Benadryl

[classics]

I'm starting to take over the counter generic Benadryl in combination with Elmiron and Elavil. Has anyone found any benefits taking Benadryl? Would I notice any difference right away, within a few days, or does it take as long as the Elavil does to start working?

Dr. prescribed 25 mg. four times a day for the Benadryl, but I seem to be able to only get three in, one at breakfast, lunch and a bedtime. My mouth has been very dry, but that's about it. But then again, I've only been taking it for three days.

Is Benadry just as effective as Atarax or other antihistaimine medications?

[classics]

I'm having some improvement since starting the Benadryl. I take it in combination with Amitryptiline (25 mg.) and Elmiron. My main symptom is urethral burning and I noticed that I haven't used any of my "ice balloons" in the freezer all week. I also drank some pop yesteday and it didn't bother me. Today I tried a half cup of coffee with added water and I did notice a pressure feeling after.

I have tried taking both Elmiron and Amitriptyline and just Elmiron alone for the past four months, but adding the antihistamine seems to be helping. The only problem I've encountered is very bad constipation, so I got some "Smooth Move" tea and that takes care of that.

I had called my urologist and asked about the anihistamines and then he prescribed it. If it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't have known about trying it. Thank you.

[ICNDonna]

I'm glad it's working for you. Just a suggestion, but if you take it with each meal, then at bedtime, you will have your four doses in. That's what I do when I have something that is ordered four times a day. I usually stay up pretty late so it works okay.

Donna

[Knitstuff]

hmm, so maybe the Benadryl I'm taking for my blasted allergies will help me with the IC as well, yay!

Jen, hoping for a good hard frost to kill off the leaves and such in the air around here!

[AmandaRN]

My doctor started me on clariton once a day. I don't know if it works. I've been in a major flare foe 1 1/2 weeks. I also started elmiron and elavil . I hope that they will work.

[bunnykinb]

I'm glad Benedryl came up here. I started taking 25 mg at night since last Thursday night for my ears to dry up since I had an ear/sinus infection. Since Friday night through today (Wednesday) I haven't had any urethra pain. Thank God. So I don't know if the Benedryl is helping. Prior to taking Benedryl, I had been having major urethra burning for 2 weeks and it wasn't because of eating something. I also am trying to increase my intake because I am thin and need to gain weight.

Even though my ears have cleared, I think I'll continue to take Benedryl. I can't take it during the day because it makes me real sleepy.

bunnykinb

[Julie B]

Can I suggest something to everyone who is adding Benedryl or any over the counter med? PLEASE just call the doctor and get it put into your charts......for a few reasons....

1) Be safe: let the doctor decide if there is a chance for any drug interaction or treatment interaction, or long term consequences (I always say if the doctor decides, then I am not at fault)

and 2) Spread the word. If something like this is WORKING for you, then maybe some of the doctor's other patients could be helped. I know that when I started atarax I started using my kid's liquid formula because I knew it knocked them out and I was starved for sleep. When it had a positive effect on my IC, I sheepishly went to my uro and told him what I had been doing, but that it had worked. He wrote out the Rx right there, told me that he had heard that could help, and since then atarax has become one of the IC staples.

Hugs!

[bunnykinb]

My primary care doctor told me to take Benedryl, she already knows I have IC. I'll have to ask the uro if Benedryl is okay to take on a continual basis. In August, I didn't have any IC symptoms at all and I was on Cysta-Q. I asked the uro about Cysta-Q and he said he never heard about it. He thought if I wasn't having any pain, then why give me the heparin instills. But, I insisted because soon after, the urethra pain started all over again.

I have been pain free for 1 week and hopefully counting on more good days while taking Benedryl. If I last until Dec 2 (my next heparin), there could be some hope for me. Although, I wouldn't say that is remission because to me being in remission means completely being free of pain and having to take any instills, meds etc.

My thoughts,
bunnykinb

[Stella1609]

So are people experiencing improvement with all kinds of antihistamines? I take Allegra for inhalant allergies; I wonder if it helps my IC too.

[bunnykinb]

I was taking Allergra, but didn't notice any improvement. But, since taking Benedryl, I have been thankfully, pain free for over a week now. I don't know if it is a coincidence or what. I will have to ask my uro on this next week at my 4th heparin instillation.

bunnykinb

[ICLori]

You know, I didn't experience improvement that I could tell with either Atarax or Benadryl, BUT - another med that is used for Asthma and severe allergies, called Singulair, which works in a different way from the other antihistamines, DID work for me. I don't know that it's a cure or anything, but it made enough of a difference that I'm finally comfortable and sleeping well at night etc.

They've done research that has shown that in many cases of IC, an allergic component (mast cells, etc.) is involved, and so it makes sense that antihistamines or similar meds (Singulair, Tagamet) would help some people.

Blessings, Lori

[ICLori]

Here's a blurb about why Singulair might work even if other antihistamines might not have (because Singulair isn't really an antihistamine, it works to block another chemical produced during allergies....)

What actually happens during an allergic response?

When you come into contact with an allergen, or a trigger, your body produces higher levels of certain types of substances. You may have heard of one type, histamine. Another type is called leukotrienes (loo-koh-TRY-eens). Leukotrienes play an important role in causing allergy symptoms.

