All About Gemtesa
If you have overactive bladder (OAB), you may be interested in treatment with Gemtesa. It’s a prescription drug used in adults to treat the following urinary symptoms caused by OAB:
- urge incontinence (a sudden, intense urge to urinate that causes you to leak urine before you can get to a bathroom)
- urgency (needing to urinate right away)
- frequency (needing to urinate often)
Gemtesa basics
Gemtesa comes as a tablet that you swallow. It contains the active ingredient vibegron. (An active ingredient is what makes a drug work.) Gemtesa belongs to a group of drugs called beta-3 agonists.
Gemtesa isn’t available as a generic.
This article describes Gemtesa’s side effects, dosage, price, and more.
Like most drugs, Gemtesa may cause mild or serious side effects. The lists below describe some of the more common side effects that Gemtesa may cause. These lists don’t include all possible side effects.
Keep in mind that the side effects of a drug can depend on:
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- your age
- other health conditions you have
- other medications you take
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about the potential side effects of Gemtesa. They can also suggest ways to help reduce side effects.
Mild side effects
Here’s a list of some of the mild side effects that Gemtesa can cause. To learn about other mild side effects, talk with your doctor or pharmacist, or read Gemtesa’s prescribing information.
Mild side effects of Gemtesa that have been reported include:
- headache
- swelling in your throat or nose
- diarrhea
- nausea
- upper respiratory infection, such as the common cold
- dry mouth
- constipation
- hot flashes
- producing more urine than usual
- urinary tract infection
- bronchitis
- mild allergic reaction*
Mild side effects of many drugs may go away within a few days to a couple of weeks. But if they become bothersome, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects from Gemtesa can occur, but they aren’t common. If you have serious side effects from Gemtesa, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency, you should call 911 or your local emergency number.
Serious side effects of Gemtesa that have been reported include:
- urinary retention (not being able to empty your bladder)
- severe allergic reaction*
* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Allergic reaction” section below.
- skin rash
- itchiness
- flushing (temporary warmth, redness, or deepening of skin color)
Your doctor will recommend the dosage of Gemtesa that’s right for you. Below are commonly used dosages, but always take the dosage your doctor prescribes.
Form and strength (75 mg)
Gemtesa comes as tablets that you swallow. They’re available in one strength: 75 milligrams (mg).
Recommended dosage
You’ll take Gemtesa once daily.
Questions about Gemtesa’s dosage
Below are some common questions about Gemtesa’s dosage.
- What if I miss a dose of Gemtesa? If you miss a dose of Gemtesa, take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose as scheduled. You should not take more than one dose of Gemtesa at a time. Doing so could raise your risk of side effects.
- Will I need to use Gemtesa long term? Yes. If you and your doctor agree that Gemtesa is safe and working well for you, you’ll likely use it long term.
- How long does Gemtesa take to work? Gemtesa begins working after you take your first dose. But it may take a few weeks before your symptoms begin to ease. In studies, people whose symptoms improved with Gemtesa treatment had decreased overactive bladder symptoms within 2 to 12 weeks.
Costs of prescription drugs can vary depending on many factors. These factors include what your insurance plan covers and which pharmacy you use.
If you have questions about how to pay for your prescription, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. A program called Gemtesa Simple Savings Program may also be available for Gemtesa.
You can also check out this article to learn more about saving money on prescriptions.
Coupons for Gemtesa
Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for Gemtesa when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.
Find answers to some commonly asked questions about Gemtesa.
How does Gemtesa compare with Myrbetriq and other alternatives?
If you’re considering treatment with Gemtesa, you may wonder how it compares with alternative treatments for overactive bladder (OAB), such as Myrbetriq or oxybutynin.
The table below provides some key details about Gemtesa and a few alternatives. To learn more about treatment options for OAB, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
| Drug Name | Form | Dose | Generic available? |
| Gemtesa (vibegron) | tablets that you swallow | Once daily | No |
| Myrbetriq (mirabegron) | • extended-release tablets that you swallow • extended-release liquid suspension |
Once daily | No |
| Ditropan XL (oxybutynin)* | extended-release tablets that you swallow | Once daily | Yes |
| Vesicare (solifenacin) | tablets that you swallow | Once daily | Yes |
* Oxybutynin is also available in other forms. To learn more, talk with your pharmacist or doctor.
Does Gemtesa cause weight gain?
No, Gemtesa isn’t known to cause weight gain. Weight changes weren’t reported in the drug’s studies.
But it’s important to note that having overweight or obesity can worsen OAB symptoms.
If you’re concerned about your weight while taking Gemtesa, talk with your doctor. They may recommend ways to manage your weight as part of your OAB treatment plan.
