Elmiron Questions?

[georgecoolname]

* Whether eating or not before and after taking Elmiron, does it make a difference on how the medication works?

* Do you guys get headaches and withdrawl symptoms when it's time to take it again

* Anyone take more than the recommended dose? I take it twice a day, but 2 pills instead of 1. The urologist's idea on that one.

* Can Elmiron cause pain in throat and chest when eating and drinking EVERYTHING! I have that problem. Acid reflux showed, yet nothing works. Endoscopy and Cystoscopy (well, that was for other reasons) were fine.

[dg2901]

Medications should be taken as prescribed. Some meds need an empty stomach in order to absorb properly; some dont. I've been told by both prescribing pharmacists, my URO and UROGYN to always take the Elmiron on an empty stomach. If you have questions by all means ask your pharmacist as they can give you all the do's and donts regarding absorption, etc.

I've never had any type of symptoms while on Elmiron. Again, another question for your pharmacist. If s/he thinks the headaches are a symptom maybe s/he would have a solution for you.

When I first started taking Elmiron I was rx'd 3 pills 3 times per day. I'm now taking one capsule at night for maintenance.

Again, i've never experienced throat and/or chest pain. While anythings possible, I would think that this is probably a symptom of the reflux. Have you tried Prilosec for the reflux? Just curious as my husband has dx'd reflux and Prilosec is the only med that works for him..and it works quickly and very efficiently.

Hope you get some answers soon that makes sense to your situation.
Wishing you well....
:)
Diana

[Goldfinch]

I started Elmiron a month ago and last week I began having some symptoms that I am currently in the process with my docs of trying to figure out. Is it the Elmiron or something unrelated? Dunno yet.

I suggest that you go on line and check out all the sites--official and others--regarding Elmiron and its side-effects, plus read thoroughly the paperwork that accompanied your first script. And talk to your doc. I found my symptoms were considered rare, but possible. Elmiron is a pretty strange drug, and the range of side-effects is surprising. Headaches could be one, certainly. Some of the rare side-effects can be serious.

The drug manufacturer's standard starting dose is 3 x per day. Many here have uros that adjust that, up or down. I would take it as your doc prescribed it. This med is supposed to work best taken on an empty stomach: two hours after a meal or one hour before. Some people have eating habits or work situations that make that hard to do, so doctors sometimes prescribe taking two at once in the morning and then the third dose in the evening, just for convenience. Actually the 3 x per day is good for me--I can't mindlessly snack in between meals! I've also read that if it makes you queasy (it did me a little at first) you could take a cracker with it, or just a few bites of something.

Another thing I've read here is that some people react to the capsule itself, and need to remove the med from the cap. Check out the other threads in the Elmiron topic and you will come across that.

[vm]

* Whether eating or not before and after taking Elmiron, does it make a difference on how the medication works?

I think one of the reasons this recommendation is made is that so little of the Elmiron actually makes it to the bladder. I think taking it on an empty stomach helps with absorption.

I took it on an empty stomach religiously when I began taking it, although if I had eaten and forgotten a dose - I would take it anyway. I didn't want to miss a dose entirely.

Once my symptoms went away I began to take Elmiron on a full or empty stomach. It seems to make no difference for me at all. BUT, if I were just starting off again and it was gradually building up in my system? I would absolutely go back to taking it on an empty stomach to make sure I was getting as much of it into my "system" as possible.

* Do you guys get headaches and withdrawl symptoms when it's time to take it again

I never have.

* Anyone take more than the recommended dose? I take it twice a day, but 2 pills instead of 1. The urologist's idea on that one.

I have heard of others taking the dosage you described - and even more. All depends on what their doctors recommend, but people have safely taken more.

* Can Elmiron cause pain in throat and chest when eating and drinking EVERYTHING! I have that problem. Acid reflux showed, yet nothing works. Endoscopy and Cystoscopy (well, that was for other reasons) were fine.

Seems like I have heard some others mention something similar over the years. I don't think it is common at all, but it sounds familiar. Could it be an allergic reaction of some sort???

[ICNDonna]

I think because of problems taking a med on an empty stomach three times a day, some doctors recommend the two twice a day schedule. When I took it, I was told that the medication bonds to food and that's why it needs to be taken on the empty stomach schedule. Again, some people take it with food and feel it still helps.

And some find that gastric distress is not a problem if they empty the capsule into water and take it that way, discarding the empty capsule.

I had to stop taking it after just under six months when I developed a non-stop headache. The good thing is that when I stopped it the headache went away. I tried it again and "presto" - back came the headache. My doctor agreed that it was the elmiron and I shouldn't take it.

Donna

[georgecoolname]

I did notice an increase from Protonix yesterday, though I haven't taken it today and it did no different. Will give it some time first being off of it. Will have to try without the capsules too. What of the capsules can cause problems and how do people know that? Thanks for writing guys!