ENABLEX (DARIFENACIN)

Help for Overactive Bladder with Enablex

Enablex is an antispasmodic medication that may be prescribed if you have been diagnosed with an overactive bladder, which causes an urgent and frequent need to urinate because of abnormal muscle spasms in the bladder and urinary tract. The urge may be difficult to stop, and overactive bladder may lead to the involuntary loss of urine.

Enablex comes packaged as a pill and should be swallowed whole with or without food. It also sells in its generic form, which can be found under the name Darifenacin. You will need a valid prescription to purchase Enablex or generic Darifenacin. The generic alternative is not manufactured by the company that makes the brand product.

How Enablex Works

Enablex tablets contain the active ingredient Darifenacin, which is a type of medicine called an antimuscarinic. It works by relaxing the detrusor muscle, an involuntary muscle that is found in the wall of the bladder. This reduces unstable, involuntary contractions of the bladder, and thereby increases the capacity of the bladder to hold urine. In turn, this reduces the need to pass urine. If you have an overactive bladder, you may feel embarrassed or limit your work and social life.

Enablex will not cure an overactive bladder (OAB), but it will minimize most symptoms by targeting and reducing the offending muscle spasms. As a result, you should find that you have more control once you start taking it. Your doctor may also recommend the following lifestyle changes to help reduce OAB symptoms: maintain a healthy weight; follow a fluid intake schedule, reduce or eliminate caffeine and alcohol consumption.

Causes of Overactive Bladder

Often, the specific cause of an overactive bladder isn't known. Conditions that may contribute to overactive bladder symptoms include: neurological disorders such as strokes, Parkinson’s disease, and multiple sclerosis; certain medications; excess consumption of alcohol or caffeine; high urine production due to poor kidney function or diabetes; declining cognitive function due to aging.

Before You Start Taking Enablex

Ask your doctor if Enablex is safe to take if you are pregnant, trying to become pregnant, or are breast feeding. Be sure to tell your doctor if you have ongoing digestive problems, including intestinal blockages, constipation, or diarrhea, before you start taking Enablex. It is also important for you to advise your doctor if you are having trouble urinating, or if you have ever experienced difficult urination. Provide a list of current OTC or Rx drugs you currently take or use to be certain Enablex is the best medicine for you.

Precautions for Taking Enablex

It is imperative that you avoid certain medications while taking Enablex. In particular, you should be careful about taking anti-depressant or anti-fungal drugs, and only do so under the instruction of your doctor. Combining these with Enablex may result in negative drug reactions and side effects. Enablex may cause blurred vision and may impair your thinking or reactions. Be careful if you drive or do anything that requires you to be alert and able to see clearly.

Possible Enablex Side Effects

• Nausea and upset stomach
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Dry mouth
• Blurred vision