Dimethyl sulfoxide is the most common bladder instillation drug approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for treating interstitial cystitis, a painful, inflammatory bladder disorder. DMSO may be used alone or may be combined with other medications to improve patient response. Because medical-grade DMSO is only available by prescription, consult your doctor for treatment options if you have interstitial cystitis.
DMSO and Interstitial Cystitis
Although DMSO has a controversial history as an alternative treatment for medical conditions ranging from cancer to arthritis, current evidence only supports using DMSO to treat interstitial cystitis, explains an article published in 1985 in the journal "Reviews in Clinical and Basic Pharmacology." For treating interstitial cystitis, DMSO is administered as a bladder instillation, meaning it is applied directly to the bladder through a catheter inserted into the urethra.
Additional Instillation Medications
Bladder instillation solutions for treating interstitial cystitis may contain DMSO alone or combined with other medications. An anesthetic drug such as bupivacaine is commonly added to reduce pain and ease bladder discomfort, explains an article published in 2002 in the journal "Reviews in Urology." Other medications, including sodium bicarbonate, an antacid; triamcinolone acetonide, a corticosteroid; and heparin, an anticolagulant; may also be included to provide a broader range of treatment.
Oral Medications
Several oral medications are commonly used in conjunction with DMSO to treat interstitial cystitis. Pentosan polysulfate sodium, sold under the brand name Elmiron, is the only FDA-approved oral medication prescribed specifically to treat interstitial cystitis. Tricyclic antidepressants, such as amitriptyline, may help reduce bladder contractions, and antihistamines, such as hydroxyzine, may help reduce inflammation. Painkillers, including ibuprofen and naproxen, may also be used to reduce pain and inflammation.
Cautions
DMSO is also used in industrial manufacturing as a chemical solvent and may be purchased from chemical suppliers without a prescription. However, these industrial-grade solutions of DMSO may contain dangerous impurities and should never be ingested, applied to the skin or used as a bladder instillation. The impurities will be absorbed by your body along with the DMSO, possibly causing severe health problems.
References
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sulfur; Steven D. Ehrlich et al.; May 2009
- "Reviews in Clinical and Basic Pharmacology"; Medical Use of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO); BN Swanson; 1985
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome; September 2010
- "Reviews in Urology"; Treatment Approaches for Interstitial Cystitis: Multimodality Therapy; Robert J Evans; 2002
- Harvard Medical School Family Health Guide: Treating Interstitial Cystitis; January 2004
