elmiron on empty stomach??

[Nadine_in_MA]

My Elmiron says to take it on an empty stomach. Do I have to do this for it to be effective? It is very tough for me to do this, as I constantly eat small meals for other conditions I have, and all my other meds have to be taken on a full stomach. Please let me know how you all take it!
Love and hugs,
Nadine :bonk:

[dyno]

When I was taking Elmiron I did try to do that as much as possible, however, there were times I just couldn't do it and I think it was OK. If I remember right, the reason it is prescribed that way is that was how it was tested in trials and presented to the FDA. So they are required to prescribe it that way. I know I have seen others on here that have taken it with food and it has not affected them. Talk to your Dr. and see what he/she says and just try to do the best you can with it.

[bunnykinb]

If something says may cause nausea, the pharmacists always recommends to me to take the medicine with a small amount of food. Elmiron can cause nausea, although I haven't taken it yet. I also read from someone here that she opens up the capsule and drops the powder in some water. That has relieved some side effects from Elmiron.

Best wishes,
bunnykinb

[DetroitMel]

I'm a definite grazer (I nibble throughout the day) so taking Elmiron on an empty stomach is hard for me, too! I'm slightly anemic and little hypo-glycemic, so it's hard for me to go several hours without munching on something. But I do at least once a day take the Elmiron with a relatively empty stomach (afternoon is easiest for me). My doc told me that the reason is that Elmiron tends to bind with food and sticks with the food as it is expelled from your system (meaning it doesn't go where it's supposed to, it just goes in one end and out the other). So I try as often as possible to take it on an empty stomach so that it gets to my bladder and does it's job...

Mel

[Alexa]

Well, this is what my doctor said to do. But she also said that if Elmiron upsets your stomach, you can take it with a couple of crackers. My doc was saying that if your stomach is empty, the Elmiron will be more effective, but she didn't think a couple of crackers would make a huge difference. Personally I would do that, and Elmiron worked wonders for me!!!

Take care

[vm]

When I first started taking Elmiron I was pretty religious about taking it on an empty stomach. Now the first dose of the day generally is and then I don't worry about the last 2 doses - I take them with food or without. It is working as well for me now as it did before. :)

[rjyoon]

I sometimes take mine during the night (hey, I'm up to go to the bathroom anyway!), when my stomach is empty.

[XoChelsey03Xo]

I take 2 elmiron's right when I get up in the morning and then 2 right before I go to bed. It's hard taking the one at night because your suppose to have an empty stomach two hours before taking elmiron. Chelsey

[Dixiefireball]

NO! you don't have to take it on an empty stomach doctor has told me this and the drug store.
its best too but as long as it is getting into your system that is all that matters.
I still couldn't take it so i changed to the heparin and marcaine treatments instead but its best to do it by mth if you can.
Good Luck hon.
Rhonda

[~*~Christine~*~]

Empty stomach on a perscription meds is take 2 hours after eating and don't eat for half an hour later. After being on Elmiron for over 4 years I've found that the perfect time is really take an hour after eating and don't eat for 30 minutes after :)
I so know what you mean about the having to take other meds with food while taking Elmiron, it can be confussing and frustrating <__<

[Cricketmk3]

I think the reason you should take it on an empty stomach is because it's more effective that way. It won't make you sick or anything if your stomach is not empty. I take my first two in the morning so that's no problem. Sometimes I don't take the last dose because I never have an empty stomach at night so what's the use? :c)

[ICNDonna]

If you're having difficulty taking it on an empty stomach, please discuss it with your doctor. Some physicians feel it's important to take it that way; others feel it's okay to take with a snack. When I took it, I took my first dose an hour before breakfast, and the last dose at bedtime so I know at least two of the doses were on an empty stomach. The middle dose was harder to schedule.

Donna

[vm]

I definitely think if it is between taking it on a full stomach and not taking it at all you should go ahead and take it on a full stomach. The reason it is prescribed on an empty stomach is b/c that is the way they did it in the study they conducted on the drug.

We have had big debates on this board from time to time on whether it HAS to be taken on an empty stomach or not. I've not seen a study yet where the point of the study was to see if it made a difference one way or another. It is just prescribed that way b/c the people in that original study took it that way.

