What is Gemtesa Used for & What Are the Side Effects?
speciality medications
If you or a loved one has overactive bladder, or OAB, you know precisely how life-disrupting OAB can be. Some days, it might feel like it’s impossible to pursue regular life activities—or depend on any type of consistent routine.
Fortunately, there are medications that can add a little more regularity back into your life.
One such OAB med is Gemtesa, an FDA-approved treatment that can help today’s patients manage their symptoms without having to undergo any of the drawbacks older types of OAB meds may have had.
But that doesn’t mean Gemtesa is perfect (or a one-size-fits-all type of treatment).
Here, we’ll talk about what Gemtesa is used for, side effects you can expect, and more—including quick answers to essential questions, like does Gemtesa cause weight gain or hair loss?
Let’s get into it.
What Is Gemtesa?
Gemtesa is an oral medication that people can take to treat the symptoms of overactive bladder.
Overactive bladder, OAB, is a condition that comes with symptoms like:
- Frequent urination, or the need to head to the bathroom without a very clear cause more than eight times in a day;
- Urgency, or the sudden, strong, and nearly uncontrollable need to urinate without a helpful heads-up from your body; and
- Incontinence, or the accidental loss of urine when you’re not able to reach a bathroom in time.
It’s not hard to see how experiencing these three symptoms can get in the way of a typical adult’s daily routine.
When OAB patients take medications like Gemtesa, they’re able to circumvent these symptoms and go about their day much more easily.
How Does Gemtesa Work?
Gemtesa is a type of medication called a “beta-3 adrenergic agonist.”
That’s a pharmaceutical classification that, basically, boils down to mean that Gemtesa works by relaxing the bladder muscle.
When the bladder muscle is relaxed, instead of tensed up habitually, the bladder can hold more urine. The patient, after taking medication, should experience a reduced urge to urinate frequently, too.
Why Choose Gemtesa Over Other OAB Medications?
Gemtesa isn’t the only beta-3 adrenergic agonist on the market.
However, it’s a popular choice, because it’s newer.
Several of the older anti-OAB drugs on the market were effective, but came with frustrating side effects like constipation and dry mouth. Gemtesa is able to provide the same symptom relief with fewer downsides.
Who Can Use Gemtesa?
Gemtesa is approved for use in adults over 18 years of age.
If you’re in that group, know that Gemtesa should be particularly well-suited for you if you have experienced side effects with other OAB medications.
How Much Does Gemtesa Cost?
In the United States, you might pay as much as $1,500.00 for a 90-day supply of brand-name Gemtesa.
Here, through NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can buy that same amount of brand-name Gemtesa for about $250.00, or savings of around 83%.
Gemtesa Side Effects: What You Should Know
Of course, while Gemtesa comes with fewer side effects than other, more traditional OAB meds, it’s not side-effect-free.
Most people tolerate Gemtesa well, but it’s a good idea to know what side effects to expect.
These side effects should be mild and should go away as your body gets used to the treatment.
Common side effects of Gemtesa can include:
- Headaches
- Urinary tract infections
- GI issues, including nausea, diarrhea, and constipation
If these side effects persist beyond your first few weeks with the medication or if there are any other side effects that you believe you can link to Gemtesa, talk to your doctor.
Don’t stop taking the medication—doing that quickly can cause more side effects—and see if your doctor has any recommendations for alleviating your symptoms.
Addressing Common Concerns: Does Gemtesa Cause Weight Gain or Hair Loss?
Beyond the mild side effects we just mentioned, there are some other potentially concerning effects that are (allegedly) associated with Gemtesa.
Are these associations valid, or are they not worth worrying about?
Let’s do some myth busting.
Does Gemtesa Cause Weight Gain?
There is no significant evidence linking Gemtesa to weight gain.
There are numerous reports of weight changes associated with Gemtesa online, but in many cases these are likely instances of correlation, not causation.
It can be tempting to trust these anecdotal stories, but it’s hard to rule out other factors, like lifestyle and diet.
