To treat IC pain, healthcare providers recommend a variety of medications, including both non-prescription and prescription medicines.
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Talking about pain with healthcare providers can be difficult. Keeping a pain diary can help patients keep track of their pain, enhance communication with their healthcare providers, and document progress.
Read More.
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- OTC Medicines
- Prescription Medicines
Over-the-counter medicines are available without a prescription at drug stores and pharmacies and are helpful for mild to moderate pain. Ask your doctor if any of the following medicines might be helpful for your pain:
- Aspirin (Bufferin, Ecotrin)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol, Datril)**
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin and Nuprin)
- Ketoprofen (Orudis)
- Naproxen sodium (Aleve and Anaprox)
Common side effects: Aspirin and other NSAIDs may cause stomach irritation, asthmatic and/or allergic reactions, and/or damage to the kidneys. And are generally not recommended if you have stomach ulcers, asthma, or are allergic to aspirin. If taken in excess of recommended dosage, acetaminophen can cause liver damage. Do not take acetaminophen with alcohol or if you suffer from liver disease.
**The FDA has expressed concern over acetaminophen regulations. Click here to read more about these concerns.
There are a variety of prescription pain medications that are routinely prescribed for IC, but these generally fall into two categories: opiods and non-opiods.
Opiods
Opioids used for moderate IC pain include:
- Codeine: Sometimes combined with aspirin or acetaminophen
- Hydrocodone: Lortab and Vicodin (combined with acetaminophen), Lorcet Zydone (combined with acetaminophen)
- Oxycodone: Percodan (combined with aspirin), Percocet, Tylox (combined with acetaminophen)
- Oxymorphone (Opana): Similar to morphine, includes extended-release form for around-the-clock treatment of pain
Opioids used for severe IC pain include:
- Morphine
- Hydromorphone: Dilaudid
- Levorphanol: Levo-Dromoran
- Methadone: Dolophine
- Oxycodone
- Oxymorphone
- Tapentadol: Nucynta
Long-acting opioids are generally used for IC patients who experience unremitting or frequently recurring pain. These long-acting medications are not combined with other medications such as acetaminophen or aspirin, thus reducing potential problems or side effects. They are controlled-release, meaning that they require less of a maintenance schedule, as the dosage is gradually released into the patient’s system. IC patients receiving long-acting opioids should be supplied with a fast-acting opioid "rescue drug" (e.g. Vicodin, Lorcet. etc.) for breakthrough pain, which occurs unpredictably, or when the long-acting opioid starts to wear off, prior to the time of the next scheduled dose. Examples of controlled release opioid preparations:
- Long-acting morphine: MS Contin, Oramorph, Opana
- Long-acting oxycodone: OxyContin
- Levorphanol: Levo-Dromoran
- Methadone: Dolophine
- Fentanyl: Duragesic patch
Possible side effects: constipation, nausea, itching, edema, sedation, muscle spasms and possible respiratory depression. Ask your healthcare provider for advice on reducing side effects. Tolerance and physical dependency may occur.
Non-opiods
There are several non-opiod medicines currently available that are used to relieve symptoms caused by irritation of the urinary tract such as pain, burning, the feeling of needing to urinate urgently or frequently, and bladder spasms. These are also commonly used for pain associated with urinary tract inections.
- Phenazopyridine Plus (good for IC flares because they should not be taken for more than 2 days)
- Prosed/DS
- Urelle Oral
- Utira
Updated October 21, 2009