That said, please DO take it the way YOUR doctor recommends. As Donna said there is a big difference of opinion on it. When I started it I was super religious about always taking it on an empty stomach. I did that for at least a year. Now it really varies and I really don't worry about whether my stomach is empty or not --- and it is still working as well as it did back then. In fact it works better (I don't think that has anything to do with the food issue --- I think it is b/c the longer I have been on it the more it is helping.)

Take it the way your doctor tells you to, but don't freak out if a dose is taken on a full stomach. :)

[vm]

And if anyone knows of a study where they looked at the difference between taking it on a full stomach or an empty stomach --- please link it. I'm not being a smart-alec, I would really be interested. That way I could pass along the most accurate info. :)

[XkaraX]

i was having a hard time with this also...i mentioned it to the nurse during one of my instills and she told me that i didn't have to take it on an empty stomach...yay!

some people flare though if they take it with food.

my stomach is never empty so i'm glad i don't! :)

xoxox

[XoChelsey03Xo]

I'm going to ask my doctor about this. My uro told me to take it on an empty stomach, but my night time does is much harder. The morning dose is easy because I take it soon as I get up. Although sometimes if I wake up a little later I forget to take my morning dose. Chelsey

[twiggy]

I take Nexium and this is helping me tolerate the elmiron. I take the nexium about a couple of hours after the elmiron in the morning.

[cybersis]

I started on Elmiron last night and the information I received about the drug was from my pharmisist (?) not my doctor. He said that the drug is taken on an empty stomach with lots of water to help the absorption into the bladder.
I like the idea of taking one in the morning and two at night, would help with the empty stomach anyways. Think I will call my regular GP and ask him about it.

[ConnieM]

This post is just what I was wondering. I just started the Elmiron this week, and this counting down the hours between meds/eating is driving me nuts already! Like many said, the first dose isn't hard, especially since I have to get the kids ready to get out to the school bus, so I can't eat till an hour after I am up anyway. The afternoon one isn't that bad either, it is the evening one that bothers me most. Nothing like telling someone they CAN'T eat (gotta wait two hours to get that empty stomach, then wait another hour afterwards, ugh) to make them really start craving food! Especially watching the entire family start snacking...

I take my Elmiron three times a day, and I assumed you had to try and space it out evenly, one pill at three different times. I read that some people double a dose up so they only take it twice a day... has anyones doc said this is okay, or just what you have to do to get the stuff in you? It's hard for me since I don't even have any symptoms right now (just had a couple flares this summer while on South Beach low carb diet, now all is calm). I just got officially diagnosed a couple weeks ago after hydrocysto with biopsy, and the doctor is trying to prevent the complications that IC can bring long term. I think it would be easier for me to be good about this if I knew it would bring me relief of symptoms rather than a vague promise that it will help keep me symptom free.

I will call my doc and ask about the empty stomach issue, and whether I can double a dose to only take twice a day, but was wondering what other people had heard also... Thanks!

[LJINSD]

Hi Connie,

My doctor has me taking 4 pills a day (2 pills twice a day). I take two in the morning when I get up at 4:00am and two at 4:00pm. I also found it hard to take them 3 times a day. I talked to my doctor and he switched me to 2 times day.

Take care,
Linda

[bunnykinb]

How is everyone doing in regards to getting nauseated or dizzy? I'm suppose to take 1 pill twice a day. After taking my first dose, I was extremely nauseated. I took my next evening dose with the capsule broken opened and dissolved in water and with a light snack. I woke up even more nauseated and dizzy.

bunnykinb

[daydreamer]

I only felt yucky for the first few days, and then I was fine after that. You may also be be coming down with something, or if you get nauseous when you ovluaate or have your period, it may be that too.

[DetroitMel]

I was actually surprised that I didn't get sick when I started taking Elmiron a year ago, seeing as how EVERYTHING tends to make me nauseous. But with the Elmiron, I had no side effects at all! :bonk: Nutty.

[bunnykinb]

Today I'm nauseated, but haven't taken any Elmiron. I tend to get nauseated and asked the doctor, but sometimes they are not helpful. I'll have to give Elmiron more days I guess, but I can't come into work all dizzy and sicky.

Also, I need to gain weight, so on those nauseated days, I won't have to worry about looking like a sketeton.

bunnykinb

[lindy lou]

My understanding of the way Elmiron works is that by taking it on an empty stomach with lots of water, it maximizes the amount absorbed by the bladder. That's why spacing it out between meals is best but not the only way to take it. I read somewhere that only 30% is absorbed by the bladder so a constant supply is important also. I also read that the half-life, amount of time when half of the drug is still in your system, is 20 hours so there is some flexibility. For me, it has made me more conscious of when and how much I eat. I want every molecule of that Elmiron to do its thing in my bladder and so really try to stick to the 2 hour after and one hour before pattern.

