Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis

Although there is no cure, treatment for interstitial cystitis can help improve and control symptoms associated with this bladder condition. Possible treatment options include: medications, bladder distention and instillation, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, self-help strategies, or surgery. Because patients may have flare-ups and remissions, a particular treatment for interstitial cystitis may work for time and then lose its effectiveness.

Information About Interstitial Cystitis

Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis: An Introduction

Since there is no interstitial cystitis cure, treatment is focused on relieving interstitial cystitis symptoms, which is a challenging task because they vary from person to person. People may have flare-ups and remissions, and different patients respond to different forms of treatment. A particular treatment for interstitial cystitis may work for awhile and then lose its effectiveness. Sometimes, stress or a change of diet triggers symptoms. Occasionally, interstitial cystitis goes into remission spontaneously.

Common treatment options for interstitial cystitis may include:

Medication, including Elmiron^®
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Bladder distention
Bladder instillation
Self-help strategies
Surgery.

(Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis Continued: Page 2)