OAB pills for treating IC

[stargal34]

Hello, i am 20 yrs old adn jsut got diagnosed with IC through a hydro/cysto last thursday.my symptoms are, frequency (up to 40 times a day), never feel empty in my bladder, really bad pressure in my bladder, adn back pain.. My Doc. hasn't talked about a treatment plan w/ me yet until my next visit. i called his office though bc i am in a lot of pain and needed something for the pressure that i get on my bladder. Nurse said He wanted to put me on vesicare again which is a OAB pill that i was on for a month before i was diagnosed with IC (he wanted me to try OAB pills for a month to see if i had OAB) it didnt help at all, it acutally made me feel worse, made the pressure worse, and i had to pee just as much as before, but i couldnt start a urine stream as easily... nurse then said ok , i will call you back and ask for something else. he then prescribed Enabelx (SP) which is anotehr OAB pill. Is it common to use OAB pills for treating IC and helping with its symptoms? i am skepital, bc i dont have an overactive bladder nor did the pills help me when i was on them before, so why would they help me now. Any advice on any treatments to as k about when i go to my appointment, i feel so overwhelmed. Sorry this is soo long....

thanks,
Katie

[SharonA]

:hi: Katie...

The first med that I was given to try was Ditropan :shake: and then the uro had me try Detrol. :shake: Both of them caused bad retention and I went off of them. I think they try these first just in case they do help. I know there are some here who do take them.

Have you checked out the Patient Handbook yet? In it, you will find a lot of information about different meds/treatments. It would be a good thing to look at before your appointment. You could also print some of the information and take it with you. That way, you would have kind of a check list of things to talk about with the doctor. Here is the link:

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

BTW...:welcome: to the ICN.

[leelee88]

Katie,
First let me say I am so sorry about your Dx.

Now about the OAB meds. I have tried all of them and the enablex helped some with the spasms but did cause hesitation and retention. I finally stopped the OAB meds and told the Dr I just dont think I benefit from them. Btw they were not helping my frequency.

Now what has helped with my pain/ frequency is Tofranil (tricyclic antidepressants)

and as far as the pressure feeling that is probably due to the inflammation that IC can cause and what has helped that for me is Hydroxyzine<Atarax

Hydroxyzine has been found to:

decrease nocturia (night time voiding)
decrease daytime frequency
decrease pain (burning, pressure,)

These are the meds that have helped me out.

Now I strongly suggest you listen to your Dr. But you can do your research on these medicines and talked to your Dr about them.
Good luck..

[SandyRN]

I took Ditropan and Detrol and they both caused me to have a LOT of problems starting my urine stream as well. I also began swelling in my hands and feet so had to stop taking them all together. They didn't help my frequency or urgency either.

LeeLee (Rhonda) gave you great advice for medications. The only thing I would add is that a lot of people take Elavil and that also seems to help the pain and frequency.

Hope you feel better soon.

Sandy

[Claredale]

I am the same way, One of them did work for a very few days, and then I started with the retention. My aunt is able to use Flomax. Her main problem is retention. It didn't work for me, but that may be something you can talk to your doctor about.

I also found that sometimes when my spasms were hard to deal with, I would insert a valium as close to my uretha as possible. Of course you have to lie down for 30 minutes to an hour, but it works when I am spasing and can't empty.

T83

[Buggie]

Might be over stepping but time to see another URO. My first two urologist did nothing but put me on every OAB med out there. And they caused MAJOR RETENTION for me to where I could not urinate and then my urologist said he couldn't help me anymore. That is when someone recommed Dr Evans and he has made my life so much better. I will not go to anyone else! Where do you live? Maybe someone on the posts can recommend a good IC Urologist. Good luck!

[stargal34]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the advice. Buggie, i really dont like this doc, doesnt really listen or care about what my symtoms arei wish i could go see another uriologist or one that specializes in IC. but i am on the Pennsylvania's state's medical assistance so most of the doc. dont accept this insurance. (i am a student ful time, so i cant get insurance through a job and school doesnt offer it.) there are only a couple of uros in the area who take the insurance and they are all booked up for atleast 2 months or not accepting new patients :(

[theclownster]

Hi there! I just wanted to offer a different perspective. I take OAB meds as a succesfull part of my treatment in addition to other medication. We did have to try a few different OAB meds to discover which ones wouold work with me without causing retention. I use Ditropan xl 15mg at bedtime. I did try Enablex less than a year ago. It worked for a short while but did not seem to be as helpful as Ditropan XL. I also drink lots of water which really helps with my OAB symptoms (believe it or not drinking more helps). So, I guess I'm one of the people who have found relief by using OAB meds. I also take Atarax, Elavil, and birth control pills that help with my symptoms. OAB meds by themselves would not be enough to manage my IC.

I hope this is helpful. Good luck as you try to find a better treatment plan.

Take care,
Jennifer

[my3boysmcr]

Hi everyone, thanks for all the advice. Buggie, i really dont like this doc, doesnt really listen or care about what my symtoms arei wish i could go see another uriologist or one that specializes in IC. but i am on the Pennsylvania's state's medical assistance so most of the doc. dont accept this insurance. (i am a student ful time, so i cant get insurance through a job and school doesnt offer it.) there are only a couple of uros in the area who take the insurance and they are all booked up for atleast 2 months or not accepting new patients :(

Where in PA are you? I am in northeastern PA and have found a urogyn that I am very happy with. She finally diagnosed my IC last week and I am going for my first DMSO instill 11/5. I have started Elmiron (just yesterday) and am trying Detrol LA as I still go some 25 times a day and have been getting up at least 4 times a night, many nights more. I have found that I still feel the need to go often and am having trouble getting it going when I get to the bathroom. It's almost more annoying that just going all the time.

[stargal34]

Hi, i live in nE pa too! i am in wilkes-barre, which is 30 min awy from Scranton pa. you sound exactly like me i was just diagnosed with IC last week to, after having had these symptoms for about 8 months. i go around 30 times a day (Urgh, it sucks!) and go the bathroom at night so much.... drives me nuts, dont get any sleep! what doc. do you go to? i really need to find a new one!

[my3boysmcr]

Hi, i live in nE pa too! i am in wilkes-barre, which is 30 min awy from Scranton pa. you sound exactly like me i was just diagnosed with IC last week to, after having had these symptoms for about 8 months. i go around 30 times a day (Urgh, it sucks!) and go the bathroom at night so much.... drives me nuts, dont get any sleep! what doc. do you go to? i really need to find a new one!

I go the Lehigh Valley Center for Urogynecology and Incontinence Management in Bethlehem. The nurse practitioner that I see here referred me there when she suspected IC. I am in E Stroudsburg and there are no decent specialists here. So we trek down to Allentown/Bethlehem for specialists. I did see a urologist here in Nov. 2005 and he did a quick cysto in the office and declared that there was some inflammation likely due to recurrent UTI's and sent me on my way with a promise to give me a script for meds if my frequency didn't let up. Anyway, if you would like more info, please feel to e-mail me privately at my3boysmcr@aol.com

[Zygala87]

Stargal If there is no way to find a different Urologist (I would try hard even if it takes a long car trip) see if you can get this Doctor to listen to you. I was where you are today but was more lucky. I had a hydrodistention which some people say does not help them at all. It made all the difference in the world for me plus the Dr. put me on Elmiron. I never wake up at night and I am about as normal as possible with IC. The diet is VERY important and I stick to it. The Interstitial Cystitis survival guide by Doctor Moldwin has the most answers I have found yet. It does not cost much on amazon. I am so very sorry you are dealing with this. Please believe there is help out there. Keep in touch, we care, Hugs, Ziggy