Statin Drugs Found to Irritate Bladder Increasing Risk For Interstitial Cystitis

If you have regularly used statin medications to lower cholesterol levels and had your IC begin AFTER you began their use, you should find this new study interesting. Researchers in Taiwan have determined that long term or irregular use of statin medication is significantly linked to the development of interstitial cystitis. Previous studies found that statins induced cell aptosis and inhibited the growth of epithelial cells in the prostate. Researchers presume that the same is occurring in statin patients who develop IC/BPS. Statins also appeared to induce inflammation via the production of inflammatory cytokines. By inducing neurogenic inflammation, statins lead to “abnormal bladder permeability and changes in bladder sensations.”

Source: Bladder Pain Syndrome/Interstitial Cystitis Linked to Statins

By Jill Osborne|2015-10-17T16:21:51-07:00October 12th, 2015|Our Blog, Research|Comments Off

About the Author: Jill Osborne

My Google Profile+ Jill Heidi Osborne is the president and founder of the Interstitial Cystitis Network, a health education company dedicated to interstitial cystitis, bladder pain syndrome and other pelvic pain disorders. As the editor and lead author of the ICN and the IC Optimist magazine, Jill is proud of the academic recognition that her website has achieved. The University of London rated the ICN as the top IC website for accuracy, credibility, readability and quality. (Int Urogynecol J - April 2013). Harvard Medical School rated both Medscape and the ICN as the top two websites dedicated to IC. (Urology - Sept 11). For many years, Jill served on the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Panel (US Army) where she collaborated with researchers to evaluate new IC research studies for possible funding. Jill has conducted and/or collaborates on a variety of IC research studies on new therapeutics, pain care, sexuality, the use of medical marijuana, menopause and the cost of treatments, shining a light on issues that influence patient quality of life. An IC support group leader and national spokesperson for the past 20 years, she has represented the IC community on radio, TV shows, at medical conferences. She has written hundreds of articles on IC and its related conditions. Jill has a Bachelors Degree in Pharmacology and a Masters in Psychology, Jill was named Presidential Management Intern (aka Fellowship) while in graduate school. (She was unable to earn her PhD due to the onset of her IC.) She spends the majority of her time providing WELLNESS COACHING for patients in need and developing new, internet based educational and support tools for IC patients, including new live IC Support Group Meetings via Youtube and the “Living with IC” video series. Jill was diagnosed with IC at the age of 32 but first showed symptoms at the age of 12.