Gemtesa is used in adults who have the following urinary symptoms caused by overactive bladder (OAB):
- urge incontinence (a sudden urge to urinate followed by losing control of your bladder)
- urgency (needing to urinate right away)
- frequency (needing to urinate often)
OAB is a condition that causes a sudden urge to urinate, and it may cause incontinence (not being able to control urination). These symptoms are often unpredictable, which can affect your daily life.
The exact cause of OAB is unknown. But the symptoms are caused by your bladder muscles contracting involuntarily. This sends signals to your brain that you need to urinate, even if your bladder isn’t full. It can also cause your bladder to release urine suddenly.
Gemtesa works to treat symptoms of OAB by sending signals that relax your bladder muscles. This allows your bladder to fill to capacity before sending your brain signals that you need to urinate.
Your doctor will explain how you should take Gemtesa. They’ll also explain how much to take and how often. Be sure to follow your doctor’s instructions.
Taking Gemtesa
Gemtesa comes as tablets that you swallow. You should take the tablets with a full glass of water.
Accessible medication containers and labels
If it’s hard for you to read the label on your prescription, tell your doctor or pharmacist. Certain pharmacies may provide medication labels that:
- have large print
- use braille
- contain a code you can scan with a smartphone to change the text into audio
Your doctor or pharmacist may be able to recommend a pharmacy that offers these options if your current pharmacy doesn’t.
Also, if you’re having trouble opening your medication bottles, let your pharmacist know. They may be able to put Gemtesa in an easy-open container. Your pharmacist may also recommend tools to help make it simpler to open the drug’s container.
Questions about taking Gemtesa
Below are some common questions about taking Gemtesa.
- Can Gemtesa be chewed, crushed, or split? Gemtesa tablets may be crushed and mixed with 1 tablespoon of applesauce. This mixture should be eaten right away with a full glass of water.
- Should I take Gemtesa with food? You can take Gemtesa doses with or without food. But you should take each tablet with a full glass of water.
- Is there a best time of day to take Gemtesa? No, there’s no best time of day to take Gemtesa. But you should take it around the same time each day. This helps keep a consistent level of the drug in your body.
- Before your appointment, write down questions such as:
- How will Gemtesa affect my body, mood, or lifestyle?
Before you begin taking Gemtesa, it’s important to discuss certain considerations with your doctor. This includes any medical conditions you may have or other medications you take.
Interactions
Taking a medication with certain vaccines, foods, and other things can affect how the medication works. These effects are called interactions.
Before taking Gemtesa, be sure to tell your doctor about all medications you take, including prescription and over-the-counter types. Also, describe any vitamins, herbs, or supplements you use. Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you about any interactions these items may cause with Gemtesa.
For information about drug-condition interactions, see the “Warnings” section below.
Interactions with drugs or supplements
Gemtesa can interact with the heart drug digoxin (Lanoxin). It’s usually safe to take digoxin with Gemtesa, but your doctor may monitor you more closely during treatment.
Your doctor or pharmacist can tell you more about this interaction.
Warnings
Gemtesa may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. These are known as drug-condition interactions. Other factors may also affect whether Gemtesa is a good treatment option for you.
Talk with your doctor about your health history before you take Gemtesa. Factors to consider include those in the list below.
- Severe kidney problems. In most cases, it should be safe for people with mild or moderate kidney problems (such as mild chronic kidney disease) to take Gemtesa. But if you have a severe kidney problem (such as end-stage kidney disease), your doctor will likely suggest a treatment other than Gemtesa. Gemtesa hasn’t been studied in people with severe kidney problems. To learn more, talk with your doctor.
- Severe liver problems. People with mild or moderate liver problems are usually able to take Gemtesa. But the drug hasn’t been studied in people with severe liver problems. It’s not known if the drug is safe to take if you have severe liver problems. Alcoholic liver disease is an example of a liver problem that can be mild, moderate, or severe. Your doctor can tell you more about how severe your liver condition is. They can also discuss treatments that may be safer for you instead.
- Trouble emptying your bladder or a weak urine stream. Gemtesa can cause urinary retention. If you already have difficulty emptying your bladder, using Gemtesa could worsen your condition. Your doctor can determine whether it’s safe for you to take Gemtesa.
- Allergic reaction. If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Gemtesa or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe Gemtesa. Ask them what other medications are better options for you.
Gemtesa and alcohol
There’s no known interaction between Gemtesa and alcohol. But alcohol and Gemtesa can cause some of the same side effects, including headache, diarrhea, and nausea. Combining the two could raise your risk of these side effects.
In addition, alcohol may worsen symptoms of overactive bladder. This is because alcohol can cause you to urinate more often, which may irritate your bladder.
If you drink alcohol, talk with your doctor about how much, if any, may be safe to drink with your condition and treatment plan.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
It’s not known whether it’s safe to use Gemtesa while pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to become pregnant or breastfeed, talk with your doctor about whether Gemtesa is right for you.
