ELMIRON®
Using ELMIRON How ELMIRON Works Speaking with Your Doctor Symptom Journal Patient Stories
Healthcare Professionals Full Product Information

ELMIRON® is the only oral interstitial cystitis medication FDA approved to treat the bladder pain and discomfort of IC.
Using ELMIRON®
Printer Friendly Tell a Friend  

ELMIRON® is a prescription oral medication that's FDA approved to treat the symptoms of interstitial cystitis (IC). It's important to take ELMIRON® as prescribed by your doctor and to stick with it, because IC symptom improvement will be gradual.

How to Take ELMIRON®

  • Always take ELMIRON® according to the instructions given to you by your doctor. The recommended dosage of ELMIRON® is one capsule, 3 times a day.
  • It is important that you don't stop taking ELMIRON® or reduce your dosage just because you are feeling better or because ELMIRON® is not working right away.
  • Follow any other advice your doctor gives you for managing symptoms — for example, avoiding foods that may make your symptoms worse.

Please keep in mind, ELMIRON® is not the answer for everyone diagnosed with IC, but it does help many people gain and maintain relief from the bladder pain and discomfort associated with IC.

What to Expect

While some patients may notice improvement in as little as 4 weeks, studies show that ELMIRON® improves bladder pain, in many patients, after just
3 months.

Symptom improvement is generally gradual. To help monitor your progress, use an IC Symptom Journal, keep it up to date, and show it to your doctor. If you have not experienced improvement by 6 months of therapy, please talk to your doctor.

Unlike some medications, ELMIRON® does not lose its effectiveness with prolonged, continuous use. In a long-term study, ELMIRON® provided relief for as long as 3 years.

NEXT: How ELMIRON® Works

JOURNEY TO RELIEF ® SIGN UP NOW

ELMIRON® is indicated for the relief of bladder pain or discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis.
ELMIRON® is available by prescription only.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

ELMIRON® is a weak anticoagulant (blood thinner) which may increase bleeding. Call your doctor if you will be undergoing surgery or will begin taking anticoagulant therapy such as warfarin, heparin, high doses of aspirin, or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

ELMIRON® should not be taken if you have a known hypersensitivity to the drug or similar drugs.

The most common side effects observed in clinical trials were blood in stool, diarrhea, nausea, hair loss, headache, rash, upset stomach, abdominal pain, liver function abnormalities, and dizziness. Hair loss, when it occurred, was almost always limited to a single area of the scalp, and grew back when ELMIRON® was discontinued.

The mechanism of action of ELMIRON® in interstitial cystitis is not fully understood.

Please see full Product Information for ELMIRON®.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Contact Us   |   Legal Notice   |   Privacy Policy   |   Glossary

Are Your Symptoms IC?   |   What Is IC?   |   About ELMIRON®   |   Important Safety Information   |   Living with IC   |   Helpful Resources   |   Frequently Asked Questions
Healthcare Professionals   |   Full Product Information   |   Site Map

Ortho Women's Health and Urology © Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2010. All rights reserved. Your use of the information on this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Notice. This site is published by Ortho Women's Health & Urology™, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen

Pharmaceuticals, Inc, which is solely responsible for its contents.

ELMIRON® is a registered trademark of IVAX Research, Inc, under license to Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

This information is intended for use by our customers, patients and healthcare professionals in the United States only. Ortho Women's Health & Urology™ recognizes that the Internet is a global communications medium; however, laws, regulatory requirements and medical practices for pharmaceutical products vary from country to country. The Full Product  Information included here may not be appropriate for use outside the United States.  
Last modified November 12, 2009