I have diabetes with reactive hypoglycemia so it is important that I have 5 or 6 small meals each day. That has been the challenge. I keep a one-week pill sorter with my "empty stomach" meds on the bathroom counter and take the first dose before I climb in the shower. By the time I shower, dress and make my lunch, it is nearly one hour. Then I take the rest of the morning meds with breakfast. I manage a morning snack and eat lunch about noon. I take the afternnoon dose about 2:30 or 3:00 so I can still have a light snack when I get home from school. Then dinner, and that varies, but somewhere between 5:30 and 7:00. If I take the last dose no later than 9:00, I can still get a light snack in before bed.

I realize everyone is different, but it makes sense to me to take it on the empty stomach and 3 times a day to maximize the effect of the drug and hopefully shorten the time it takes to show some results. There are times when we are with family and I have little control over the meal schedule. I just do the best I can and even if it means taking the Elmiron with one of my snacks or closer to a meal time, I get them all in. It takes a consious effort to get the schedule right, but I need all the help I can get to make this work for me. Good luck to you.

Linda

[bunnykinb]

Linda,

Did you get nauseated only after taking your first capsule? Or dizzy? Or even a sharp pain in your chest? I know that chest pains aren't a side effect listed, but maybe someone else had that. I really want to feel better. I'm only suppose to take Elmiron 2 x a day. Maybe I did give up too soon.

Hope all have a Merry Christmas.

[Hope]

I took elmiron for about 5 years, hardly ever on an empty stomach. Always with a snack. It worked great for me.

[Betsie]

me too! :)

[windwalker]

Nausea and dizziness hit me too when I started Elmiron, they did go away, just took a little bit, the nausea went away first. Doc had told me empty stomach, but if I keep feeling sick after taking it, to just eat a cracker or two and it shouldn't be a problem. Bunnykinb, I did have chest pains a while back on them, but it was from stress (my father in law was in town from Florida), nothing came out on the EKG (i think thats the name of the test, they stick those things on you and monitor for a min or two then get that print out.). Hope you feel ok w/the meds soon.

[PenguinK]

I'm Hypoglycemic too, I graze all day. When I started the Elmiron about a month ago I had a whole schedule worked out on paper as to when to eat, when to take meds, etc... I wasn't going to work anyway, so I had free time between flares to do this.
I was taking Macrobid, Flomax, Pyridium, vicodin with food and trying to squeeze in the Elmiron at 7, 4, and 10. This meant I had to eat lunch by 1 or I screwed it up.(mine says 2-3 hours after food)
It is a pain, but the one I have the most problems with is the Flomax "1/2 hour after the same meal each day" -I never remember it and end up taking it 1 hour or 1.5 hours after dinner, which is never the same time in my household anyway. :bonk:
If the disease doesn't drive you crazy, the meds will!!!! :loco:

KK

[jrowley]

I beleive the reason why they have you take it on a empty stomach is so it goes directly from there to the bladder if you take it with food then it could get mixed with the other things in food and it will take longer for it to go to your bladder and do what it suppose to do. If your stomach is empty then when it reaches that spot it will automaticly send it directly out of your system through your urine which has to pass through your bladder without any other item mixed in it. Remember the reason for elmiron is for it to start coating your bladder so the acids from your urine dont cause the pain. So at all times possible try to take it on a empty stomach. I have my husband help me with reminders and he is learning to schedule his eating around my pill also. I usually take my first pill on a empty stomach, then instead of lunch I eat a brunch around 11:00 then take my second pill at 1:00, then the last one I take around 5:00 and we eat dinner around 6:00 or after as I like to have popcorn alot at night and this allows me to do that.

[SrMaggie]

The first time I took it, I had a dickens of a time trying to get the three doses in on an empty stomach. The morning was fine, but after that it was hit or miss. I never get a real lunch time so, I'd look at the clock - if I take it now I can't eat till.., but then if I eat now, I'll need to take it at...and that will be just before dinner... It was challenging.
I'm seeing another uro. He understood the problem and said take two when I get up, which is fine because I don't eat breakfast for quite awhile after that. And two at night. Sometimes I take it and then have a snack an hour or so later. But if I can't I just take it on whatever is in there.
Scientifically, I don't have a clue!

