Darifenacin
Also sold as: Enablex
Related Medications
These drugs share a pharmacologic classification but are NOT interchangeable. Listing here does not imply clinical equivalence. A physician must evaluate each drug individually for the patient's specific condition.
Classification: Cholinergic Muscarinic Antagonists (source: RxClass/NLM)
- tolterodineCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
- atropineCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
- glycopyrroniumCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
- trospiumCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
- homatropineCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
- solifenacinCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
- oxybutyninCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
- flavoxateCholinergic Muscarinic AntagonistSame Class
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Drug Information
Mechanism of Action
12.1 Mechanism of Action Darifenacin is a competitive muscarinic receptor antagonist. Muscarinic receptors play a role in cholinergically mediated functions, including contractions of the urinary bladder smooth muscle. In vitro studies using human recombinant muscarinic receptor subtypes show that darifenacin has greater affinity for the M 3 receptor than for the other known muscarinic receptors (9- and 12-fold greater affinity for M 3 compared to M 1 and M 5 , respectively, and 59-fold greater affinity for M 3 compared to both M 2 and M 4 ). M 3 receptors are involved in contraction of human bladder.
Indications & Uses
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE Darifenacin extended-release tablets are indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency. Darifenacin extended-release tablets are a muscarinic antagonist indicated for the treatment of overactive bladder with symptoms of urge urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency ( 1 )
Dosage & Administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION The recommended starting dose of darifenacin extended-release tablets is 7.5 mg orally once daily. Based upon individual response, the dose may be increased to 15 mg once daily, as early as two weeks after starting therapy. Darifenacin extended-release tablets should be taken orally once daily with water. Darifenacin extended-release tablets may be taken with or without food, and should be swallowed whole and not chewed, divided or crushed. For patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B) or when co-administered with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (for example, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, nelfinavir, clarithromycin and nefazadone), the daily dose of darifenacin extended-release tablets should not exceed 7.5 mg. Darifenacin extended-release tablets are not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C) [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6), Drug Interactions (7.1) , Use in Specific Populations (8.6) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . The recommended starting dose of darifenacin extended-release tablets is 7.5 mg once daily. Based upon individual response, the dose may be increased to 15 mg once daily, as early as two weeks after starting therapy ( 2 ) The daily dose of darifenacin extended-release tablets should not exceed 7.5 mg in the following patients: Patients with moderate hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh B) ( 2 , 8.6 ) Patients taking potent CYP3A4 inhibitors ( 2 , 7.1 ) Darifenacin extended-release tablets are not recommended for use in patients with severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C) ( 2 , 8.6 ) Darifenacin extended-release tablets may be taken with or without food. The tablet should be swallowed whole with water and not chewed, divided or crushed ( 2 )
Side Effects (Adverse Reactions)
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The most frequently reported adverse reactions (greater than 3%) for darifenacin extended-release tablets are: constipation, dry mouth, headache, dyspepsia, nausea, urinary tract infection, accidental injury, and flu symptoms ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Aurobindo Pharma USA, Inc. at 1-866-850-2876 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. The safety of darifenacin extended-release tablets was evaluated in controlled clinical trials in a total of 8,830 patients, 6,001 of whom were treated with darifenacin extended-release tablets. Of this total, 1,069 patients participated in three, 12-week, randomized, placebo-controlled, fixed-dose efficacy and safety studies (Studies 1, 2 and 3). Of this total, 337 and 334 patients received darifenacin extended-release tablets 7.5 mg daily and 15 mg daily, respectively. In all long-term trials combined, 1,216 and 672 patients received treatment with darifenacin extended-release tablets for at least 24 and 52 weeks, respectively. In Studies 1, 2 and 3 combined, the serious adverse reactions to darifenacin extended-release tablets were urinary retention and constipation. In Studies 1, 2 and 3 combined, dry mouth leading to study discontinuation occurred in 0%, 0.9%, and 0% of patients treated with darifenacin extended-release tablets 7.5 mg daily, darifenacin extended-release tablets 15 mg daily and placebo, respectively. Constipation leading to study discontinuation occurred in 0.6%, 1.2%, and 0.3% of patients treated with darifenacin extended-release tablets 7.5 mg daily, darifenacin extended-release tablets 15 mg daily and placebo, respectively. Table 1 lists the rates of identified adverse reactions, derived from all reported adverse events in 2% or more of patients treated with 7.5 mg or 15 mg darifenacin extended-release tablets, and greater than placebo in Studies 1, 2 and 3. In these studies, the most frequently reported adverse reactions were dry mouth and constipation. The majority of the adverse reactions were mild or moderate in severity and most occurred during the first two weeks of treatment. Table 1: Incidence of Identified Adverse Reactions, Derived from All Adverse Events Reported in greater than or equal to 2% of Patients Treated with Darifenacin Extended-Release Tablets and More Frequent with Darifenacin Extended-Release Tablets than with Placebo in Studies 1, 2, and 3 Body System Adverse Reaction % of Subjects Darifenacin Extended-Release Tablets 7.5 mg N = 337 Darifenacin Extended-Release