Should I start taking the ditropan?

[Dee74]

Hi again :)

I was given prescriptions for Elavil, Elmiron, and Ditropan late last week and my gyno advised me to start with the Elavil and Elmiron first to make sure I didn't have a reaction (I already knew what the Elavil did to me since I've been on it before). I'm supposed to start taking the Ditropan starting tomorrow.

BUT.. I've gotten ALOT of relief since starting the two drugs. I'm also taking pyridium 3 times a day. Since Elmiron usually takes a while to take effect, I can only assume that the Elavil is helping my pain, even though I'm still not sleeping through the night without waking up to pee. I'm wondering if the dose is too low?

So the question is, since I've gotten quite alot of relief (not total pain relief, but a drastic improvement), should I hold off on the Ditropan for now?

What would you do?

Thanks :)

[mayray518]

I have been taking elavil for 5 years and an pain free. I am now down to 5 mg. Combining the elavil and ditropan may help but I would think you would be really tired. That is a side effect I experienced with the higher doses of elavil. At the higher doses of elavil (50 mg) I was never knocked out at night but I dragged through the day.

[Dee74]

Yeh I understand what you're saying about the Elavil. Since I have Fibromyalgia (not officially diagnosed still), I've been on the Elavil for pain control in the past. I was on it for a little over a year at one point. I started at 25 mg, quickly moved up to 50 mg, and then spent about 8 months on 100 mg of it. For the longest time, I felt like I had a never ending hangover. It was hard to stay awake during the day.

Right now, I don't have that problem at all, and I don't remember feeling that way when I was on 50 mg. Just the 100 mg. But by golly I slept like a rock lol

I didn't know that the Ditropan can make you tired feeling.. :hmm:
Someone else on here told me that it can cause urinary retention - that's what scares me since I already have to push to get the urine to come out as it is.

[Sarojini]

Yes, Ditropan can cause urinary retention. This happened to me, and I had to learn to self-cath eventually, which I don't necessarily view as a bad thing because I have retention episodes now even when NOT on Ditropan.

However, if you already have a tendency to retain, Ditropan CAN make it worse. Discuss this with your doctor. He can start you on a lower dose or something so you can test it out and see what happens. Another thing that can help if you want to try starting the drug is to ask for regular Ditropan, NOT the XL (extended release tablets). That way, they last only 4-6 hours, so if you DO retain, it will begin to resolve itself much sooner than if you had taken an extended release tablet.

Regardless, discuss your concerns with your doctor and see what he/she has to say.

Good luck :grouphug:

[Dee74]

Jen, the ditropan I got... well, I guess it's generic. I don't remember it having an XL on the prescription.

But this is what the bottle says - Oxybutynin 5 mg tablet
I THOUGHT I was only supposed to take it once a day, but I was wrong, it's twice a day.

Since it's to be taken twice a day, I wouldn't think that it's extended release right?

I think I might hold off on it for now. My pain is well under control - I only have a tiny bit of urgency at times, but it's not bad at all. More or less like I'm constantly aware of my bladder, but it's not painful to me.

If the pain kicks in again, I'll probably start it then.

Sound good?

[Sandra11]

Hey Dee,
The only side affect that I have with the Ditropan is a dry mouth. I take the 10 mg xl. I am always drinking water, which i guess is a good thing but thats the only thing that I notice for me anyway.. Do what you think is best.

[Sarojini]

Hi Dee... if you got the generic 5mg's, they're NOT extended release... :) If your pain is under control, perhaps you are right in holding off. If you want to try to take it at a later date, you can always start off with taking one a day and then working up to 2. However, it's up to you!!

Good luck and many :grouphug:s

[kadi]

I take Elavil 20mg & Ditropan 5mg at night. The two together help me sleep through most nights with maybe 1-2 wakeups to pee. For me, my bladder spasms when I lie down & the Ditropan helps with that. The Ditropan XL made me very tired & gave me a nasty white coating on my tongue & teeth, but I don't have that problem with the regular Ditropan.
Hope you find something that works!

[theclownster]

I'm doing well on Ditropan XL, Elavil, and Atarax. However, I could not take the Elmiron. The tricky thing with IC, is that we are all different and react different to all the meds. I was on detrol for a period of time, but that caused retention - so my doctor switched me back to ditropan xl. 5mg is a very small dose. My doctor prefers ditropan because it can be dosed in 5mg increments up to something like 30mg a day. My doctor has been monitoring my bladder in regards to retention each time he ups my dose. I'm currently on 15mg Ditropan XL - he did a bladder scan the other day which showed that I was doing a pretty good job emptying my bladder. He gave me samples of the 5mg to add to my current 15 mg dose (to equal 20 mg)and wants to see me back in a month for another bladder scan (to make sure I'm not retaining). He wanted to see how I would do with the extra 5mg's (as needed).