[ellienor]

I may get on Elmeron to try it soon.
I have a history of gastritus and stomach pain.
I really dont hear that much about it casusing stomach upset.. some but not much. this gives me hope that i may be able to tollerate it.
What is the story about breaking open the capsules?
is this ok to do, or would that upset the stomach even more?
Are the pills large or small?
thanks!

[windwalker]

The capsules aren't "horse pills" if that helps, they are not huge. Some ppl take it out of the cap and put it right in their water, because for some, the cap can upset their stomach (guessing because of what its made out of). Theres no problem taking it out of the cap and dumping it into water if you need to.

[ellienor]

I would use my empty gel caps and put some in those..

I have a problem with the cycstoproteck ( the one with glucosomine )
I would need to freeze them to prevent stomach upset and i would chock on them.
I think i will empty the liquid out and put them in smaller caps to freeze.
Have you tried this product?

[massagedoula]

I don't use cystoprotek but I use another suppliment that is just glucosamine, and the pills are not big at all. Maybe you can try to use individual suppliments instead of the all-in-one cystoprotek if the pill is too big?

[ellienor]

Doula-
that is what i did with the cysta-Q.

I called the company to see what they say.
It is a liquied in the pills so i see no reason why i cant divide the pill into the gel caps and then freeze.
did the glucosomine help you.?
There are other things in that too.....
How is your flair?
mine is a tad better... I am on my 10 foods list..
boring but i will do anything...

[emilyrose197377]

I have a very senstive stomach and also a bleeding ulcer I can't take anything on a empty stomach . I start elmiron tommorrow . I plan on not taking the capsule . Just put in water and if need be I will take it with crackers or something small..

[windwalker]

My pharmacist told me a cpl crackers wont affect it. I believe I read it binds w/food and so not as much gets into the bladder.

[tulsateacher]

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just had to tell you this made me laugh out loud--now what else can we do with that time we are up during the night?
hmmm, let's see: clean my dresser, pick up the dirty clothes, etc.
thanks for the grin
:)

[ellienor]

Emily
Please let me know how you do.
I also have contant stomach pains and cant take much meds.
I wish I could eat bananas cause they help my stomach.

[emilyrose197377]

Ellienor, I still have mild stomach problems from the elmiron but what I do is I don't swallow the capsules whole. I empty the medicine into some water and drink it the medicine is tasteless. I think that is why my stomach symptoms are mild if I took the whole capsule it would be severe. You also might want to try not taking with the elmiron but after the elmiron and acid reducer like zanatac otc or a script from your dr. if it is bad. I also think my stomach symptoms are mild also because I am on Prevacid 30 mg twice a day for my bleeding ulcer. Are you going for your procedure tommorrow what did your Dr. say?

Take Care
Kim

[ellienor]

Emily:
I cancelled it on the advice of the support group lady in tampa.
I got some atarax from my primary, by complaining about sneezing.
I took only 5 mg last night and I slept better and I think it did help the bladder. :)
I was in misery yesterday.
I called the uro nurse yesterday and told her i was not taking the potasuum test because of my flair.
I asked could he please work with me on this and give me 10 mg of elevil to get my pain under control. I also said I would like to have any cancer tests available to eliminate that possibility.
She got snipppy and said there is NO reason to give me the cancer - urine test when my urine tests perfect in the office.
I told her to please ask him anyway.
I have not heard from him yet.

So , in the meantime, this makes no sence to me, but the Atarax seems to have helped my stomach too'!
It felt so good this morning that i decided to take my first CytoProtek.
It tasts like doo doo, but I dont care . I spread it out on my toast and cottage cheese and ate it.
I am praying that It doesnt inialate my stomach.. so far so good although I feel slight heartburn coming on.
I have been on Nexuim for 1 year because of severe heartburn that burned my throat.
I could barely talk one year ago.
Now that is totally better,, 6 months ago i cut my nexuim dose to 1/2.
I broke the capsule open and split the balls into two empty caps.
I did great on the 20 mg dose each day, but my stomach still hurt.
I suspected that some of the stomach pain was CAUSED by the nexuim, so i started splitting the pills into 3 parts.
3 weeks ago I got off the nexuim all together and started taking a digestive enzyme with pepermint in it. My stomach immediatly felt PERFECT for the first time in years. :woohoo: I also started a stomach formula poweder that may have helped. That morning i took a pepcid ac instead of the nexuim.

