- inability to urinate
- signs of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., hives; difficulty breathing; or swelling of the mouth, lips, tongue, or throat)
Some people may experience side effects other than those listed. Check with your doctor if you notice any symptom that worries you while you are taking this medication.
Are there any other precautions or warnings for this medication?
Before you begin using a medication, be sure to inform your doctor of any medical conditions or allergies you may have, any medications you are taking, whether you are pregnant or breast-feeding, and any other significant facts about your health. These factors may affect how you should use this medication:
Abnormal heart rhythm: G 51 pill may cause a heart rhythm disturbance called QT prolongation. If you have a history of QT prolongation or are taking certain medications (e.g., amiodarone, sotalol), discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Bladder outflow obstruction: If you have a medical problem that obstructs the flow of urine from the bladder (e.g., enlarged prostate, prostate cancer), this medication may make you unable to urinate. If you have a problem with urinary flow, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Blurred vision: G 51 pill may cause blurred vision. Avoid activities such as driving, operating machinery, or performing hazardous work until you know how solifenacin affects your vision.
Gastrointestinal disorders: G 51 pill can slow movement through the gastrointestinal tract. If you have decreased gastrointestinal movement caused by a medical problem (e.g., diabetes), surgery, or medications, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Heat stroke: G 51 pill causes a decrease in sweating, which is one of the body’s way of cooling off. When solifenacin is taken during very hot weather, it can cause fever and heat stroke due to the body being unable to cool down enough. Take care not to overheat when you are taking this medication. Stay in a cool environment if possible, limit the length of time you spend outdoors, and drink plenty of water to reduce the risk of heat stroke.
Kidney function: If you have reduced kidney function or kidney disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed. If you have severe kidney function impairment, do not take daily doses greater than 5 mg of solifenacin.
Liver function: The liver is responsible for removing G 51 pill from the body. If the liver is not working well, the medication can build up in the body, causing unwanted side effects. If you have reduced liver function or liver disease, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
If you have moderate liver function impairment, do not take daily doses greater than 5 mg of solifenacin, and have your doctor monitor your condition closely. Do not take solifenacin if you have severe liver function impairment.
Pregnancy: This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks. Women of childbearing age should talk to their doctor about whether birth control is appropriate. If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately.
Breast-feeding: It is not known if solifenacin passes into breast milk. If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking this medication, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding.
Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children.
What other drugs could interact with G51 pills?
There may be an interaction between solifenacin and any of the following:
- aclidinium
- amantadine
- amiodarone
- anagrelide
- antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, chlorpheniramine, dimenhydrinate, diphenhydramine)
- aprepitant
- atropine
- antipsychotics (e.g., chlorpromazine, haloperidol, clozapine, quetiapine, risperidone)
- azole antifungals (e.g., itraconazole, ketoconazole, voriconazole)
- benztropine
- bosentan
- botulinum toxin
- calcium channel blockers (e.g., amlodipine, nifedipine, verapamil)
- cannabis
- chloroquine
- cobicistat
- conivaptan
- cyclobenzaprine
- darifenacin
- deferasirox
- disopyramide
- dofetilide
- domperidone
- donepezil
- dronedarone
- enzalutamide
- flavoxate
- flecainide
- galantamine
- glucagon
- glycopyrrolate
- grapefruit juice
- HIV non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs; e.g., delavirdine, efavirenz, etravirine, nevirapine)
- HIV protease inhibitors (e.g., darunavir, indinavir, lopinavir, saquinavir, tipranavir)
- ipratropium
- macrolide antibiotics (e.g., clarithromycin, erythromycin)
- methadone
- metoclopramide
- mifepristone
- mirabegron
- mitotane
- modafinil
- monoamine oxidase inhibitors (e.g. moclobemide, selegiline)
- nabilone
- narcotic medications (e.g., morphine, codeine)
- nefazodone
- nitroglycerin
- orphenadrine
- oxybutynin
- potassium chloride, potassium supplements
- pramlitinide
- primaquine
- procainamide
- propafenone
- protein kinase inhibitors (e.g., crizotinib, dabrafenib, dasatinib, imatinib)
- quinidine
- quinine
- quinolone antibiotics (e.g., ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, ofloxacin)
- rifabutin
- rifampin
- rilpivirine
- rivastigmine
- St. John’s wort
- scopolamine
- selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI; e.g., fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline)
- seizure medications (e.g., carbamazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin)
- serotonin antagonists (e.g., granisetron, ondansetron)
- siltuximab
- simeprevir
- sotalol
- tetrabenazine
- tiotropium
- thiazide diuretics (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide, indapamide)
- tocilizumab
- tolterodine
- trazodone
- tricyclic antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline, desipramine, nortriptyline)
- umeclidinium
If you are taking any of these medications, speak with your doctor or pharmacist. Depending on your specific circumstances, your doctor may want you to:
- stop taking one of the medications,
- change one of the medications to another,
- change how you are taking one or both of the medications, or
- leave everything as is.
An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of them. Speak to your doctor about how any drug interactions are being managed or should be managed.
Medications other than those listed above may interact with this medication. Tell your doctor or prescriber about all prescription, over-the-counter (non-prescription), and herbal medications that you are taking. Also tell them about any supplements you take. Since caffeine, decongestants, alcohol, the nicotine from cigarettes, or street drugs can affect the action of many medications, you should let your prescriber know if you use them.
