Gemtesa Generic & Alternatives: Complete Comparison
speciality medications
OAB, or Over-Active Bladder, is a condition that comes with a frustrating set of symptoms, ranging from unexpectedly urgent and frequent urges to head to the bathroom to actual incontinence.
If you or a loved one has OAB, you know just how life-inhibiting these symptoms can be. Finding an effective, accessible way to manage your OAB is critical for improving your quality of life.
Unfortunately, one of the most promising medications, Gemtesa, is often priced out of the average healthcare budget. (In the United States, brand Gemtesa can cost as much as $550.00 per month.)
Is there a Gemtesa generic? If not, are there Gemtesa alternatives that you can explore?
Here’s a comprehensive, clear breakdown of your options to help you be the most informed OAB patient possible.
What Is Gemtesa and Is There a Generic Version?
Gemtesa is a type of medication classed as a “beta-3 adrenergic agonist.” This means that Gemtesa, when it’s administered correctly and absorbed into a patient’s bloodstream, works to calm down overly tensed bladder muscles.
As a result, OAB patients may be able to treat their urgent urinary urges and involuntary leakages.
Further, with the right dosage, they may be able to enjoy their days with fewer disruptions to their routines.
Is There a Generic for Gemtesa?
No, currently there is no generic version of Gemtesa.
Gemtesa is a relatively new medication. (It was approved by the FDA in the USA in late 2020.)
The medication is still under patent, which means that no one other than Gemtesa’s manufacturer, is allowed to make the medication in the USA.
This gives the manufacturer., some time to recoup its costs on the R&D of a new drug, which can be considerable.
On the flip side, it does mean that there is no competition to keep the price of Gemtesa reasonable. This means that patients who seek lower-cost OAB treatments may need to consider Gemtesa alternatives.
How Much Does Gemtesa Cost?
In the United States, a one-month supply of brand-name Gemtesa can cost patients around $550.00.
Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can get that same month of brand Gemtesa for about $100.00—or savings of up to about 80%.
Gemtesa’s Closest Alternative: Myrbetriq
Myrbetriq (mirabegron) is an OAB medication, much like Gemtesa.
Myrbetriq is also a beta-3 adrenergic agonist.
Similar to Gemtesa, Myrbetriq also offers a way to reduce OAB symptoms without a laundry list of side effects, which can be the case when taking more traditional OAB treatments.
Myrbetriq works by relaxing the bladder muscle, which helps increase the capacity of the bladder itself. This expansion helps reduce the frequency and urgency of sudden bathroom visits.
The Key Differences Between Gemtesa and Myrbetriq
While Gemtesa and Myrbetriq are similar medications, they aren’t equivalent.
Depending on your unique health goals, blood biochemistry, and the way your OAB functions, you may react differently to these two treatments.
Your experience may be unique to you, but generally speaking, Gemtesa and Myrbetriq differ in their…
- Side effects. Myrbetriq can be associated with slightly more side effects than Gemtesa, like increased occurrences of higher blood pressure.
- Tolerability. Many patients tolerate Gemtesa a little better, which can make it a good choice for patients typically sensitive to strong prescription medications.
Of course, they also differ slightly in their price.
How Much Does Myrbetriq Cost?
Myrbetriq, as a relatively recent and effective OAB medication, isn’t exactly cheap.
In the United States, a one-month supply of Myrbetriq can cost as much as $520.00 per month.
Through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy that same one-month supply of brand Myrbetriq for just over $100.00 per month, or a savings of 80%.
Seeking even lower prices? Here, you can also buy generic Myrbetriq for about $95.00 per month.
Anticholinergic Alternatives to Gemtesa
If you don’t react well to either Myrbetriq or Gemtesa, you still have options you can consider.
Aside from beta-3 adrenergic agonists, there’s another class of medications often used to treat OAB: Anticholinergic medications.
These types of drugs work by blocking the bladder receptors that deal with muscle contractions, thereby helping patients reduce their urgent urinary urges and incontinence episodes.
There are a few different medications you can explore in this category.
