Urton is mirabegron, in 25 mg and 50 mg tablets. It treats overactive bladder — urgency, frequency and urge incontinence. It works by a different mechanism from the older bladder medicines, which is its main advantage: it does not cause the dry mouth, constipation and confusion they do.
What is Urton?
The South African Medicine Price Registry lists two strengths, both Schedule 3:
| Product | Form | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Urton 25 | Film-coated tablet | Mirabegron 25 mg |
| Urton 50 | Film-coated tablet | Mirabegron 50 mg |
Mirabegron is a beta-3 adrenergic agonist — the first genuinely new class for overactive bladder in decades.
The bladder does two things: it stores urine, and it empties it. Storage depends on the bladder muscle staying relaxed while it fills. In overactive bladder, that muscle contracts involuntarily before the bladder is full, producing a sudden compelling urge, frequent trips to the toilet, waking at night, and sometimes leakage before reaching one.
Anticholinergics — oxybutynin, solifenacin, tolterodine — treat this by blocking the signals that make the muscle contract. Effective, but they block those receptors throughout the body, which is why they cause dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and, in older people, confusion and falls.
Mirabegron works the other way round. It stimulates beta-3 receptors, which are concentrated in the bladder wall, and actively relaxes the muscle during filling. Because it does not block acetylcholine, it avoids the anticholinergic side effects almost entirely.
That is the whole case for it: comparable effectiveness, a very different side effect profile. Its own main concern is blood pressure, covered below.
25 mg is the usual starting dose, increased to 50 mg if needed, and 25 mg is also used where kidney or liver function is reduced.
What is Urton commonly used for?
- Overactive bladder syndrome — urgency, frequency and urge incontinence. This is its use.
- Urge incontinence, where leakage follows the urge.
- Nocturia from overactive bladder — waking at night to pass urine.
- Overactive bladder in people who cannot tolerate anticholinergics, which is one of its most valuable roles, particularly in older adults where anticholinergic burden causes real harm.
- Combined with solifenacin, in some prescribing where one alone is insufficient.
- Neurogenic bladder overactivity, under specialist care.
It takes time. Benefit usually appears within four to eight weeks. Judging it after a fortnight will make it look ineffective.
It does not treat urinary infection, prostate enlargement or stress incontinence. Those are different problems:
- Stress incontinence — leaking on coughing, laughing, sneezing or exercise — is a pelvic floor problem, and pelvic floor exercises are the first-line treatment. Mirabegron will not help it.
- Prostate-related symptoms in men — weak stream, hesitancy, dribbling — usually need an alpha blocker instead.
- Infection needs an antibiotic.
Non-drug measures work and are consistently under-used. Bladder training — gradually extending the interval between visits — has good evidence. So do pelvic floor exercises, reducing caffeine and alcohol, managing constipation, and keeping a bladder diary for a few days, which is genuinely informative for both you and your doctor.
How Urton fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Beta-3 agonists | Mirabegron (Urton) | Relaxes the bladder; no anticholinergic effects; raises blood pressure |
| Anticholinergics | Oxybutynin, solifenacin, tolterodine | Effective; dry mouth, constipation, confusion in older people |
| Urinary antispasmodics | Flavoxate | Milder; short-term symptom relief |
| Alpha blockers | Tamsulosin, doxazosin | Prostate-related symptoms in men |
| Botulinum toxin | Bladder injections | Refractory overactive bladder, specialist |
| Pelvic floor training | — | First-line for stress incontinence; helps urgency too |
See the general medicines hub, which also covers everyday products such as K-Fenak OTC and HP553.
What to check before using Urton
Blood pressure is the specific concern with mirabegron. It can raise blood pressure, and severe uncontrolled hypertension is a contraindication. Blood pressure should be checked before starting and monitored during treatment, particularly in the first months.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- Have high blood pressure, especially if not well controlled.
- Have kidney or liver disease — the dose is reduced, and it is avoided in severe impairment.
- Have urinary retention, or difficulty emptying your bladder — and men with prostate enlargement should be assessed, since anything relaxing the bladder can worsen incomplete emptying.
- Take digoxin, warfarin, metoprolol, flecainide, propafenone, or medicines metabolised by the same liver enzymes — mirabegron can raise their levels. This is a real interaction list and worth checking.
- Have a heart rhythm problem or a long QT interval.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Practical points:
- Take it once daily, with or without food, at the same time.
- Swallow tablets whole with water — do not crush or chew.
- Give it four to eight weeks before judging it.
- Keep your blood pressure checks.
- Keep a bladder diary for a few days before and during treatment — it makes the difference visible, which is otherwise hard to judge.
- Continue bladder training and pelvic floor exercises. The medicine works better alongside them.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Common effects are raised blood pressure, urinary tract infection, headache, fast heartbeat, nausea, constipation and dizziness. Notably, dry mouth is uncommon, which is the practical advantage over anticholinergics.
Get emergency help for:
- Inability to pass urine, with a full painful lower abdomen — acute urinary retention.
- Severe headache with visual disturbance, or a very high blood pressure reading.
- Palpitations, a very fast or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, or fainting.
- Swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing — angioedema has been reported.
- Signs of a stroke — sudden weakness, facial droop, slurred speech or a severe unusual headache.
Contact your doctor if:
- Your blood pressure rises, or you have not had it checked since starting.
- Symptoms are not improving after eight weeks.
- You develop burning on passing urine, fever or back pain — possible infection.
- There is blood in your urine, which always needs investigation.
- You have difficulty emptying your bladder, or a weak stream.
- You are male with prostate symptoms and have not been assessed.
- Symptoms are affecting sleep, work or social life — there are further options, including specialist treatments.
Related medicine guides
Frequently asked questions
What is Urton 25 mg used for? Overactive bladder — urgency, frequency, waking at night to pass urine, and urge incontinence. It contains mirabegron. 25 mg is the usual starting dose, and the one used with reduced kidney or liver function.
What is Urton 50 mg used for? The same condition, at the higher dose used when 25 mg has not been enough.
How is it different from oxybutynin? It relaxes the bladder by a different mechanism, so it avoids the dry mouth, constipation, blurred vision and confusion that anticholinergics cause.
How long before it works? Four to eight weeks. Keep a bladder diary — the improvement is gradual and hard to judge from memory.
Does it help leaking when I cough or sneeze? No. That is stress incontinence, and pelvic floor exercises are the first-line treatment.
Why do I need my blood pressure checked? Mirabegron can raise blood pressure, and severe uncontrolled hypertension is a reason not to use it.
Can men take it? Yes, but men with prostate enlargement should be assessed first, since relaxing the bladder can worsen incomplete emptying.
Do I still need bladder training? Yes. Bladder training, pelvic floor exercises and reducing caffeine all work, and the medicine works better alongside them.