Nausea with Elmiron

[Mom1212]

I was reading posts from the last couple of years about Elmiron, and saw where someone had encased the capsule in another gel cap? I was just wondering if that helped with side effects and exactly how you did that. Do you open the cap and pour the contents into an empty gelcap? or do you place the whole capsule into a gelcap? My 17 year old daughter has IC and is having an unusually bad flare. She was diagnosed 3 years ago, and has been under control for the last 2. However, now that she is having such a bad flare, her doctor put her back on Elmiron. It worked for her when she was on it a couple of years ago. The nausea is really bad - so I was looking for anything to make it easier for her to take it.

[sailawaygrl]

Some just take it out of the capsule and mix it with water, I am sure it doesn't taste good but it seems to help them. Putting it in another capsule would probably be a bit troublesome. I have read that some feel it is the capsule that causes them nausea. I hope she finds relief soon. What else is she doing to try and stop the flare? I'm sure you know that elmiron can take some time to work.

Sandra

[cmclien]

I find taking pepcid or omeprazole either before or with it helps ALOT with any kind of nausea. This works for me really with any meds that can cause nausea.

[sully02]

elmiron and nausea

Yesterday I took 3 elmirion pills. 2 the night before and 1 yesterday morning.
Yesterday morning I noticed some pain in my upper abdomen, not normal bladder pain, it progressed into tightness in my chest and a very hyper feeling. I called Ortho Mcneil to ask about the side effects and the nurse told me to call my Dr but it was 5:00 and they were not there. The tightness relaxed some after I laid down and took a klonopin. Then the stomach pains started. I felt like I had food poisoning. Next came the explosive diareaha. Sorry to be so descriptive but it was bad. The nurse at Ortho Mcneil told me to stop the pills until I talked to the Dr but I was too worn out today to even call the office. Has anyone else had this bad of a first reaction to elmiron? I have a sulfa allergy and asked the nurse about it but she said that just because it says sulfa in the name does not mean it is the same sulfa.

Thanks for your help. I have put off trying this drug for almost 3 years because of the side effects and cost! Don't think it is worth it. I already have enough pain and problems. I am about ready to give up.

Sully

[cmclien]

Thats too bad!! It gives alot of people diarhea. It didn't me but it did give me stomach cramps. Taking it with omeprazole got rid of those. Alot of people say if you take it out of the capsule and mix it with water those side effects go away. Did you try that? You can also try taking tums or calcium to offset the diarhea. You could cut back to 2 pills a day until you get used to it, or start with one a day and work up to 2, then 3. I only take 2 a day still.

I also had the hyper, lightheaded, hypoglycemic feeling after taking my morning dose. It went away after a few weeks but I found if I ate alot of protein about an hour after I took it, it helped. I'd eat an egg and a cheesestick or something like that. weird right? it did go away though.

I also had headaches for a couple of weeks but now they've gone away too.

So it all might get better for you over time and maybe if you cut back some and take it out of the capsule. Its worth the try if you can get rid of the diarhea which I know is no fun!!! I am feeling almost normal this week, I've been on it 6 weeks now and it has worked quickly for me.