Flavoxate Hydrochloride

What is Flavoxate for?

Flavoxate helps to relieve uncontrollable contraction (narrowing) of the bladder muscle, thus increasing the volume of urine your bladder can hold. This reduces any pain or discomfort. It helps to treat urinary symptoms such as: 

• not being able to control when to empty your bladder, where you get a strong need to urinate with leaking or wetting incidence (urinary incontinence)
• a strong need to urinate right away (urgency)
• urinating often (frequency)

How should I take or use Flavoxate?

• Do not stop taking your medication without checking with your healthcare professional.
• You may take this medication with or without food.
• This medication is usually taken three to four times a day.

What should I do if I forget to take or use Flavoxate?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using Flavoxate?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• You have myasthenia gravis, a condition related to skeletal muscle weakness
• Glaucoma, a condition where the eye pressure is increased
• You are not able to empty your bladder (urinary retention)
• You have problems with your digestive system (example obstruction of the gut, bleeding)
• You have achalasia, a condition where you are unable to swallow medications

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use Flavoxate?

Avoid drinking alcohol as it may increase the risk of drowsiness.

Inform your healthcare professional if you are taking or intend to take any other medication, supplements, traditional medications or herbal remedies.

What are some common side effects of Flavoxate?

Common side effects include:

• Nausea
• Take small but frequent meals, and avoid fatty or spicy food.
• Drowsiness
• This may affect your ability to drive and use machinery. Do not drive or do things which requires you to be alert.
• Dry mouth
• Chew sugar-free gum, suck on sugar-free hard candies or ice chips, sip water regularly
• Fast heartbeat (palpitation, tachycardia)
• If these become bothersome, consult your doctor.
• Confusion (especially in the elderly)
• If these become bothersome, consult your doctor

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty in breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

How should I store Flavoxate?

• Keep away from children
• Keep in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight

How do I throw away Flavoxate safely?

Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.