Oxybutynin
Oxybutynin is an anticholinergic medication that has been used for decades to reduce suffering associated with OAB. It comes in a few different forms for ease of administration, including transdermal patches, topical gels, and oral tablets.
Unfortunately, it can cause heightened side effects when compared to newer OAB medications. Effects to be aware of include constipation, dry mouth, and dizziness.
You can buy brand-name Ditropan or generic oxybutynin through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $0.60 per pill.
Trosec
Trosec (or Sanctura, or generic trospium) is another anti-OAB medication. When compared to other OAB treatments, brand Trosec or Sanctura can be associated with fewer central nervous system side effects, since its active ingredient has only a limited ability to access the brain.
If you’re particularly sensitive to cognitive side effects, like drowsiness, trospium may be worth looking into.
You can buy brand Sanctura through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $1.70 per pill.
Enablex
Enablex (darifenacin) is a medication that, like Myrbetriq and Gemtesa, targets the bladder muscles to reduce spasms and contractions. By doing so, Enablex can offer OAB patients relief from the urgency of their condition while minimizing some side effects, like drowsiness.
However, like other more traditional OAB treatments, Enablex does come with a potential slew of other side effects. These may include constipation, mild dizziness, and dry mouth.
You can buy brand-name Enablex through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $3.15 per pill.
Vesicare
Vesicare (solifenacin) is an OAB medication that, like its alternatives, can help relax the bladder muscle. When the bladder muscle is relaxed, it can typically store more urine—reducing the necessity for urgent and/or frequent bathroom visits.
Vesicare’s effects last for a long time. This makes it a very popular choice for patients who are managing chronic OAB.
It does come with side effects, though, including dry eyes, blurred vision, or mild gastrointestinal discomfort.
You can buy brand-name Vesicare through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $3.00 per pill.
Detrol
Detrol (tolterodine) is a type of OAB treatment that works by blocking specific receptors on bladder muscles to reduce their spasms and ease resultant OAB symptoms.
When compared to other traditional overactive bladder meds, Detrol does have a relatively mild side effect profile. However, there are a few side effects to keep an eye out for. These typical anticholinergic side effects can include constipation and dry mouth.
You can buy brand-name Detrol through NorthWestPharmacy.com for about $1.50 per pill.
Unique Formulations of Oxybutynin
Earlier, we mentioned that Oxybutynin can come in a few different forms. If you’re looking for something versatile, or if you need a specific type of treatment (e.g., if you can’t swallow pills effectively), then Oxybutynin may be worth learning more about.
Here, we’ll help by providing some quick information about the various formulations of Oxybutynin on the market.
Oxytrol (Transdermal Patch)
Oxytrol, a transdermal patch containing Oxybutynin, delivers its active ingredient through a patient’s skin.
This bypasses the patient’s digestive system, which can help reduce common side effects of OAB meds like dry mouth.
Typically, patients will apply their Oxytrol patch twice per week.
Gelnique (Topical Gel)
Gelnique, a topical gel much like an aloe vera gel or sunscreen, is a medication that patients apply to their skin.
The active ingredient in Gelnique will then absorb directly through your skin and make its way to the bladder without, necessarily, needing to go through the gastrointestinal system.
That makes Gelnique, much like Oxytrol, a possibly good option to consider if you deal with persistent GI symptoms associated with your OAB treatment (like dry mouth).
When You’re Choosing an OAB Treatment, Consider This
As it turns out, there are quite a few OAB treatments out there to choose from.
If you feel like you’re getting overwhelmed, remember that you don’t have to choose your medication alone. In fact, you likely won’t.
These are prescription medications, which means that you will need to go to a healthcare professional, talk through your symptoms, undergo some testing, and then get a prescription for a drug suited to your unique condition and health goals.
That said, it definitely doesn’t hurt to understand the factors going into your best-suited OAB treatment.
We’d recommend talking through the following with your doctor.
OAB Treatment Effectiveness
Generally, beta-3 adrenergic agonists like Myrbetriq and Gemtesa are effective at combating OAB symptoms. They may come with a less risky side effect profile, though.
