What is the treatment of interstitial cystitis?
Diet (Please see the later discussion of diet, “Are lifestyle modifications of value in managing interstitial cystitis?”) Oral medications The principal type of oral medication is the heparinoid (heparin-like) drug pentosan polysulfate sodium (PPS; brand name Elmiron). PPS is chemically similar to the substance that lines the bladder, and it is believed that PPS assists in the repair or restoration of the lining tissues in the bladder. Even after therapy with PPS has begun, patients may still experience symptoms for some time because the sensory nerves in the bladder have been hyperactive, and it takes time for the nerves to return to their normal state of activation. Therefore, doctors recommend giving up to one year of PPS treatment in mild PBS/IC (and two years in severe PBS/IC) before deciding if the drug is effective or not. Between one-third and two-thirds of patients will improve after three months of treatment. Other oral medications that may be used to treat PBS/IC along with
