Mirabegron for urinary symptoms

About mirabegron

Mirabegron is given to treat urinary symptoms such as urgency, frequency and incontinence.

Urinary urgency occurs when you get a sudden and urgent need to pass urine. If you leak urine before you go to the toilet, this is called incontinence. If you need to take more trips to the toilet than normal, this is called urinary frequency. Mirabegron helps to decrease the feeling of urgency, the number of urine leakages, and the number of trips to the toilet. It is usually prescribed when other treatments (such as pelvic floor exercises) have not worked and if other, more commonly used medicines are not suitable.

Mirabegron works by relaxing the muscles around your bladder. This increases the volume of urine that your bladder can hold, and reduces your need to pass urine as frequently or as urgently.

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking mirabegron it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are pregnant, trying for a baby, or breastfeeding.

• If you have an unusual heart rhythm.

• If you have high blood pressure.

• If you have any problems with the way your liver works or any problems with the way your kidneys work.

• If you have a bladder obstruction.

• If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.

• If you are taking any other medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, as well as herbal and complementary medicines.

• Before you start taking the tablets, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about mirabegron and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking it.

• Take mirabegron exactly as your doctor tells you to. It is usual to take one 50 mg tablet daily. The tablet will slowly release the medicine into your body. If you have any problems with your liver or kidneys, you will be prescribed a lower strength of tablet (25 mg) to take.

• You can generally take mirabegron at whatever time of day you find easiest to remember, but try to take your doses at the same time of day, each day. This will help you to avoid missing doses.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. Swallow it whole - do not break or crush the tablet, as this will affect the way the medicine is released into your body. You can take mirabegron before or after meals.

• If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If you do not remember until the following day, skip the forgotten dose. Do not take two doses together to make up for a missed dose.
  

• Try to keep your regular appointments with your doctor. This is so your doctor can check on your progress and review your treatment. Your doctor may want to check your blood pressure regularly as this can be increased in some people taking mirabegron.

• Drinks containing caffeine (for example, tea, coffee, hot chocolate and cola) may make your symptoms worse. This is because caffeine is a natural diuretic and will make you want to pass urine. If you drink a lot of caffeine-containing fluids, consider switching to decaffeinated alternatives.

• Try to maintain a normal life as much as possible with regard to drinking and visiting the toilet. However, drinking late at night may mean your sleep is disturbed by the desire to get up to go to the toilet, so you may want to avoid drinking too much during the evening.

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with mirabegron. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

If you experience any other symptoms which you think may be due to the medicine, speak with your doctor or pharmacist for advice.

• Keep all medicines out of the reach and sight of children.

• Store in a cool, dry place, away from direct heat and light.