Pentosan polysulfate (sold under the name Elmiron) relieves bladder along with discomfort related to interstitial cystitis, a disease that causes swelling and scarring of the bladder wall. It works by preventing irritation of the bladder walls. Pentosan polysulfate is provided as a capsule for ingestion. It is recommended for the taker to take the exact amount prescribed. Side effects include hair loss, diarrhea, heartburn, headache, rash, stomach pain, insomnia, dizziness, bleeding, and vomiting. A bladder is a pouch or other flexible enclosure with waterproof or gasproof walls. ... Interstitial cystitis (commonly abbreviated to IC) is a urinary bladder disease of unknown cause characterised by pelvic and intense bladder pain, urinary frequency (as often as every 10 minutes), pain with sexual intercourse, and often pain with urination. ... The word capsule (from the Latin capsula, a small box), has many similar meanings in English: In botany, a capsule is a type of dry fruit as in the poppy, iris, foxglove, etc. ... Baldness (formally alopecia) is the state of lacking hair where it usually would grow, especially on the head. ... Diarrhea in American English, (spelled diarrhoea in other anglophone countries) is a condition in which the sufferer has frequent and watery or loose bowel movements (from the ancient Greek word διαρροή = leakage; lit. ... A headache is a condition of mild to severe pain in the head; sometimes upper back or neck pain may also be interpreted as a headache. ... For the manga by Tsukasa Hôjô, see Rash. ... Insomnia is a sleep disorder characterised by an inability to sleep and/or to remain asleep for a reasonable period during the night. ... Dizzy may refer to: The state of dizziness The computer game, Dizzy (videogame) The entire series of computer games, of which the previous is the first: Dizzy series A videogame character from the Guilty Gear series Musician - composer Dizzy Gillespie Baseball player Dizzy Dean British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli This... Vomiting (or emesis) is the forceful expulsion of the contents of ones stomach through the mouth. ...
Two patients had severe abdominal pain or diarrhea and dehydration that required hospitalization.
Because there was not a control group of patients with interstitial cystitis who were concurrently evaluated, it is difficult to determine which events are associated with Elmiron
The adverse events described below were reported in an unblinded clinical trial of 2499 interstitial cystitis patients treated with Elmiron
Elmiron is typically considered to be a Heparinoid, which means that it is structurally similar to heparin sulfate an element found on the bladder surface mucin.
Elmiron is thought to work like an artificial GAG layer, and thusly relief may be obtained as the bladder has a chance to be "protected" by this new GAG layer, while the original has time to regenerate and heal.
Elmiron is quickly becoming the first line of defence when it comes to the treatment of IC with oral medications, despite the fact that it can take several months to see visible results.