Get your blood tested while on Elmiron!!!

[Crzycatlady]

Hi everybody!
It is very important to get blood work done while you are on Elmiron.
Have them check your liver function and blood cells at least every three months!
I hope I am not repeating something that's already been said, but I thought I would share my experience with Elmiron, maybe it will help someone. Elmiron did help me for a bit, but it caused more damage then good. I was just so desperate for relief from my IC that I over looked all the nasty side effects it was causing me. Every doctor I went to didn't know much about Elmiron, so they didn't know to check my blood. My wonderful nurse practioner was checking my hormones, when she found the problems.
I was on Elmiron for three years. During the time I was on Elmiron, I lost about 40 pounds due to constant nausea. I had constant runny diarhea, increased bleeding, and unknown to me, Elmiron was damaging my liver and my blood cells. It caused my white blood cells to seriously decrease, (Offical name is Leukopenia) I became anemic, and my blood work showed liver damage. With all of this and my health problems, it nearly killed me. Yes, I do have other medical conditions, (Some related to IC) so perhaps everything combined and caused some problems.
I have been off Elmiron for a year and a half now, and my blood tests are just barely returning to normal. (thank goodness, since I am trying to get pregnant... hard with IC!!) The manufactuers of Elmiron know it can cause these problems, which is why it says to get blood work done every three months.
I don't want to scare anyone, but check with your doctor.
Insist on getting your blood work done!
Hugs to everyone~!:cat:

[vm]

Oh, how frightening for you! I am sorry you went through all of that. :(

I have been on Elmiron for 7 years and have my liver enzymes checked yearly - no problems so far. I am sure to continue to have it checked, though. Thanks for reminding us all. :)

And really - there are many medications that if taken long term can possibly cause problems for the liver. It's always a good idea to check with our doctors about having liver enzymes checked periodically.

[vm]

Here's some info on the liver's role when we take medication:

DRUGS THAT MAY CAUSE LIVER DYSFUNCTION OR DAMAGE

The liver is the principal organ that is capable of converting drugs into forms that can be readily eliminated from the body. Given the diversity in use today and the complex burden they impose upon the liver, it is not surprising that a broad spectrum of adverse drug's effects on liver functions and structures has been documented. The reactions range from mild and transient changes in the results of liver function tests to complete liver failure with death of the host. Many drugs may affect the liver adversely in more than one way, as cited below in several listings. The use of the following drugs requires careful monitoring of their effects on the liver during the entire course of treatment.

http://hepcnet.net/drugsandliverdamage.html

The site goes on to give a list of medications that can affect the liver.

[mary124]

I get my bloodwork done yearly when I get a physical. Been on Elmiron for 10 and never have had problems.

[massagedoula]

I get my bloods run every 3-4 months and so far no problems here either with Elmiron! I am glad that they caught that and you are OK. In the Elmiron drug fact, it says "elevated liver enzymes occurred in 2%". So it can happen, though there is a 98% chance you will be OK. Just didn't want anyone to start freaking out about it...But getting a liver panel is a good idea just to make sure you are doing well if you are on long term Elmiron.

[sshannon74074]

Crzycatlady

Thats very good information to get out there. I was on it for about a month and felt like crap so I got off it. Also the hydroxyzine was making my heart beat harder and skip beats so I got off that too.