I have been taking this and Ditropan XL for 6 years now for my IC. It initially took about 3 months to start working and almost a year to get the full potential so i say stick with it for awhile if you can. It is the only way i can work full time. Diet is a huge part of it for me. Avoid soda,coffee and beer for sure. Vinager is pretty bad too. For those of you having trouble with the cost, contact the manufacturer. When my job was cut last year and i was laid off they paid for an entire year supply. Side effects got better over time. Dry mouth and eyes for sure. Drink water and carry around eye drops. I also have fibromyalgia and IBS. And so does my mom. I swear it is all related to one main problem with the nerves in my body. I am only 28 Does anyone else have these conditions along with the IC? Published: July 24, 2008 ::

i have been taking this medicine for one year. after going to my primary dr then a gi dr then finally my gyno made a correct diagnosis and referred my to a urologist it was almost two years of pain. now all pain with intercorse is gone. i still have the frequent urge to urinate but if i have to hold it i don't hurt as bad (i found drinking mostly water helps...i drink about 60-75oz a day! the urine is less acidic that way) i take this med two pills twice a day the second dose accompanied by elavil. i find this helps me sleep through the night. although i still have flare ups they last no longer than a week or two with several months of relief in between. i do loose hair on a regular basis but not enough to make me look bald. before if you just touched my stomach below my belly button i would freak out, same if my pants were too tight i just couldn't bear it but now i have no sensitivity to touch. one thing i havn't heard mentioned is that this is linked to allergies. my urologist says that over 90% of people who have this ic have allergies too. they beieve that this is a severe allergic reaction to something in your environment. has any one else heard this??? so in addition to the elmiron and the elavil i also take an allergy pill. the biggest downfall of this medicine is that it costs sooooo much and the manufacture does not offer much help. it was 130.00 on my dads prescription plan, on mine it is 67.00(who says wal-mart ins sucks?!) even though it is expensive its worth it and i am reminded of that every time i get a flare up. i do find that the only thing that i have to eliminate from my diet is caffene, spicy foods are fine in moderation other than that...no diet changes.... Published: November 01, 2008 ::

Saw results within the first two months. I've experienced acne on one part of my face that will not go away. Has anyone else experienced this? What did you do? Published: January 16, 2008 ::

after taking it for 3 months it really helped but made my ibs more severe. Published: October 09, 2007 ::

I began taking elmiron 3 times a day, but after 6 months I asked my doctor if I needed that dose. He agreed I could cut down and see what happened. I cut down to 2 a day for approximately 3 months and then to 1 a day 3 months later. I have tried to stop completely, but the pain returns. By taking just 1 dose a day I can basically eat a normal diet. I am still extremely careful with acidic foods. I feel very fortunate. Published: February 12, 2008 ::

The medication worked. But I lost alot of my hair. Published: January 28, 2008 ::

I have been on Elmiron for interstitial cystitis for over three years. My pain was so bad I could hardly walk. Two weeks after starting the medication I noticed a reduction in the pain and inflammation and in three months I was pain free. I have weaned myself down to one pill a day. I tried to stop it but the pain returned after three weeks. I am so happy with the results of Elmiron. I never had any side effects and I can eat and drink anything I want. It gave me my life back. I just wonder if I will have to take this medication the rest of my life. Published: April 25, 2009 ::

Had terrible allergic after nine days causing sore throat, ear pain, muscle aches... barely able to walk. Published: January 05, 2008 ::