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Questions About Bladder Symptoms
Isn't it normal to have these bladder symptoms as you age?
What causes bladder symptoms?
Can bladder symptoms be associated with other medical conditions?
How common are these bladder symptoms?
Why don't more people seek help for these bladder symptoms?
What can be done for these bladder symptoms?
Questions to Ask When Considering VESIcare
How does VESIcare work?
How effective is VESIcare?
How do I take VESIcare?
Who should NOT take VESIcare?
What should I tell my doctor before starting VESIcare?
What are the most common side effects with VESIcare?
Who makes VESIcare?
Questions About VESIcare
What can VESIcare do for me?
I'm getting by OK now. Why should I talk to my doctor about taking a prescription medicine like VESIcare?
Does VESIcare start working right away?
Can anyone take VESIcare?
Can I take VESIcare if I am pregnant or breastfeeding?
Questions About Taking VESIcare
What do the pills look like?
Do I take VESIcare with food, or on an empty stomach?
How should VESIcare be taken?
How should VESIcare be stored?
What are the most common side effects with VESIcare?
I took my first dose of VESIcare yesterday and still haven't seen an effect. Is this normal?
What if I miss a dose of VESIcare?
What if I take too much VESIcare?
Can I take VESIcare while I'm taking other medications?
What should I tell my doctor while I am taking VESIcare?
Will my insurance cover the cost of VESIcare?
Questions About Bladder Symptoms (Urgency, Frequency, and Leakage)
| Q: |
Isn't it normal to have these bladder symptoms as you age? |
| A: |
These bladder symptoms are not normal at any age. It's true that they occur more frequently as people get older — but that doesn't mean it's an acceptable or normal part of getting older, or that a person has to put up with the hassle of living with them on his/her own. |
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| Q: |
What causes bladder symptoms? |
| A: |
Bladder symptoms can be caused by many things. Frequency, urgency, and leakage can be caused by uncontrolled contractions of bladder muscles (overactive bladder).
Leakage when coughing, laughing, or sneezing can be caused by a weakness in the pelvic muscles (stress incontinence). Other symptoms may be caused by an infection, certain types of medication, prostate problems in men, and some types of surgery.
Only your doctor can give you a diagnosis.
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| Q: |
What can be done for these bladder symptoms? |
| A: |
Behavioral techniques are often recommended. Anticholinergic medication is also often prescribed. A study has shown that behavioral techniques along with prescription medicine increase the chance of treatment success. |
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Questions to Ask When Considering VESIcare
| Q: |
How does VESIcare work? |
| A: |
VESIcare works by helping to block certain signals to the bladder so that your urges may occur less frequently and you may leak less. |
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| Q: |
How effective is VESIcare? |
| A: |
VESIcare has been approved by the FDA to treat bladder symptoms such as urgency, frequency and even leakage (overactive bladder). VESIcare has been proven to reduce frequent urges and help relieve bladder leakage. |
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| Q: |
Who should NOT take VESIcare? |
| A: |
Do not take VESIcare if you:
- Are not able to empty your bladder (also called "urinary retention"),
- Have delayed or slow emptying of your stomach (also called "gastric retention"),
- Have an eye problem called "uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma",
- Are allergic to VESIcare or any of its ingredients.
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| Q: |
What should I tell my doctor before starting VESIcare? |
| A: |
Before starting VESIcare tell your doctor or healthcare professional about all of your medical conditions, including if you:
- Have any stomach or intestinal problems or problems with constipation
- Have trouble emptying your bladder or you have a weak urine stream
- Have an eye problem called narrow-angle glaucoma
- Have liver problems
- Have kidney problems
- Are pregnant or trying to become pregnant (It is not known if VESIcare can harm your unborn baby.)
- Are breastfeeding (It is not known if VESIcare passes into breast milk and if it can harm your baby. You should decide whether to breastfeed or take VESIcare, but not both.)
Also, tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. While taking VESIcare, tell your doctor or healthcare professional about all changes in the medicines you are taking, including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. VESIcare and other medicines may affect each other. |
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| Q: |
What are the most common side effects with VESIcare? |
| A: |
The most common side effects with VESIcare are:
- Dry mouth
- Constipation
- Blurred vision
- Indigestion
Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away. These are not all the side effects with VESIcare. For more information, ask your doctor, healthcare professional, or pharmacist. |
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| Q: |
Who makes VESIcare? |
| A: |
VESIcare is a medication from Astellas Pharma US, Inc. and GlaxoSmithKline. Astellas, established in April 2005, was formed through a merger that combined the outstanding research and development and marketing capabilities of Fujisawa and Yamanouchi. Astellas ranks among the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world and is dedicated to improving the health of people around the world through innovative pharmaceutical products. GlaxoSmithKline, one of the world's leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies, is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better, and live longer. |
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Questions About VESIcare
| Q: |
What can VESIcare do for me? |
| A: |
VESIcare may help reduce frequent bladder urges and may even relieve embarrassing bladder leakage. It works by helping to block certain signals to the bladder so that your urges may occur less frequently and you may leak less. |
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| Q: |
Does VESIcare start working right away? |
| A: |
When you're just getting started with VESIcare, you may experience symptom relief in two weeks, but some people may require several weeks longer. Stick with it—your bladder symptoms didn't start overnight, and your relief won't start overnight either. |
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| Q: |
Can anyone take VESIcare? |
| A: |
No medication is right for everyone. VESIcare is for adults. If you have certain types of stomach, urinary, or glaucoma problems, do not take VESIcare. Only your doctor can tell you if VESIcare is right for you. |
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| Q: |
Can I take VESIcare if I am pregnant or breastfeeding? |
| A: |
VESIcare has not been studied in pregnant women and it is not known if VESIcare can harm your unborn baby. If you are taking VESIcare and become pregnant or are trying to become pregnant, tell your doctor. Because it is not known if the active ingredient in VESIcare passes into breast milk, VESIcare should not be taken while breastfeeding. |
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Questions About Taking VESIcare
| Q: |
What should I tell my doctor while I am taking VESIcare? |
| A: |
- Tell your doctor about any side effects you may experience.
- If you experience a serious allergic reaction, severe abdominal pain, or become constipated for three or more days, tell your doctor right away.
- You should also tell your doctor if you have any changes in the medications you are taking.
- Tell your doctor if you become pregnant or are trying to become pregnant.
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