Conversely, anticholinergic medications, as a more traditional treatment option for OAB, may come with a similar level of reliable symptom relief, but may come with more dry mouth or constipation.
OAB Treatment Cost
Several of these medications are available in a generic formulation, especially the more traditional alternatives like Detrol and Oxybutynin.
Gemtesa, unfortunately, does not have a generic available in 2025.
Keep an eye out for a Gemtesa generic in the future, once Gemtesa’s patents expire. In the meantime, sourcing your medication through an international and online Canadian pharmacy can be a reliable way to keep your medication costs affordable.
How Does Gemtesa Compare to Myrbetriq and Anticholinergics?
Those general considerations may be helpful, but if you’re in need of an even more specific head-to-head comparison, you’re in luck.
These are the big things to know about Gemtesa when compared directly to Myrbetriq and more traditional anticholinergic treatments.
Gemtesa vs. Myrbetriq
Gemtesa and Mybretriq both belong to the same group of medications—they’re both beta-3 adrenergic agonists.
This doesn’t make them perfectly equal, but it does mean that their mechanism of action and effectiveness should be relatively similar.
Depending on your unique biochemistry and the way you respond to OAB medication, you may find that Gemtesa is associated with fewer hypertensive issues. If high blood pressure is a challenge for you, Gemtesa may be the better option.
If you’re not able to tolerate Gemtesa, Myrbetriq may be worth exploring.
Gemtesa vs. Anticholinergics
Gemtesa, a newer medication, tends to result in fewer side effects than more traditional anticholinergic medications.
Anticholinergics, including Detrol and Vesicare, may cause side effects ranging from blurred vision to dry mouth and constipation. Gemtesa provides a similar level of efficacy, but without as high a risk for these symptoms.
That said, anticholinergics have a long track record of helping patients mitigate and manage their OAB symptoms. They may be a better fit for some patients.
Talk to your doctor to determine what’s the best option for you.
Exploring Injectable and Non-Medication Alternatives
High-quality, effective medications are usually the most efficient way to treat OAB symptoms, especially longer-term.
If you and your doctor believe that medications like Myrbetriq and Gemtesa are not suitable, or if you’re interested in exploring lifestyle options that could support your medication use, you may want to think about the following.
Botox for OAB
If you have particularly severe OAB symptoms and those symptoms don’t seem to respond well to oral medications or any of the topical medications we’ve discussed, you may be able to leverage Botox to get a similar result.
Injecting Botox strategically into the bladder wall can paralyze the muscle, reduce spasming, and help patients regain control of their bathroom schedule.
One treatment will typically provide relief for 6-12 months. This route will require consistent in-office administrations by trained and licensed healthcare professionals.
Lifestyle Modifications for OAB
If you’re able to implement a few lifestyle changes in support of your OAB treatment, you may be able to increase the efficacy of medications like Gemtesa and Myrbetriq.
Just a few such changes to consider may include:
Bladder training, or working to gradually increase the amount of time you can go between bathroom visits;
Pelvic floor exercises, or using Kegel exercises (or similar movements) to strengthen pelvic muscles and make controlling urinary urges a bit easier; and
Helpful dietary adjustments. There are some foods that can inflame or irritate the bladder, like spicy foods, caffeine, acidic foods, and alcohol. Steering clear of these may help you mitigate symptoms.
According to Dr. Brynna Connor, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician who specializes in regenerative medicine, while conditions like OAB have specific treatments that will always be the most help, “...the food you eat also plays a big role in when and how often symptoms come up. Eating some hard-to-digest or less nutritious foods can lead to frequent digestive issues. On the other hand, regularly eating nutrient-packed superfoods helps your gut work the way it’s supposed to.”
Managing OAB doesn’t have to mean compromising your budget or lifestyle. No matter your situation, there’s a medication for you—whether it’s Gemtesa or one of its reliable alternatives.
Ready to take control of your symptoms?
Browse our online shelves today to access affordable, high-quality OAB medications. The team at NorthWestPharmacy.com looks forward to supporting you and your healthcare journey!