As far as making a decision for what's best for you - that's really up to you. Trust your gut and do what you think is best. Whatever you decide, be sure to tell your doctor you decisions and concerns and maybe he/she can address the concerns to put you more at ease (if you decide in favor of the meds).

Please keep us updated and let us know how you are doing.

Take Care!
Jennifer

[Dee74]

Well everyone, I've decided to hold off on the Ditropan until I NEED something more. Right now I'm under control with the Elavil, Elmiron, and the 3 pyridium I'm taking daily.

I have noticed though, without the pyridium, if I miss a dose, I'm in alot of pain. I CANNOT miss a dose of it.

My uro, or should I say Uro's assistant, gave me another prescription but no refills. She told me in the office that I could take it indefinately, so I don't understand the lack of refills since they know that it's helping. Hrmmm. :hmm:

[daydreamer]

It's funny how all we all get different info. I asked if I could keep taking Pyridium as needed and they said once a week was okay, but any more than that is damaging to the kidneys.

[Dee74]

Really??

See, that scares me.. one is right, one is wrong. But which?

I've taken it 3 times a day for the last month. I'm starting my second month now.

I have noticed sometimes that after I take it, I get a bit of back pain. Almost like a cramping sensation. It only lasts about 10 minutes at most though.

[daydreamer]

Hmmm...I wonder what other people have been told? I was told it was only for short term pain management, and with a chronic disease if you keep taking it it's not good for your kidneys. Maybe a month or two is still considered short term? I know for myself, she didn't like the fact of me taking it more than once a week.

[ICNDonna]

Pyridium is not usually given on a long term basis. I suggest you talk to your doctor about continuing to take it regularly much longer.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[Dee74]

Well, maybe I'll try to slow down on the pyridium then. I have my next appointment on Dec 2nd with the urologist (for sure). So I won't be able to talk to him until then. :headbang:

[theclownster]

You could try placing a call to your Doctor's office and ask your question about pyridium over the phone. I have also heard it is not safe to take the pyridium for long periods of time. Hopefully your doctor can advise you over the phone.

Take Care!
Jennifer

[Dee74]

Ok, you guys, I haven't taken a pyridium since my last post. I did call the uro and the nurse I talked to this time told me NOT to take it all the time like I was. She said 2 or 3 times a week would be the most that she would recommend. So I told her that the assistant said I could continue taking it regularly LIKE IT SAYS ON THE BOTTLE. She said that the assistant must have been mistaken and thought that I meant that I only took it a few times a week, not 3 times a day.. :rolleyes: yeh ok. I will NOT see that assistant again. They need to be more clear about these damn meds!! Sorry for the language but :cussing: :headbang:

One word.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWWWWWWWWWIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEE :help: :(

I'm thinking NOW might be a good time to start the Ditropan!!

Seriously, I'm in soooooo much pain now. My bladder can't hold even the tiniest amount of urine without spasming like crazy. The urgency is unreal.

I'm praying the Elmiron doesn't take 3 months or so to start working. And I REALLY pray that the Ditropan helps and doesn't make me retain. I don't want to be cathed under any circumstances right now.

[theclownster]

Personally, I'd go ahead and try the ditropan and see what happens. If it makes things worse, then stop it immediately. The only way to know for certain if it will help is to try it - so on that note - I want to wish you lots of luck.

I hope that you are feeling much better soon!!!!
Take Care!

Hugs~
Jennifer

[Dee74]

*UPDATE *

I took two Ditropan yesterday and one today. So far, so good. No retention or anything. I just feel really groggy, but I don't know what's causing it. Oh well. The pain hasn't gone away yet but I think I might be able to blame that on last night's dinner. We had to go out to eat with my husband's family.. the WHOLE family. We do it every year and grandma pays for pizza for everyone. I did take 2 prelief with it and only ate two small slices, but I was still in a bit more pain last night. Today it's not AS bad as it was last night before bed, but it's still there. I might take a pyridium today.

[daydreamer]

I took Ditropan XL for a month to see if it would help, and I had to take it in the evening because it made me so tired. It was the only new thing at the time, so I knew it was from that. Hope you're feeling better soon...I haven't been brave enough to try pizza yet. :)

[Sandra11]

I thinkit takes a while for the ditropan to work..not sure..but i always take the ditropan right before bed..dont realy notice any grogginess or anything like that?