BUt,, that was the same day my bladder flaired up big time. So, now I get to guess which of the stomach rememdys caused the bladder flair.

I have been dealing with the fact that i cant take my stomach remedys, not even pepcid. My stomach loves bananas and my bladder hates them.
But,, I MUST get my stomach pain better so i can take the bladder meds..
So that is my book for now.
I am going to take 10 mg of atarax tonight,, maybe 10 mg of elaval and keep on the cytoprotek.
MY support group lady has gotton herself under total remission with the cytoProtek.
I anyone has info on how to take the CytoProtek to avoid stomach upset, I would appreciate it.
I also have some carafate i may try before hand.

ellie

[emilyrose197377]

Ellie, good luck to you I hope your flare passes quickly. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Take Care
Kim

[sedavis]

I always take my one dose in the middle of th night when I get up to go to the bathroom. Take the other after lunch and before dinner. Sue

[ellienor]

Thanks Kim:

Its not easing up much but some.
I ate a bowl of rice dream ice cream and ... unless i am imaganing it,, I feel some releif.
How are you doing on the elmeron so far?
hows the stomch?
I just started on my 2nd cytoproteK.

[emilyrose197377]

I did It I shouldn't of done it but I drank my morning dose of Elmiron with Milk to coat my Stomach . With all my stomach problems my stomach can't take elmiron on an empty stomach . I just hope it does not affect the absorption of the elmiron . So far my stomach don't feel to bad.

Kim

[ellienor]

I read that people are still helped even if they eat a snack withe elmeron.

I felt pretty good this morning after the 5 mg of elavil ( although I feel very hung over )

I urinated at 8:30, then did my blueberry smoothy, then didnt have to pee again till 10:30. My urine was 8 oz.
Thats not too bad right? I mean my bladder has not totally shrunk or anything.

Anyway, i just peed again at noon, it was 7 oz, but now after 10 minutes I already feel uncomfortable pressure and that raw feeling.

Does this mean the elavil is wearing off, or the atarax is wearing off or is it just from the food moving thru me?

I took a ph choice yesterday and it seemed to make the pain worse after dinner..
man oh man
this is taking up my life.

[ellienor]

I wonder if i feel better in the morning because i dont keep urine in me then.
I get up about every hour and half to pee, so very little is in there when i do.

today i am going to pee every 1/2 hour ,, before i feel the reall urgent pressure and see if that helps.
any ideas?

Is that one way we can get out of a flair?

[emilyrose197377]

Ellienor, I am so sorry you are having problems with the urgency and frequencey. I can't give any advice on that because I don't have urgencey and frequencey with my ic. I just have the pain and burning. I pray the others are able to give you some good advice and you feel better soon with this flare.

(((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))
Kim

[emilyrose197377]

I don't what to do I can't keep elmiron down yesterday I was fine. But after I took my doseage this morning I got sick to my stomach again. Anyone have any suggestions how can I keep it down.


Kim

[patricia1]

Kim you are having such a hard time. Considering what you went through to get it the least it can do is act right on your tummy right....I was so in hopes it would do you good.

About keeping it down, could you have a touch of a bug??? I know you were taking it out of the capsule right...Are you taking it when you eat or on a empty tummy. Maybe you can either try taking it with food and if that does not work take it on a empty stomach. If you have tried all of that I am not sure what else to tell you. Maybe check with your doctor and see what they see. I hope things get better soon sending my warmest wishes your way and here is a cyber :grouphug: for you....

[emilyrose197377]

Patricia, I have been taking out of the capsule without food. But the last couple of days I have been taking it with milk. I called my Dr. she said eat a small snack with it . With all of my stomach problems it is better to have some absorption of elmiron that to tottally ruin my stomach.


Kim

[patricia1]

Kim I found this on the a internet site about Elmiron:

Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of pentosan. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood or blood vessel disease or other blood problems or

• Blockage or obstruction of the intestine or

• Polyps or

• Stomach ulcers-The risk of bleeding may be increased

• Liver disease or

• Spleen problems-Pentosan may not be broken down in the body as fast as it normally would; the chance of side effects may be increased


I think I read somewhere that you have stomach ulcers....If so this maybe why it is bothering your stomach so bad....Check into Okay...

[emilyrose197377]

Thanks patricia I will yes I have a bleeding gastric ulcer.

Kim