How they work

Anticholinergic drugs block the action of the chemical messenger acetylcholine. Acetylcholine sends signals to your brain that trigger bladder contractions associated with an overactive bladder. These bladder contractions can cause a need to urinate even when the bladder isn't full.

Anticholinergic medications include:

• Oxybutynin (Oxytrol)
• Tolterodine (Detrol, Detrol LA)
• Darifenacin
• Solifenacin (Vesicare, Vesicare LS)
• Trospium
• Fesoterodine (Toviaz)

These prescription drugs are usually given as a pill or tablet taken by mouth. Oxybutynin is also available as a prescription gel or skin patch that delivers a continuous amount of medication.

In addition, oxybutynin is available as a skin patch without a prescription (Oxytrol for Women).

It can take several weeks before symptoms begin to improve on an anticholinergic medication. It might take 12 weeks to see the full effect of the drug.