These types of substances signal your body to respond to allergens with symptoms such as:

Stuffy nose
Runny nose
Sneezing
Itchy, watery eyes
A drip in the back of the throat (postnasal drip) that may cause coughing

The medical term for these symptoms is allergic rhinitis. You probably know it better as hay fever or, simply, seasonal allergies. Most currently available oral allergy medicines work by blocking histamine. SINGULAIR is a different way to treat seasonal allergies because it blocks leukotrienes instead of blocking histamine. SINGULAIR is the only medicine approved to treat seasonal allergies that specifically targets this particular underlying cause of allergy symptoms.

[bunnykinb]

Hmm, maybe Benedryl might work on some people while Singular may help others. Maybe it's the person's own chemistry that determines what is beneficial. I'll have to keep it in mind about asking on the Singular. My uro originally said that he is a believer in Prelief, but that did nothing for me.

Thank you for the information.

bunnykinb

[MANDY309]

I'm very glad to hear about Singulair! I have year round allergies and have been taking Allegra, but it doesn't seem to help my IC. It gets so bad sometimes (difficulty swallowing, post nasal drip) that I occasionally take Benadryl (usually at night since it makes me very sleepy). I'm wondering now if my problem is because of my allergies. I didn't have this problem until we moved here about five years ago...and then I started getting UTI's and now IC. I plan to find another doctor next month and will mention Singulair. In the mean time, I'm trying to watch what I eat and drink. I'm currently taking Cipro for a UTI, and it's not any fun!

[Serenity]

Since were on the topic of antihistamine my uro just prescribed me Hydroxyzine, anyone on it? I just picked it up from the pharmacy and nervous about taking ANYTHING right now until I've been diagnosed... (real weird about taking prescription medicine) Should I be worried about taking it and are there any success stories out there with regards to this particular antihistamine? Thanks

[bunnykinb]

It's funny, everyone seems to be taking antihistamines. I asked my uro about taking Singular or even Benedryl. He said all antihistamines will eventually irritate the bladder which seems odd because there have been people who have found relief in combination with their other meds. I really don't understand. I took Benedryl for 3 weeks and felt better, then the pain came back again.

bunnykinb

[Serenity]

I've been taking Hyrdoxzyine for about a week now and it hasen't done a thing for me. In fact at times I seem to be getting worse; not sure if it's the antihistamine or something else. I thought I would give it another week and see if anything changes for the better. I still however have not be formally diagnosed with IC and I am not on anything else, so I am wondering whether it is effective by itself.

[bunnykinb]

Serenity,

Maybe the hydroxyzine is irritating you. Why were you prescribed it? Are you feeling symptoms of IC and have you mentioned this to your doctor. I think it is all how our bodies respond to meds. No fun experimenting believe me.

I'm still waiting for relief.

bunnykinb

[Serenity]

Yes I am feeling symptoms of IC and awaiting a Cysto Jan 4th to confirm or rule out IC. My Uro really feels I have IC but the diet doesn't seem to do anything for me and for the last two months I have been in such horrible discomfort... I am SO frustrated... It all started with what my Gyno thought was a UTI. But after taking the dosage of anti's the symptoms were still there. She cultured my urine to see if any infection was present but the lab results indicated there was bacteria present but no infection... She then prescribed me the "Daddy Anti's" in hopes it would kill the bacteria present but the only thing it did for me was give me a yeast infection. So after all that she referred me a Uro, which again believes that my symptoms which is urgency, frequency and pressure that I have IC.

[LJINSD]

Hi everyone,

I went to Dr. Parsons about a month ago and he put me on Atarax. Dr. Parsons has a guest lecture on this site and mentioned something about antihistamines.

http://www.ic-network.com/guestlectures/parsonstranscript.html

<icnmgrjill> You've also championed the use of hydroxyzine with or without Elmiron. Can you tell us more about your recent observations??

<drparsons> For years now, I've had both drugs and used them extensively in several thousand patients. I would simply summarize by saying that Elmiron is the cornerstone to rebuild the bladder surface but allergies are frequently what is breaking it down and you need hydroxyzine for that. Give me hydroxyzine and Elmiron and I can make 90% of my patients better and keep them better. At least 70% of patients need both medications and they will always need both.

Most of my patients tend to stop the Atarax but they will pay a price if they flare during the allergy. They will take three months to really improve again. One bad allergy flare and they usually listen to me. You only need a low dose hydroxyzine.. 25 mgs at bedtime. I think that it is far more important than Elavil.

[bunnykinb]

I don't know why my uro said that antihistamines can irritate the bladder. Again, there are so many people who have found help along with other meds to reduce the pain of IC. My uro is easy to talk to, but I sometimes wonder if I should go to another uro.

Serenity,

I started out a year ago Dec. 2003 with continuous trips to the doctor thinking I had a UTI. I was put on antibiotics, cultures were done and all would come back negative. This continued until March 2004 when I finally asked my primary care doctor for a referral to a urologists. Which I saw in April 2004 and didn't have my hydrodistention/cystoscopy until June 2004. So, for months I kept getting bouts of agonizing urethra pain and pelvic pain. I went out on disability from April to June because I couldn't take the pain at work and hadn't been diagnosed at that time. Along with everyone else at this website, truly understand your pain and frustration. And, even though some of us still cannot be relieved of our pain, there is alot of support here for you.

Take care,
bunnykinb