Enablex – Information, Uses, Side effects and Dosage

Drug Trade Name: Enablex

Category: Anticholinergics or Antimuscarinics

Generic name: darifenacin hydrobromide                                                      

Introduction and Quick Information:

Enablex is an extended-release pill, which has 15 mg or 7.5 mg darifenacin hydrobromide as an active ingredient. Darifenacin is one of the powerful muscarinic receptor antagonists. This medication works by actually clogging the M₃ muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, the chief triggering factor that contributes to bladder muscle contractions. It thereby assists in treating the symptoms of an overactive bladder like incontinence (urine leakage) and urgent or frequent urination. However, it should not be used in patients with complaints of urinary retention.

Is Enablex Approved by FDA?

U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has approved this drug for an overactive bladder.

Usage and Benefits of Enablex:

Enablex is indicated in the treatment of an overactive bladder. An overactive bladder is characterized by a sudden and frequent urge to urinate. This is a result of stimulation of muscarinic receptors of the bladder, which lead to bladder contraction. Sometimes, this can lead to a sudden loss of bladder control and an involuntary urination (urge incontinence).

By blocking muscarinic receptors, Enablex relieves the symptoms of an overactive bladder.

Side Effects of Enablex:

Some possible Enablex side effects are:

• dry, hot skin
• burning or pain while urinating
• bloody or cloudy urine
• lower back or side pain
• extreme thirst
• blurred vision
• severe constipation or stomach pain
• urinating not at all or less than usual
• excessive dry mouth
• diarrhea
• mild constipation
• mild stomach pain
• dry eyes
• too much headache
• an excessive sore throat
• nausea
• uncontrollable dizziness
• fever
• body aches and weakness

Seek medical help if you experience these side-effects.

General Recommended Dosages of Enablex:

This medicine is available in tablet form. You just need to take it once a day. You can use Enablex drug without or with your meals. You have to swallow it as a whole with liquids. Don’t try to chew, break, or crush the tablets. 

In case of query related to dosage prescribed to you, talk to your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist. Do not stop taking the drug without first discussing it with your healthcare provider.

Consult your doctor if you develop signs of allergy, such as hives, rash, trouble breathing, etc. Also, inform your doctor if you have:

• uncontrolled or untreated narrow-angle glaucoma
• a stomach disorder
• if you are unable to urinate
• ulcerative colitis
• liver disease
• glaucoma
• a blockage in your intestines or stomach

In Case I Miss the Dose?

Take the missed-one dose the moment you remember about it. However, if it’s almost time to have the next scheduled dose, then just miss the skipped dose and have the next scheduled dose.

In Case I Take Overdose?

Some of the common symptoms of an overdose of Enablex are stomach pain or severe constipation, urinating not at all or less than normal or extreme weakness. In case of overdose, adequate supportive care is needed. So consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Drug Interactions of Enablex:

Consumption of two separate drugs together can cause some deleterious effects. Some common drugs that can interact with Enablex are:

• other anticholinergic drugs like oxybutynin (Oxytrol, Ditropan), flavoxate (Urispas), solifenacin (Vesicare) or tolterodine (Detrol)
• thioridazine (Mellaril)
• flecainide (Tambocor)
• glycopyrrolate (Robinul)
• mepenzolate (Cantil)
• antifungal medication like ketoconazole (Nizoral) or itraconazole(Sporanox)
• an antibiotic like clarithromycin (Biaxin), troleandomycin (Tao) or erythromycin (E-Mycin, E.E.S., Erythrocin, Ery-Tab)
• anti-retroviral drugs like ritonavir (Norvir) or nelfinavir (Viracept)
• benztropine (Cogentin), atropine (Donnatal, etc), methscopolamine (Pamine), dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), or scopolamine (Transderm-Scop);
• irritable bowel drugs like propantheline (Pro-Banthine), dicyclomine (Bentyl), hyoscyamine (Cystospaz, Anaspaz, Levsin, etc)
• bronchodilators like tiotropium (Spiriva) or ipratropium (Atrovent)
• antidepressants like amitriptyline (Etrafon, Elavil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), fluoxetine (Prozac), desipramine (Norpramin), clomipramine (Anafranil), imipramine (Tofranil, Janimine), doxepin (Sinequan), paroxetine (Paxil), nortriptyline (Pamelor), and others.

Lifestyle and Food Habits You Must Follow When On Enablex:

The interaction of Enablex with alcohol is not known. Hence, consult your doctor before consuming alcohol when on Enablex.

How Safe Is Enablex for Pregnant Women or Nursing Mothers

Research has shown evidence of fetal risk on the administration of this drug. Hence, Enablex should be administered during pregnancy only if the benefit outweighs the risk to the fetus.

The drug is excreted in the human milk or not is unknown. Hence, the safe use of this drug in nursing mother cannot be assured.

Complications and Conditions Possible Due to Prolonged Use of Enablex:

The addiction liability of this drug is not known. However, sudden stoppage of the drug is not recommended. 

Availability of Enablex:

Because of some serious side-effects associated with the drug, Enablex is available on a doctor’s prescription only.