Gemtesa Interactions: Answers to 5 Frequently Asked Safety Questions

Overactive bladder (OAB) can put a dent in one of your most personal daily routines: your bathroom schedule. It can also have an often underestimated impact on your relationships and social life. But tools such as bladder diaries, lifestyle adjustments, and prescription medications can help you get things back to normal.

Gemtesa (vibegron) is one OAB medication worth considering. It's effective for many people and generally well tolerated. Though, there are some side effects associated with the daily oral tablets.

On the plus side, Gemtesa doesn't have too many drug interactions to be concerned about. It even has fewer interactions than a similar medication called Myrbetriq (mirabegron). Even so, it's normal to have questions about possible interactions with the relatively new OAB medication.

Below, we'll dig into five of the most common questions people have when it comes to Gemtesa interactions.

1. Does Gemtesa interact with other medications?

Yes, Gemtesa can potentially interact with digoxin (Lanoxin), a heart medication. Digoxin is sometimes used to treat heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

If you take Gemtesa and digoxin at the same time, it could cause your digoxin levels to be higher than normal. This increases the risk of experiencing digoxin side effects such as nausea and persistent diarrhea.

You likely won't need to avoid this pairing altogether. But the healthcare professional prescribing you digoxin will probably want to monitor your digoxin levels more closely. They may check your digoxin levels before you start taking Gemtesa, regularly during treatment, and for a short time after you stop taking it.

Gemtesa's potential interaction with digoxin is the only listed interaction for the OAB treatment.

2. Can you take Gemtesa and Flomax together?

Gemtesa doesn't interact with Flomax (tamsulosin), a medication for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men. Flomax alleviates bothersome urinary symptoms by relaxing certain muscles in the bladder and prostate.

If you've been diagnosed with OAB and BPH, there's a chance your primary care provider or urologist may prescribe you both Gemtesa and Flomax. However, if you need more than one medication to manage your urinary symptoms, there are other combinations with more supporting data. Because of this, your prescriber may choose to prescribe Flomax, an alpha blocker, with an anticholinergic medication, such as oxybutynin or tolterodine (Detrol, Detrol LA), instead of Gemtesa.

Everyone's experience with OAB and BPH is unique, though. Your prescriber will make the final call on which medication(s) would be most appropriate for your symptoms.

3. Can you take Gemtesa and oxybutynin together?

Yes, you can take Gemtesa and oxybutynin together. In fact, urology experts often recommend this combination for more severe cases of OAB.

When one medication isn't adequately managing OAB symptoms, prescribers often recommend adding another medication that tackles symptoms from a different angle. Gemtesa and oxybutynin belong to different medication classes, so they have unique benefits. Gemtesa is a beta-3 adrenergic agonist, while oxybutynin is an anticholinergic.

Keep in mind: There is one downside to this combination. Taking Gemtesa alongside an anticholinergic medication, such as oxybutynin, increases the risk of urinary retention. This condition makes it difficult to empty the bladder. You'll likely need to stop taking Gemtesa if you develop urinary retention.

4. Can you drink alcohol while taking Gemtesa?

Gemtesa and alcohol don't technically interact with each other. But drinking alcohol - especially in large amounts or frequently - may not be the best idea when you're trying to manage OAB symptoms. Alcoholic beverages can make you need to pee more often. This counteracts the positive effects of Gemtesa.

What's more, Gemtesa and alcohol share some similar side effects. They can both cause symptoms like nausea and headaches. So you may be more likely to experience these side effects when Gemtesa and alcohol are in your system at the same time.

Talk to your prescriber about how much (if any) alcohol is safe to drink with Gemtesa.

5. Does Gemtesa interact with diuretics?

Gemtesa doesn't technically interact with diuretics (water pills). But similar to combining Gemtesa with alcohol, taking the OAB medication with diuretics has some potential downsides.

Diuretics are a diverse group of medications that treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and other conditions. There are several types, including loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics, and aldosterone antagonists.

All diuretics, regardless of their type, aim to remove excess fluid from the body through urine. Diuretics can increase your number of daily or nighttime bathroom trips. And this can be problematic if you have OAB.

There isn't a hard-and-fast rule about taking or avoiding diuretics with Gemtesa. Your prescriber can work with you to determine if this combination is recommended based on your situation and symptoms.

When to contact a healthcare professional about Gemtesa interactions

Gemtesa has a much shorter list of potential drug interactions than many other medications. But that doesn't mean you should hesitate to talk to your primary care provider, urologist, or pharmacist if you have any concerns about Gemtesa interactions. Proactive communication helps prevent problems down the line.

Before starting Gemtesa, it's a good idea to share an updated medication list with your healthcare team. Make sure you include any prescription medications, over-the-counter products, and supplements you take. Your healthcare team can review this list for potential interactions and make recommendations as needed.

It's also a good idea to let your healthcare team know if you add a medication or supplement to your regimen while taking Gemtesa.