tell me why again?

[photomom]

Why I am taking an antidepressant and an antihistamein with the elmiron?

[ICNDonna]

Elmiron can take up to six months or longer to become effective --- and even then it is not always complete relief. Sometimes it can take combinations of medications to give us relief. Is the combination helping you to feel better?

Warm healing thoughts,
Donna

[vm]

<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.

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

Tricyclic Antidepressants: ELAVIL & TOFRANIL
Elavil® (amitryptyline) is a tricyclic antidepressant that, in low doses, is effective at relieving chronic pain by interfering with nerve activity. It is commonly prescribed for several chronic pain conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and fibromyalgia, two conditions that many IC patients also have. Its strength as a long-term pain management strategy, an essential part of an IC tool kit, makes it helpful in treating IC. It also may inhibit bladder spasms.
Several studies have reported a positive response with amitriptyline (9,10). Hanno (11) reports that amitriptyline was quite effective for patients who had not responded to hydrodistention and DMSO. Amitriptyline has side effects which merit consideration prior to taking it, including dry mouth, drowsiness and, for some patients, cardiac arrhythmias (irregular heart rate) and tachycardia (rapid heart rate).

Other antidepressants, such as Tofranil® (imiprimine), Prozac® and a host of others, may be options for physicians to consider. Amitriptyline, however, remains the most extensively tested medication of this type for IC.

http://www.ic-network.com/handbook/oral.html