Ultimately, your mileage may vary, but it’s unlikely that weight gain after starting Gemtesa is due to Gemtesa and Gemtesa alone.
Does Gemtesa Cause Hair Loss?
Much as is the case with Gemtesa and weight loss, there is no substantive, recognized clinical evidence linking Gemtesa with substantial hair loss.
It may happen, but it’d be difficult to link any hair loss with Gemtesa as opposed to lifestyle or dietary changes.
If you start taking Gemtesa and notice either otherwise inexplicable weight gain or hair loss, talk to your doctor. You may have options for mitigating these effects without going off the medication entirely.
Here’s How to Take Gemtesa—Dosage and Administration
The makers of Gemtesa designed the drug to be convenient and simple. Using it properly is necessary, though, if you want the medication to work well for you.
Here’s what you need to know.
The standard dosage of Gemtesa is a once-daily dose of 75 milligrams.
You can take Gemtesa with or without food.
(Although, again, your mileage may vary; if you find that taking it before or after a meal makes a difference in your dosing experience, feel free to make that part of your individual dosing requirements.)
It’ll also improve your experience with Gemtesa if you take the drug at the same time every day, to maintain consistent blood levels of the medication.
Don’t crush or chew your Gemtesa tablets. Swallow them whole, likely with the assistance of water.
If you miss a dose of Gemtesa, take it as soon as you remember—unless it’s about time to take your next scheduled dose. Then, just take your next dose. Don’t double up.
If you find that you’re missing your doses of Gemtesa consistently, consider downloading an app to help remind you to take your medications, placing your medication bottle where you’ll see it regularly, or talking to your doctor about other behavioral methods to help you adhere to your treatment regimen.
What to Expect: How Quickly Does Gemtesa Work?
After you start taking Gemtesa, how long will it (realistically) take before you start experiencing relief from your OAB symptoms?
That’s a reasonable question. While your specific experience may vary from that of your peers, here’s a general timeline of what you can expect shortly after you start taking Gemtesa.
- Initial relief: Within weeks. Many patients report that they start feeling better—e.g., reducing the urgency of their urination and the frequency of their bathroom trips—within about 2-4 weeks of starting their Gemtesa doses.
- Full effectiveness: Within two(ish) months. For the best possible experience with Gemtesa, it’s best to give it about 8 weeks of consistent use.
If you don’t feel like the drug is working for you, remember to keep taking it even if you don’t see improvements immediately.
Remember that pairing your Gemtesa with lifestyle changes, like bladder training or reduced caffeine, can also help you increase the efficacy of this treatment. (More on that in a moment.)
Who Should Avoid Gemtesa?
Gemtesa, while effective and safe for most, isn’t for everyone.
There are some conditions or anticipated drug interactions that may make taking Gemtesa less than ideal for certain populations. These conditions include:
- If you’re struggling with urinary retention, or the ability to keep your bladder full in the first place.
- If you’re allergic to an ingredient in Gemtesa, whether it’s an active ingredient or an inactive filler substance.
- If you’re pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant.
- If you have severe liver issues or kidney complications.
If you’re suffering from OAB and have any of these conditions, talk to your doctor.
They will be able to help you consider a dose adjustment or even pursue alternative treatments, as is proper for you and your unique health goals.
What Drug Interactions Should I Watch Out For?
If you take other medications, you may be leery of adding another treatment to your regimen. Whether taking Gemtesa with your current medications is safe or not depends on what those medications are.
Gemtesa is known to have possible interactions with:
- Beta blockers, a common class of heart medications.
- Anticholinergics, a type of drug often used to treat Parkinson’s.
- Blood pressure medications, or antihypertensives.
Make sure that your doctor is aware of any medications that you are on, and they’ll be able to help you determine if Gemtesa is a viable option for you.
Alternatives to Gemtesa: Exploring Your Options
While Gemtesa is a popular option for people managing OAB today, it’s not the only medication worth exploring.
Gemtesa alternatives that may be a good fit for you (depending on your condition and your health goals!) may include the following.
Other Beta-3 Adrenergic Agonists
Gemtesa—a beta-3 adrenergic agonist—is not alone in this category.
