Need to go to the toilet often? Let's talk about Trospium tablets

Do you also have to go to the toilet often? Do you sometimes have sudden, uncontrollable urges to urinate? This can be a real pain and discomfort, especially when you're on a bus, in an important meeting, or just waking up. Trospium is a special medication that doctors prescribe for people with this condition called "overactive bladder." So, if you've been prescribed this medication, or if you'd like to know more about it, let's talk about it all in a simple and clear way today.

Simply put, what kind of medicine is Trospium?

Trospium is a medicine that relaxes the muscles in your bladder and controls its involuntary contractions. Think of it this way: your bladder is like a small ball. As urine collects, it expands. When it fills up, the muscles in it contract, causing us to feel the need to urinate.

However, what happens to people with this 'overactive bladder' is that the muscles in the bladder start to contract unnecessarily and unnecessarily before they are even fully full. That's when they suddenly need to go to the toilet, and sometimes they lose control and leak a little urine.

So what this trospium medicine does is stop the muscles in the bladder from contracting in an unwanted way . This allows the bladder to hold a little more urine. This then controls your frequent urge to go to the toilet and the sudden release of urine. Medically speaking, this belongs to a group of drugs called antispasmodics . That is, drugs that control muscle spasms, or unwanted contractions.

Things you should definitely tell your doctor before taking this medicine

Before using any medication, it is very important to give your doctor a complete description of your health condition. Because this medication may not be compatible with some medical conditions. Therefore, if you have any of the conditions below, be sure to tell your doctor about it before starting this medication.

• If you have difficulty urinating or urinary retention: This medicine relaxes the muscles of the bladder, which can make it worse for someone who already has difficulty urinating.
• Glaucoma: This medicine is not suitable, especially if you have narrow-angle glaucoma, as it can increase eye pressure.
• Intestinal problems or constipation: This medicine can also slow down the bowel movement. Therefore, for someone with severe constipation, this may worsen the problem.
• Kidney disease: This medicine is mainly eliminated from our body through the kidneys. So, the dosage given to a person with weak kidney function may be higher than that given to a normal person. Therefore, the doctor may have to change the dosage.
• Liver disease: If you have any liver disease, please inform us about it.
• If you have an allergy to Trospium or any other medicine or food: Tell us about any previous reactions, such as rash, itching, or swelling, after using any medicine.
• If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant: The safety of this medication during pregnancy has not yet been fully established, so it is essential to talk to your doctor about this.
• If you are a breastfeeding mother: It is not clear whether this medication passes to the baby through breast milk, so you should ask your doctor about using it while breastfeeding.

How exactly do I use this medicine?

To get the most out of a medication, it is very important to use it correctly.

• Take with a glass of water: Swallow this tablet whole with a glass of water.
• Take on an empty stomach: This is the most important thing. You should take the trospium tablet at least one hour before eating . Or you can take it two hours after eating. Because if you take it with food, the absorption of this medicine into the body is greatly reduced. Then the effectiveness of the medicine is also reduced.
• Take it at the same time every day: As much as possible, try to take your medicine at the same time every day. In the morning, in the morning, and in the evening, at night. This will help keep the concentration of the medicine in your body at the same level.
• Don't stop taking your medication until your doctor tells you to: Even if you think your symptoms have subsided, don't stop taking your medication until your doctor tells you to.

What to do if you miss a dose of medication?

Forgetting to take a dose of medicine can happen to anyone. If this happens, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the scheduled time. Never take two doses at once, including the one you missed.

What if you take too much medicine? (Overdosage)

If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, or if a young child in your home has taken it, do not delay. Immediately call the National Poisons Information Centre at the Colombo National Hospital . Or, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) as soon as possible.

What other medications may interact with this medicine?

Trospium can interact with some other medications, so it's important to tell your doctor about all the medications you're taking (including vitamins, herbal remedies, and supplements).

Trospium may interact with the following medications in particular:

• Dofetilide: This medication should never be taken with trospium.
• Digoxin
• Metformin
• Morphine
• Pancuronium
• Procainamide
• Tenofovir
• Vancomycin
• Some medicines for colds and allergies (hay fever)

This list is not complete. Therefore, talk to your doctor about all the medications you take, and what you drink and smoke.

Things you should be careful about when taking medication

You can better control this condition by making small changes to your lifestyle and taking care of certain things while taking this medication.

• Stay away from caffeine and alcohol: Tea, coffee, caffeinated drinks, and alcohol can further stimulate your bladder. This means that drinking these can make your symptoms worse. So it's best to cut down on these as much as possible.
• Drowsiness and changes in attention: This medication may make some people feel drowsy and dizzy. It may also affect your attention and reaction time. Therefore, do not drive or operate machinery until you know how this medication affects you.
• Get up slowly: When getting up from a sitting or lying position, get up slowly. If you get up suddenly, you can reduce the chance of feeling dizzy and falling.
• Dry mouth: A common side effect of this medication is dry mouth. Chewing sugar-free gum, sucking on sugar-free candy, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day can help. If this problem persists, talk to your doctor.
• Dry eyes and blurred vision: You may experience dry eyes and blurred vision. If you wear contact lenses, this can be a bit of a problem. You can use lubricating drops to help. However, if the problem persists, talk to your doctor.
• Be careful of extreme heat: This is especially important for people in our country. This medicine can reduce the body's ability to sweat. Therefore, be very careful when exercising or being in hot places. Otherwise, your body temperature may increase dangerously and cause a condition called heat stroke.

What are the possible side effects?

Like any medicine, trospium can cause side effects in some people. However, not everybody gets them. Some of these are serious, while others are mild. The table below provides a clearer picture of these.

This list does not include all possible side effects. If you notice anything else unusual, talk to your doctor about it.

How do you store your medicine properly?

• Keep away from children and pets: This is very important. Always keep medications out of their reach, in a locked place.
• Store at room temperature: Store between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius (68 and 77 degrees Fahrenheit). Protect from excessive heat and moisture.
• Discard expired medication: Check the expiration date on the medicine bottle or packet. If the date has passed, do not use the medicine.

It's also important to properly dispose of expired or no longer needed medications. It's not always appropriate to throw them in the trash or flush them down the toilet. Ask your doctor about this.