Elmiron and Heparin

[littleQ]

My urologist told me that Heparin is the strong form of Elmiron. And
he told me if I don't get good respond from Heparin, I would probably
will not get good response from Elmiron as well. Has anyone, who didn't
respond well to Heparin, but has good respond with Elmiron?

[Dixiefireball]

well he is right my doctor didn't tell me that in the beginning but i found out on my own. heparin is a miacle drug for me that and marcaine that goes in the heparin for at home treatments it has helped me so much.
I don't know what the others will say but i can only speak for myself.
wishing you lots of luck
sending you hugs and prayers
Rhonda

[bunnykinb]

I have heparin instillations monthly at the uro's office. I was still having pelvic pain and urethral pain at times. I am now taking 100 mg a day of Elmiron while continuing the instillations. I am suppose to work my way to 2 Elmiron's if possible by the 3rd month.

What form of heparin were you asking about?

Thanks,
bunnykinb

[littleQ]

I am talking about the heparin/lidocain/bi-carbon instillation. I tried two instillations last December. My post-void irritation/pain were worse after the instillations and I also got inching/irritation on the genital area that last two weeks

[bunnykinb]

My uro never mentioned heparin being the strong form of Elmiron. I get my heparin mixed with lidocaine for instills. From this website, there are many people who do the heparin instills, take Elmiron and other meds. You should ask your doc on that. Sometimes it takes a combination of methods. Right now, I keep getting a swollen feeling in my throat, so I have to stop Elmiron for a week. If it is an allergic reaction, then the uro said the feeling should go away in 3 days. I really hope it isn't an allergy because I really want to give Elmiron hope.

bunnykinb

[Sherry5]

I couldn't handle the instillations at all. My DR didn't use Heparin, she just took one of my elmiron capsules and mixed it with water and put it in my bladder. The cathederization gives me infections. I did it three times a week for less than two weeks and got a horrible infection. It wasn't worth it to me because she was just using regular elmiron, which I take orally three times a day anyway. I tolerate elmiron very well, though, and wonder if it would help to up my oral dosage. I have always had a problem with cathederization. I can't seem to handle it at all. Does anyone have experience with this?

[Dianne]

Both elmiron and heparin instills and even tried subQ heparin briefly but all three made me significantly worse.

[dawnfawn]

Elmiron is in the heparin family molecularly. It is not heparin. You can look up its qualities on the web page, or you used to be able to. It is 1/18 as strong as heparin. It is however quite a different drug.

[bunnykinb]

Sherry,

What if your doctor did the instillations less frequently? I only get the instills monthly and my uro gives me Levoquin to reduce infection after each instillation.

I went to the doctor yesterday because my throat still had a swollen throat feeling. My throat was swollen a bit and I was given prednisone for 6 days. I don't know if it was the Elmiron or not. I am hoping it is not the Elmiron because I am getting tired of doing the instills. Nobody has responded yet on the swollen throat feeling thread I posted. Boo.

bunnykinb