Myrbetriq (mirabegron) is another type of this same medicinal class that can treat OAB as well. Using Myrbetriq can lead to some side effects, like elevated blood pressure, but it’s a good option especially if you cannot find Gemtesa or if you don’t react well to other OAB meds.
You can buy Myrbetriq through NorthWestPharmacy.com starting at just over $3.00 per capsule.
Anticholinergic Medications
Anticholinergic medications work by reducing the intensity and frequency of bladder muscle contractions to minimize the urgency of full bladder sensations.
They’re effective, but they tend to come with potentially concerning side effects, like constipation, drowsiness, and dry mouth.
Examples of anticholinergic medications include:
- Oxybutynin, which you can buy right here for about $0.60 per capsule;
- Tolterodine, which you can buy right here for about $1.50 per capsule; and
- Solifenacin, which you can buy right here for about $3.15 per capsule.
Comparing Gemtesa to Similar OAB Medications
Wondering how Gemtesa stacks up to its competition?
Figuring out whether Gemtesa is right for you will require dedicated time with your healthcare provider, who will talk to you, weigh your goals, assess your condition, and determine the best way forward.
Part of that calculus will involve understanding Gemtesa as compared to other commonly prescribed OAB medications.
Here are a few quick comparisons that might help.
Gemtesa vs. Myrbetriq
Both Gemtesa and Myrbetriq are beta-3 adrenergic agonists that work to relax your bladder muscle, effectively providing symptom relief.
Myrbetriq may come with more side effects, like high blood pressure, while Gemtesa tends to be a bit safer and has fewer side effects.
Gemtesa vs. Anticholinergics (e.g., Oxybutynin, Tolterodine)
When compared to anticholinergics, Gemtesa tends to have fewer side effects like constipation and dry mouth.
Gemtesa also offers patients convenient once-daily dosing. Older drugs might require several pills per day.
That said, more traditional anticholinergic medications can be more cost-effective because they’ve been around for longer and may have cost-lowering generics available.
Can You Manage OAB with Lifestyle Changes?
It’s generally not possible to completely mitigate the symptoms of OAB simply through lifestyle changes.
However, by pairing powerful medications like Gemtesa or Myrbetriq with some effective, synergistic habits, you may be able to increase your quality of life and keep your dosage low.
Does Bladder Training Help With OAB?
Bladder training can help with OAB but being able to train your bladder while having OAB is a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation.
In order to bladder train—which involves gradually increasing the time between your bathroom visits to improve your bladder control—you’ll need to be able to resist going to the bathroom, at least for a few minutes, in the first place. People who have severe OAB may not have that choice.
Once you’ve started taking a medication, you may be able to opt for this strategy.
Talk to your doctor before starting, though, to make sure that this type of training is safe for you.
Dietary Adjustments and OAB
You may be able to reduce some of your OAB symptoms by avoiding irritating food and staying hydrated.
Commonly irritating food for people with OAB may include caffeine, alcohol, spicy food, and acidic beverages (e.g., wine, coffee, some juices, some teas). Replace those beverages with water to stay hydrated and see if you notice any difference in your quality of life.
If you’re worried about giving up coffee entirely, good news: You may not have to. It’s important to be aware of how it affects you, personally, though. As Dr. Brynna Connor, M.D., a board-certified family medicine physician who specializes in regenerative medicine, says:
“Some research has shown that caffeine may increase the risk of urinary frequency and urgency. However, other research has found that people only experience urinary differences when they drink large amounts of caffeine — considered to be around 2 to 3 cups of coffee, or 5 to 8 cups of tea.”
Interested in pairing your dietary choices and lifestyle upgrades with effective OAB medications?
You’re in the right place.
Here, at NorthWestPharmacy.com, you can easily find high-quality medications at reliably affordable prices—whether you’re looking for Gemtesa or one of its alternatives.
Have questions? Our team is here to help. Connect with our friendly, knowledgeable customer service representatives or licensed pharmacists today. The team at NorthWestPharmacy.com is looking forward to serving you!
