News - Interstitial Cystitis Network Mail Order Division

AUA Releases New Guidelines For IC/BPS

Sun, 06 Mar 2011 00:32:00 -0500

The long awaited new clinical guidelines for the treatment of interstitial cystitis (aka bladder pain syndrome) were released by the American Urology Association (AUA) this month, offering what may be the most comprehensive clinical care article written to date in the USA. Solidly written, it offers new insight into diagnostic testing as well as a new, six stage IC treatment algorithm that can be used by physicians and patients as you consider your treatment and pain management plans. Please help us share this vital new resource by printing both this summary and the guidelines out to share with all of your medical care providers.

ICN E-Newsletter October 2010 Released

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:24:00 -0400

Read the latest IC news in the October E-newsletter

Happy Bladder Cookbook Released

Sat, 30 Oct 2010 01:21:00 -0400

New IC Diet Resource

Elmiron Patent Expired Jan. 19, 2010

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:22:15 -0400

As we first shared last February, the patent for Elmiron (pentosan polysulfate sodium) expired January 19, 2010 raising a variety of concerns. Having a patent expire means that the drug is now available for manufacturing as a generic medication. For patients, this can be a very good thing because generics are usually much less inexpensive than the brand name medication.

New Urine Test for Diagnosing IC Awaiting Patent

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:21:12 -0400

New Urine Test for Diagnosing IC Awaiting Patent

IC and Pain Survey - Please Help Us Understand!

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:21:43 -0400

Please help us understand the pain of interstitial cystitis! This survey is designed to gather more information on your experience with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome pain. The survey will not ask you for personal details. It is confidential. Your input will help us to better understand the day-to-day challenges of living with IC/PBS. Jill

Could Fibromyalgia treatments offer hope for IC?

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:20:32 -0400

Here's an interesting editorial from one of my favorite urology websites, UROTODAY, by Dr. Phil Hanno inwhich he asks us to consider looking at how other chronic pain syndromes, such as fibromyalgia, are treated.. wondering and considering if these should also be pursued for bladder pain syndrome/interstitial cystitis. - Jill

Chondroitin Installation Restores Bladder Barrier Function

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:22:51 -0400

Hey folks. This editorial by Phil Hanno MD caught my eye. As you know, we've had a number of bladder instillations that have been proposed for IC, each with some success including intravesical elmiron, rescue instillations, intravesical hyaluronic acid (Cystistat) and intravesical chondroitin. Their method of action is interesting. Some, like rescue instillations, appear to help fight inflammation and/or soothe nerves... while others are designed to help promote the integrity of the bladder wall. Jill

Cranberry Survey Results - 90% of Patients Report IC Symptoms with Cranberry

Tue, 13 Apr 2010 22:23:17 -0400

We've long known, through word of mouth, that most patients reported cranberry to be very irritating to their bladders. To learn more about this, we launched a Cranberry and IC survey in early October 2008. As of Dec. 1, 2009, 305 patients completed the survey. More than ninety percent reported that cranberry products bothered their bladders, triggering bladder pain, frequency, urethral tenderness and, for some, urinary leakage.*