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Tolterodine

Tolterodine has been studied in 7 papers since 2017: 5 observational studies in people, 1 in animals; 2 in the past year. The newest story, Nov 6, 2026: “Bladder drugs presumed safer not linked to lower dementia risk”.

Intervention

7 papers study it4 more mention it4 findingsUpdated

PubChemChEBIMeSH

1 new paper in 30 daysSee all 11 papers on tolterodine

At a glance

Independent labs found the same change in people. 4 independent labs in 4 countries; 12 trials, 2 about aging, 7 with no results posted.

“and tolterodine tartrate (1.27, 1.19 to 1.37 and 1.25, 1.17 to 1.34).”
Risk of dementia associated with anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder in adults aged ≥55 years: nested case-control studyBMJ medicine2024doi:10.1136/bmjmed-2023-000799

None of its findings points the other way.

Humans: replicated by independent labs. Mice: a single group. Cells and worms or flies: nothing yet.

C, W, M, H: cells, worms or flies, mice, humans. Dark: independent labs found the same change there. Light: one lab or one study. Outline: nothing yet.

Labs are independent when their papers share no last author and no institution.

About aging: the drug’s trials about aging. The total counts its trials for every use.

No results posted: trials that ended over a year ago with no results on ClinicalTrials.gov and no paper reporting them.

Company ties: findings with an author at a company, or from a paper whose competing-interests statement declares ties to one.

  • 4 independent labs in 4 countries
  • 12 trials, 2 about aging, 7 with no results posted
  • Funders: Department of Health and Social Care and others
  • 1 of 4 findings with company ties
  • 1 of 12 trials sponsored by its developers
  • Humans5
  • Animals1

What did studies of tolterodine find?

1

Studies of tolterodine measured 1 outcome; the most studied are bradycardia (1 study).

Bradycardia

downin mice1

1 study

  1. Tolterodine decreases bradycardia in mice (fingolimod-induced heart rate decrease).

    “Combination with duloxetine or tolterodine alleviated fingolimod induced heart rate decrease.”

    Animalsfingolimod-induced heart rate decreaseheart

    Impact of Age and Polytherapy on Fingolimod Induced Bradycardia: a Preclinical Study

    Journal of neuroimmune pharmacology : the official journal of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology

More on Bradycardia

What is tolterodine linked with?

1

Studies link tolterodine with 1 measure, most often dementia (3 studies).

Dementia

upin humans3OR 1.21–5.64

3 studies

  1. Tolterodine is linked with a higher risk of dementia in humans (adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and psychotropic drug use) (OR 5.64, 95% CI 2.42-13.17).

    “and tolterodine (5.64; 95% CI: 2.42-13.17, p < 0.0001) were significant, whereas ORs for other OAB anticholinergics were not.”

    Humansadjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and psychotropic drug use

    Associations between Anticholinergic Use and Dementia Risk in a Prevalent-User Cohort: Analysis of Japanese Medication Histories as Real-World Data

    Biological & pharmaceutical bulletin

  2. Tolterodine is linked with a higher risk of dementia in humans (adjusted odds ratio 1.27, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.37).

    “and tolterodine tartrate (1.27, 1.19 to 1.37 and 1.25, 1.17 to 1.34).”

    Humans366-1095 total standardised daily doses

    Risk of dementia associated with anticholinergic drugs for overactive bladder in adults aged ≥55 years: nested case-control study

    BMJ medicine

  3. Tolterodine is linked with a higher risk of dementia in humans (compared with mirabegron) (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.02-1.45).

    “receipt of solifenacin (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.11-1.60), darifenacin (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.19-1.86), tolterodine (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.02-1.45), and fesoterodine (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.14-1.71) was associated with increased odds of incident dementia”

    Humanscompared with mirabegron6 mo to 1 yr prior to diagnosis

    Receipt of Overactive Bladder Drugs and Incident Dementia: A Population-based Case-control Study

    European urology focus

More on Dementia

Has tolterodine been tested in people?

2 of 12 about aging

Yes: 5 observational studies in people have been published.

About aging

Trial sponsors

Latest

Dec 2025: 0Jan 2026: 1Feb 2026: 0Mar 2026: 0Apr 2026: 1May 2026: 0Jun 2026: 0Jul 2026: 0Aug 2026: 0Sep 2026: 0Oct 2026: 0Nov 2026: 13 papers in 12 months
JAMA Network Open

Bladder drugs presumed safer not linked to lower dementia risk

Estimated 10-year dementia risk was 20.0% with mirabegron or vibegron, compared with 18.1% with drugs classified as high-risk anticholinergics.Estimated 10-year dementia risk was 20.0% with mirabegron or vibegron, compared with 18.1% with drugs classified as high-risk anticholinergics.

Cohort · 830,393 peopleIncident dementia
Paper

See all 11 papers on tolterodine

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