Reactions to Elmiron instills?

[saptree]

I have just started taking oral Elmiron (100mg 3x a day), Atarax at night and Elmiron instills 3x a week for two weeks. I’m the first at my dr office to get the Elmiron instills. I had the first one on Friday and it went fine. I had my second one today. I left the office and went out to my car and realized that I was dizzy and lightheaded, along with that comes anxiety. So since it was lunch time I got some food, ate a little (as my appetite has decreased as of late) and that didn’t settle it. I went back to my dr office and hung out. He said that it wasn’t a side effect of the instill that he knows of. My question is: What side effects, if any, has anyone experienced with the Elmiron instills? Has anyone ever had a reaction to Lidocane? I believe the instills contain saline, sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) and Lidocane (or marcane or something similar).



Thanks,
Sherry

[Katrina]

Lidocaine usually makes my bladder feel great...but if I am flaring it can sting.....never did it make me feel dizzy but pain can weaken you....if your appetitie is low it could be from the oral elmrion....are you taking the elmiron out of the capsul and drinking it? That may help. Not eating enough makes me dizzy all of the time. I recommend telling your general doc if this continues. I hope you feel better soon.
((hugs))

[KathleenS]

I've been doing Elmiron instills (with 2% lidocaine, sodium bicarb and sterile water) everyday for the past month and haven't had any side effects. I don't take it orally due to severe headaches.

Kathleen

[saptree]

Thankfully I havn't had any problems since. I had my 5th instill today and my last one is on Wednesday. I feel so much better that I did three weeks ago. I hope it continues to improve. I'm stepping up from 10mg to 25mg hydroxyzine again tonight. I started it over the weekend, I was so groggy all weekend that I went back to the 10mg Sun night so I could function Monday at work (and to drive to the dr appn). I have had a few flares during the treatment, but they go away and my baseline/background pain is so much less than before. I have been driving 1.5 hrs each way to get the instills. I do believe it has been worth my time. :thumbsup:

Sherry