need help and turning to you

[afsana]

hi my name is afsana and i have been a board member for a while just have not posted until now. i have ic and various other conditions as so many here have. i do have a question and need some advice from those who can give direction. i have terrible allergies i mean blown out kind and because of this i have ear problems. is there an allergy medication that is ic friendly-most meds disrupt my bladder disease so is there anything you guys take that will maybe help my bladder and ear problems i am loosing my hearing and would like to see if you all can help me with this and the ic. my bladder is not friendly and makes me sad most of the time. i am trying to address the issue of allergies and what may work for me and what has worked for you. i am on sudifed right now over the counter and it helps my ear problem but my bladder is mad. much appreciation for just listening to me thank you kindly from a fellow sufferer. afsana

[vm]

It's frustrating to try and find medications that won't upset our bladders, huh?

Sudafed is a decongestant and seems to irritate the bladders of a lot of IC patients. There is an antihistamine that many of us take for our IC - hydroxyzine. It comes in the brand names Vistaril and Atarax. If you've not tried them before you might ask your doctor about them. They actually help bladder symptoms for many of us.

I hope you find something that helps. :kissing:

[afsana]

oh my gosh my bladder is on fire from the sudafed. thank you and i will see my primary doctor this week and ask to be switched. can you tell me how the med works for you bladder and what stregth you are on so i will be able to ask for this medication. i am so happy to hear there may be some help for me and working for my ears and bladder at the same time is a good thing. vm thank you

[vm]

Sure. This info. is from the ICN online Patient Handbook - at this link: www.ic-network.com/handbook

Antihistamines: ATARAX & VISTARIL

Mast cells are one of the body's first lines of defense against substances and invading organisms. Skin, nasal passages, and the gastrointestinal tract are all inhabited by mast cells. When you have a cold or suffer from fever, mast cells react to pollen or a virus by producing histamine and other substances. This leads to pain, inflammation and swelling.

Biopsies of some interstitial cystitis bladders, particularly ulcerative IC, have been found to have unusual numbers of mast cells. There is also speculation that mast cells in IC bladders do not function normally. In any case, antihistamine treatment in IC is aimed at stopping the "histamine-mast cell-inflammation" cycle in the bladder.

Atarax® and Vistaril® (generic name: Hydroxyzine HCL or Pomoate) are believed to block the activation of mast cells (12). Hydroxyzine has been shown in scientific studies to be very effective for IC patients, particularly patients with a history of allergies. Often used in conjunction with Elmiron, Hydroxyzine is now one of the most important therapies for IC patients.

The most common complaint of patients taking these drugs is that they cause drowsiness, dry mouth or irritability. Some people find that their drowsiness decreases in a few days. Hydroxyzine pomoate may be better tolerated than hydroxyzine HCL in some patients.

[catlover2]

Atarax and Vistaril made me too drowsy. My urogynecologist said Singulair also helps IC patients with allergies but does not have drowsiness as a side effect.

[tigger_gal]

you beat me to it catlover.. I was about to suggest hydroxizine (same meds you posted) also benadryl..... I take 75 mg of hydroxzine a night.
godd luck and I hope you feel better soon..

[rosesitty]

I can't take hydroxizine, makes me have water and urine retention. The doc just prescribed Allegra and I've been taking Benedryl at night. Sudefed is like acid to me.

[tigger_gal]

isn't benadryl and hydroxzine the same thing?? there must be an added ingredent in the hydroxizine that makes you retain... sorry it don't work for you.

[irishnan3]

I agree with you CatLover, I also use Singular and Zyrtec-D for severe allergies and Asthma. The doctor told me that both of these medications would help with my IC. He proclaimes that the Singular works better then any of the other meds.??? So I've been using it everyday. He wanted me to take the Singular at bedtime, but it kept me awake. So now I take it in the morning and I seem to be doing fine with it. I also started taking Elivil 25 mgs. at bedtime. I only have been waking up once a night to pee:woohoo: But I feel very sleeply during the day. Is anyone else using Elivil? I'll take the sleepyness over peeing 4-5 x's a night but I'm hoping this will pass. The pain I have in my Kidney area seems to be a little less to. Doctor said Elivil blocks nerve pain I hope this is what is happening. It is a slight relief and I'll take what ever i can get. Here's to pain free day's ladies....