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More info on elmiron & cystistat instillations!
At the Bladder Symposium in October, several preliminary research studies were presented that discussed new instillations.
#1. Lowell Parsons presented the results for using Elmiron intravesically. 40 patients were evaluated... 20 receiving just heparin (40,000 units of heparin) and 20 with elmiron (a solution of 100mg oral Elmiron, 80mg lidocaine and 3 cc's of sodium bicarb). 31 subjects had significant symptom relief. 9 had no change in their symptoms. In response to therapy, there was no significant difference between the two solutions.
He concludes: "This is the first time we have had the capacity to introduce a solution into the bladder that immediately reduces the pain and urgency of IC in the majority of new patients.... It allows an excellent therapuetic solution for acute flares of IC. While heparin and elmiron have equal efficacy in the intravesical therapeutic solution, an advantage of PPSs over heparin is its substantially lower cost."
#2. Dr. Jeffrey Dell (Knoxville, TN) released a study using intravesical elmiron or heparin combined with long term oral Elmiron therapy. 65% of patients reported a 50% or great improvement in their symptoms.
#3. Dr. Edward Davis (Citrus Valley, CA) released a similar study... as above, also with similar results
#4. Dr. Claus Reidl in Austria presented a retrospective study of using Hyaluronia Acid intravesically in the bladder, aka Cystistat. Results showed that 89% showed an improvement after therapy. 86% said that their quality of life improved significantly and that they would have this therapy again.
So, the GOOD news is that there are new uses and applications to existing medicines. Frankly, many of us have long believed that elmiron could provide a much better benefit if instilled directly into the bladder. The first three studies above demonstrate that it can be a positive combination.
Also...... here's a funny story. A good friend of mine used to instill heparin on a daily basis... with no problems until, suddenly, she started having pain. Turns out that the pharmacist started using a sodium chloride solution, rather than a water solution, to dilute the medication. Once that was resolved, it was, again, a pain free instillation.
Remember, salt on any wound can hurt like the dickens. If you do suddenly have problems with an instillation, always ask about the ingredients. There is a chance that you could be reacting to one of the minor ingredients that, when removed, will make this a tolerable instillation!
There's more research... I just haven't had the time to put it all together for you yet!
Jill
#1. Lowell Parsons presented the results for using Elmiron intravesically. 40 patients were evaluated... 20 receiving just heparin (40,000 units of heparin) and 20 with elmiron (a solution of 100mg oral Elmiron, 80mg lidocaine and 3 cc's of sodium bicarb). 31 subjects had significant symptom relief. 9 had no change in their symptoms. In response to therapy, there was no significant difference between the two solutions.
He concludes: "This is the first time we have had the capacity to introduce a solution into the bladder that immediately reduces the pain and urgency of IC in the majority of new patients.... It allows an excellent therapuetic solution for acute flares of IC. While heparin and elmiron have equal efficacy in the intravesical therapeutic solution, an advantage of PPSs over heparin is its substantially lower cost."
#2. Dr. Jeffrey Dell (Knoxville, TN) released a study using intravesical elmiron or heparin combined with long term oral Elmiron therapy. 65% of patients reported a 50% or great improvement in their symptoms.
#3. Dr. Edward Davis (Citrus Valley, CA) released a similar study... as above, also with similar results
#4. Dr. Claus Reidl in Austria presented a retrospective study of using Hyaluronia Acid intravesically in the bladder, aka Cystistat. Results showed that 89% showed an improvement after therapy. 86% said that their quality of life improved significantly and that they would have this therapy again.
So, the GOOD news is that there are new uses and applications to existing medicines. Frankly, many of us have long believed that elmiron could provide a much better benefit if instilled directly into the bladder. The first three studies above demonstrate that it can be a positive combination.
Also...... here's a funny story. A good friend of mine used to instill heparin on a daily basis... with no problems until, suddenly, she started having pain. Turns out that the pharmacist started using a sodium chloride solution, rather than a water solution, to dilute the medication. Once that was resolved, it was, again, a pain free instillation.
Remember, salt on any wound can hurt like the dickens. If you do suddenly have problems with an instillation, always ask about the ingredients. There is a chance that you could be reacting to one of the minor ingredients that, when removed, will make this a tolerable instillation!
There's more research... I just haven't had the time to put it all together for you yet!
Jill
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