Best help for frequency/urgency?

[junebug800]

My symptoms mainly consist of urinary urgency and frequency. I void probably about 20+ times per day. Sometimes the urge is less intense and sometimes I have what I like to call "bladder fits" because I'll just keep feeling a strong urgency to go sort of back to back and the urine is clear. It usually diminishes in a matter of a few hours and I go back to my "normal" frequency. Anyway I just started having symptoms of IC about a month and a half ago after about 4 years of being virtually symptom free. I tried taking some Ditropan XL I had on hand and I noticed I was having difficulty going when I needed to. I later read it might cause this although I used it for a couple of years with no problems when I previously had symptoms. Anyway my uro retired a few years ago and I hadn't established with a new one so I went to the gyn and she prescribed Elmiron 1 x a day (I used to be on 3 x a day and credit it for my remission) plus Urocit K 10 3 x a day. At first I thought the Urocit was increasing my frequency so I quit after two days and then gave it another try about a week later. I basically feel like it makes no difference one way or another but it could be maybe that since I am taking it with the Elmiron that the Elmiron is maybe blocking the negative effects. Ive thought to try and quit the Urocit again and just keep taking the Elmiron to experiment and see if I can improve the frequency/urgency any further but wanted to know if anyone with a similar situation has felt that the Urocit has helped with frequency/urgency specifically. I don't have pelvin pain or burning. The gyn never did tell me what it was supposed to help with and by reading the information on it I thought it might be more helpful for burning and pain than frequency. I see a specialist in Tampa in January, but wanted to get some insight from all of you here. Sorry so longwinded! Thanks!

[elamar]

These two meds are good antispasmodics that might help you. I take the generic form or urelle called utira-c. There is no generic for prosed so it can be expensive. Your doctor's office should have free samples of these for you to try. My doctor gave me a two week supply of each to see if I noticed any difference. They are very similar formulas. I did fine on both so I was able to use the generic. Some people here do better with the prosed. We all react differently to meds. Ask your doctor about some free samples. Good luck to you.

[imdani]

My doctor just gave me samples of Prosed and Urelle to try. Do you know, are these meds just a short term thing or should/would they be taken long term? And do you remember how long it took for them to reduce your frequency? I also go a lot, about 25-30 times a day. Trying to cut that in half!

Thanks!

[asIshallbe]

My Dr. prescribed me tofranil and it works like magic for me. It is an anti-depressant, it is somewhat similar to elavil but it does not make me feel weird and I haven't gained a pound. I have actually lost a few. So my new regimen is tofranil (25 mg) for urgency/frenquency, and then Lyrica (75 mg) for pain, and also 4 cystoprotek per day. Tofranil is given for kids who wet the bed as well. I used to go to the bathroom all night nonstop sometimes, other times 10 times per night. Now I only go 1 time. It is awesome! I really and sincerely suggest it for any of those who have urgency/frenquency problems like I did. It has been a godsend!:smile tee

[Briza]

My doctor just gave me samples of Prosed and Urelle to try. Do you know, are these meds just a short term thing or should/would they be taken long term? And do you remember how long it took for them to reduce your frequency? I also go a lot, about 25-30 times a day. Trying to cut that in half!

Thanks!

From what I have read, Urelle and Prosed are fairly quick acting and if they work they help relieve symptoms it is usually pretty quickly. I believe they are safer to use longer term than what I use, Pyridium, but I don't have symptoms very often so I limit my use of Pyridium.

Junebug and others...what has worked best for me for frequency has been low dose Elavil (10-20mg). Some also get pain relief but I have not. But it has definitely been a mainstay of my treatment regimen for frequency and nocturia.
For urgency Pyridium seems to help me the best because when I have urgency I also have burning and Pyridium works for the burning for me. I have not tried Urelle or Prosed because Pyridium works so well for me but on the other hand it is not recommended for continuious longterm use b/c of
liver issues. After talking to my drs and pharmacists, they ok'd my use of Pyridium as needed since I never have needed it more than once a day and usually only a few times a week.
Best wishes,Bri:)

[elamar]

I'm not a doctor or pharmacist, but from what I know, urelle and prosed are ok for long term usage. Pyridium is not. I had to take 4 utira-c (urelle generic) along with ditropan for a good two weeks before I noticed results. Some find it works quicker. I had massive spasm issues - I would pee every 10 minutes around the clock for days at a time. Then some dumb ass doctor tells me there is nothing physically wrong with me and that it is all in my head! Anyhow, give it a good two weeks at the highest dosage allowed. You might want to ask about atarax also. None of the nerve type drugs really worked for me (elavil, gabatrin, nuerotin, lyrica, etc). I tried bunches with no difference in symptoms. Then again, we are all so different as to how we respond to meds. The only way you'll know is if you try. My doctor has been willing to let me try just about anything I have asked for except opiate pain meds. It kills me!!! I need pain relief and I have to try to get it through other means like anti-spasmodics or ultracet. Good luck to you.

[junebug800]

Has this ever helped anyone with urgency/frequency specifically? What is it normally used for?

Thanks!

[ICNDonna]

Are you following an IC diet? That can help more than anything.


Donna

[junebug800]

Are you following an IC diet? That can help more than anything.


Donna

More so this time than before. I knew before what my trigger foods were (OJ, eggs, and caffeine primarily). Now I am avoiding everything which I feel leaves me really limited and I find myself eating junky. I used to eat a lot of salad and all kinds of fruits and mostly marinaded my meat. Now I'm afraid to order a grilled chicken sandwich for fear it's going to be marinated and I have to get everything on the side. Lunches are tough since no mayo or mustard so I've been eating soup and maybe some deli meat and mozzarella or American. I used to eat a lot of tomato based dishes too. I haven't noticed a different yet with the change. It's been about a month. I stopped the Urocit so I could try Prosed for a little while.

[statesboro]

Urocit-K is used to reduce the likelihood of ever having another kidney stone attack. Of course, I have never had one to begin with.

[junebug800]

Urocit-K is used to reduce the likelihood of ever having another kidney stone attack. Of course, I have never had one to begin with.

I saw that it reduces urine acidity but does that mean it helps more for pain and burning or does it also help frequency/urgency? Just not sure it's worth it for me to continue since it is contraindicated with pretty much all of the antispasmodics including prosed, ditropan and the like.

[cowdean]

I took it for a short period but I took it for pain and burning not frequency/urgency. I use pyriduim as needed. The urocit k did not help with frequency and urgency at all.