The URO just put me on Ditropan XL

**fireflicker285** · 04-28-2004, 08:07 AM

Hoping it will help with the frequency. Sometimes I go as much as 20 or more times per day and it is so disrupting my life. I have heard alot of good things about the Ditropan.
Wish me luck!

I am a little confused though.....Is IC overactive bladder as well, or do just some people with IC have the overactive bladder...... I know you can have overactive bladder without IC. So then does Ditropan help IC???

Grrr. Confusing!

**1tuffcookie** · 04-28-2004, 01:05 PM

I feel for you! I once went through a period where I was running to the bathroom 60 times a day, so I know what you're going through.

I've read a little about it, and overactive bladder and IC are 2 different conditions. In overactive bladder, the bladder contracts, or spasms, more than it should.

I think if you have IC, Ditropan probably won't help and may make you worse. Before I was diagnosed with IC, a clueless doc gave me Ditropan. BIG mistake! It made me worse, because it gave me urinary retention--I couldn't pee.

Good luck, and hang in there. Things will get better.

***Sarojini*** · 04-29-2004, 01:22 AM

Ditropan helps some people with IC and not others. I take it occasionally when I am having bladder spasms and the urgency is really bad... it kind of helps to take that and a pain med (although sometimes taking it and a pain med makes me jittery-- kind of odd, considering both have "drowsiness" as a side effect).

I also get into retention trouble if I take too much of it... I used to try to take a Ditropan XL (the long acting kind) every day to control my frequency. I found that it did not necessarily help the frequency, and I did start retaining more and more urine.

Now, I asked my uro to prescribe the regular Ditropans that are NOT long acting... and I only take one every now and then on an as-needed basis for spasms. That way, if I do begin to retain, it resolves itself better after 4-6 hrs when the pill wears off rather than 24 hours later when I'm in agony already!

However, some people with IC swear by Ditropan... I hope it works for you!!!

**JAMIEL** · 04-29-2004, 01:57 AM

I was taking Ditropan XL at the beginning of my diagnosis but found the same thing happened to me - urine retention. But everyone is different. You should certainly try it!

***SharonA*** · 04-29-2004, 03:20 AM

I could not take Ditropan or Detrol because of retention. I hope you are one of the fortunate ones for whom this works.

**sunshine_77us** · 04-29-2004, 03:54 AM

I was taking Ditropan Xl and it really helped me. The Detrol LA may me retain. After 2 months on the Ditropan I was getting nauseaed so I quit taking it. I don't know if that was the reason because a lot of people had the stomach flu and sick about the same time. It really helped me with the spasms. If I have another bad flare, I will probably start back on the Ditropan XL.
Good Luck.

**poetgirl** · 04-29-2004, 04:16 AM

IC and OAB are two separate conditions. I have both and I take Detrol LA for the OAB. I don't have any problems with retention, though -- it just settles my bladder down.

**Mary Francis** · 04-29-2004, 04:28 AM

I was on ditropan too. I stopped taking it during the day though because it irritated my bladder more because of the urine sitting so long in my bladder. But it sure helps at night!! I love that stuff at night!

Good luck with it!

:thumbsup:

**fireflicker285** · 04-29-2004, 07:16 AM

I will give a go, and we will see.:thumbsup:

**1tuffcookie** · 04-30-2004, 06:19 AM

Tracey,

I forgot to tell you that I do get bladder spasms occasionally. Then I take Levsinex. I don't remember the dose or type of Ditropan I was on--perhaps it was just too much or the wrong type. The others who replied are right--everybody's different, and it's worth trying. If it helped some of them, it might help you. I hope it does! Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

**fireflicker285** · 04-30-2004, 12:39 PM

I have already had to stop the Ditropan XL unfortunately. It got so I couldn't pee! First I had to push the urine out and I thought that was wierd because I only get that during a bad flare and then I simply COULD NOT pee. Scarey.

I stopped it. I assume that is the retention.

It sure was uncomfortable. Now I can pee normally (and frequently again).

Oh well.......

Thanks for all your replys everyone.

**1tuffcookie** · 05-01-2004, 05:49 AM

Tracey,
.
Yep, that's the retention. Sorry it didn't work for you!. But something will--there are a lot of treatments and combos of treatments. Thanks for letting us know. Any idea what you'll do next?

**fireflicker285** · 05-01-2004, 06:31 AM

If the Ditropan didn't work out.

Does anyone know what a common dose of the Atarax is......?

:thumbsup:

**1tuffcookie** · 05-01-2004, 07:05 AM

I looked up the dose in a guest lecture on the ic-network. It's an interview in 2002 with Dr. Theoharis Theoharides, an IC specialist. He says he starts patients at 25 mg. at night, which they do for 1 or 2 weeks. Then they take 50 mgs. for 1 or 2 weeks. If the patient is feeling sedated, he keeps them at 50 mg. If she's not sedated, he has her go up to 75 mgs., usually 50 at bedtime and 25 sometime before noon. He says some docs start patients at 100 mg., which would "put an elephant to sleep!"
Hope this helps!