Magnesium - Magnesium has a variety of effects in the body. It can help relieve constipation, reduces inflammation, supports muscle health and can help reduce anxiety in some studies. Obviously all of these are potentially beneficial to patients with IC!
o The B-Complex vitamins can also cause problems with IC. o The fat soluble vitamins (A, D E, and K) and minerals, such as calcium and magnesium, are usually well-tolerated by most IC patients.
Patients with IC often avoid Vitamin C as it tends to flare symptoms. More sensitive patients avoid multivitamins as it is difficult to find one without vitamin C. Those patients who have their IC more under control can tolerate some specially buffered Vitamin C and benefit from the IC Multi.
Amitriptyline is the medication most commonly prescribed for interstitial cystitis. Elmiron is the only oral drug approved by the FDA specifically for interstitial cystitis. It improves the bladder lining, making it less leaky and therefore less inflamed and painful. The full effect may take three to six months.
The cause of interstitial cystitis (IC) is unknown. Researchers are looking at many theories to understand the causes of IC and find the best treatments. Most people with IC find that certain foods make their symptoms worse.
Hydroxyzine hydrochloride is an antihistamine that is used for treating allergic and inflammatory skin conditions – it can be used in the treatment of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome as it blocks the chemicals that can cause inflammation.
Best Probiotics for Cystitis
Both Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1® and Lactobacillus reuteri RC-14® can be found in Optibac Probiotics For Women.
Foods to eat
Fruits: bananas, apricots, blueberries, dates, melons, prunes, pears, raisins. Vegetables: avocados, asparagus, broccoli, beets, eggplant, peas, mushrooms, spinach. Grains: oats, rice. Proteins: beef, lamb, pork, poultry, fish, eggs.
Magnesium has various pharmacologic effects associated with smooth muscle relaxation. In this study, magnesium effectively and safely reduced the incidence of catheter-related bladder discomfort above a moderate grade in patients having transurethral resection of bladder tumor.
Some research shows that magnesium hydroxide can reduce spontaneous muscle contractions that cause incontinence. A small study found that magnesium hydroxide improved urinary incontinence in women.
Magnesium is important for proper muscle and nerve function. Some doctors believe better magnesium levels can reduce bladder spasms, a common cause of incontinence.
Most patients need to continue treatment indefinitely or the symptoms return. Some patients have flare-ups of symptoms even while on treatment. In some patients the symptoms gradually improve and even disappear. Some patients do not respond to any IC/BPS therapy.
Milk/Dairy Products Avoid: aged cheeses, sour cream, yogurt and choco- late. Okay to try: white chocolate, non-aged cheeses such as cottage or American, frozen yogurt and milk. Vegetables Avoid: fava beans, lima beans, onions, tofu, soy beans & soy-based products, and tomatoes.
Interstitial cystitis is a severely debilitating disease of the urinary bladder. Symptoms of interstitial cystitis include excessive urgency and frequency of urination, suprapubic pain, dyspareunia and chronic pelvic pain. Interstitial cystitis interferes with employment, social relationships and sexual activity.
Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) has several well-known comorbid psychiatric manifestations, including insomnia, anxiety, and depression. We hypothesized that somatoform disorder, which is a psychosomatic disease, can be used as a sensitive psychiatric phenotype of IC/BPS.
This data demonstrates that there is a higher prevalence of IC in patients who use hormones, whether for contraceptive purposes or not, and supports the theory that estrogen contributes to the development of autoimmunity, specifically IC.
Brain white matter (axonal) abnormalities associated with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome in women suggest that neuropathological brain alterations exist in, and might contribute to, chronic pelvic pain syndromes.
Pentosan polysulfate sodium is the only FDA-approved oral medication for interstitial cystitis. The drug binds to the walls of the bladder, helping replace and repair the lining. Symptom improvement can take up to six months, but several studies have shown moderately positive results.
Comedian Ashley Corby has long dealt with a bladder pain syndrome known as interstitial cystitis, or IC.
In the early phase of IC the symptom flares are intermittent in most patients. Over time symptoms increase and pain cycles may appear and last for 3-14 days.