Tablets 15 mg N = 334 Placebo N = 388 Digestive Dry Mouth 20.2 35.3 8.2 Constipation 14.8 21.3 6.2 Dyspepsia 2.7 8.4 2.6 Abdominal Pain 2.4 3.9 0.5 Nausea 2.7 1.5 1.5 Diarrhea 2.1 0.9 1.8 Urogenital Urinary Tract Infection 4.7 4.5 2.6 Nervous Dizziness 0.9 2.1 1.3 Body as a Whole Asthenia 1.5 2.7 1.3 Eye Dry Eyes 1.5 2.1 0.5 Other adverse reactions reported by 1% to 2% of darifenacin extended-release tablets -treated patients include: abnormal vision, accidental injury, back pain, dry skin, flu syndrome, hypertension, vomiting, peripheral edema, weight gain, arthralgia, bronchitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis, rash, pruritus, urinary tract disorder and vaginitis. Study 4 was a randomized, 12-week, placebo-controlled, dose-titration regimen study in which darifenacin extended-release tablets was administered in accordance with dosing recommendations [see Dosage and Administration (2) ] . All patients initially received placebo or darifenacin extended-release tablets 7.5 mg daily, and after two weeks, patients and physicians were allowed to adjust upward to darifenacin extended-release tablets 15 mg if needed. In this study, the most commonly reported adverse reactions were also constipation and dry mouth. Table 2 lists the identified adverse reactions, derived from all adverse events reported in greater than 3% of patients treated with darifenacin extended-release tablets and greater than placebo. Table 2: Number (%) of Adverse Reactions, Derived from All Adverse Events Reported in greater than 3% of Patients Treated with Darifenacin Extended-Release Tablets, and More Frequent with Darifenacin Extended-Release Tablets than Placebo, in Study 4 Adverse Reaction Darifenacin Extended-Release Tablets 7.5 mg/15 mg N = 268 Placebo N = 127 Constipation 56 (20.9%) 10 (7.9%) Dry Mouth 50 (18.7%) 11 (8.7%) Headache 18 (6.7%) 7 (5.5%) Dyspepsia 12 (4.5%) 2 (1.6%) Nausea 11 (4.1%) 2 (1.6%) Urinary Tract Infection 10 (3.7%) 4 (3.1%) Accidental Injury 8 (3%) 3 (2.4%) Flu Syndrome 8 (3%) 3 (2.4%) 6.2 Post Marketing Experience The following adverse reactions have been reported during post-approval use of darifenacin extended-release tablets
Drug Interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Caution should be taken when darifenacin extended-release tablets are used concomitantly with medications that are predominantly metabolized by CYP2D6 and which have a narrow therapeutic window, such as flecainide, thioridazine and tricyclic antidepressants ( 7.2 ) The concomitant use of darifenacin extended-release tablets with other anticholinergic agents may increase the frequency and/or severity of dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and other anticholinergic pharmacological effects. Anticholinergic agents may potentially alter the absorption of some concomitantly administered drugs due to effects of gastrointestinal motility ( 7.3 ) 7.1 CYP3A4 Inhibitors The systemic exposure of darifenacin from darifenacin extended-release tablets is increased in the presence of CYP3A4 inhibitors. The daily dose of darifenacin extended-release tablets should not exceed 7.5 mg when co-administered with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors (for example, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, nelfinavir, clarithromycin and nefazadone). No dosing adjustments are recommended in the presence of moderate CYP3A4 inhibitors (for example, erythromycin, fluconazole, diltiazem and verapamil) [see Dosage and Administration (2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.2 CYP2D6 Inhibitors No dosing adjustments are recommended in the presence of CYP2D6 inhibitors (for example, paroxetine, fluoxetine, quinidine and duloxetine) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.3 CYP2D6 Substrates Caution should be taken when darifenacin extended-release tablets are used concomitantly with medications that are predominantly metabolized by CYP2D6 and which have a narrow therapeutic window (for example, flecainide, thioridazine and tricyclic antidepressants) [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.4 CYP3A4 Substrates Darifenacin (30 mg daily) did not have a significant impact on midazolam (7.5 mg) pharmacokinetics [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.5 Combination oral contraceptives Darifenacin (10 mg three times daily) had no effect on the pharmacokinetics of the combination oral contraceptives containing levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.6 Warfarin Darifenacin had no significant effect on prothrombin time when a single dose of warfarin 30 mg was co-administered with darifenacin (30 mg daily) at steady-state. Standard therapeutic prothrombin time monitoring for warfarin should be continued. 7.7 Digoxin Darifenacin (30 mg daily) did not have a clinically relevant effect on the pharmacokinetics of digoxin (0.25 mg) at steady-state. Routine therapeutic drug monitoring for digoxin should be continued [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 7.8 Other Anticholinergic Agents The concomitant use of darifenacin extended-release tablets with other anticholinergic agents may increase the frequency and/or severity of dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and other anticholinergic pharmacological effects. Anticholinergic agents may potentially alter the absorption of some concomitantly administered drugs due to effects on gastrointestinal motility.
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS Darifenacin extended-release tablets are contraindicated in patients with, or at risk for, the following conditions: urinary retention gastric retention, or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma. Darifenacin extended-release tablets are contraindicated in patients with, or at risk for, the following conditions ( 4 ): urinary retention, gastric retention, or uncontrolled narrow-angle glaucoma.
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Medical Disclaimer: Information on this page is sourced from FDA-approved labeling data and is for educational reference only. It does not constitute medical advice. This information does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Always verify with current prescribing information and consult a licensed healthcare professional before any clinical decision. Read full disclaimer.
Data sourced from RxNorm (NLM/NIH), FDA Orange Book, OpenFDA, DailyMed. Last updated: 2026-03-02.