For those affected, it is an ordeal every time: pain or burning when urinating, bladder cramps. Plus this unbearable urge to go to the toilet all the time. But despite medication for urinary tract infections or antibiotics, the supposed bladder inflammation doesn't go away?

Cause of interstitial cystitis

In this case, it could be interstitial cystitis. The symptoms are similar to those of cystitis, but it is not a bacterial infection. This is why antibiotics do not help with this bladder infection. The cause of this disease is a damaged bladder, or more precisely the inner lining, also known as the GAG layer. The urine repeatedly irritates this, which leads to the symptoms. A cystoscopy can provide certainty, as the disease can be accompanied by other symptoms such as back pain, bowel problems or depression. Due to the various accompanying symptoms, diagnosis is often difficult and IC patients often have years of suffering behind them.

Treatment of interstitial cystitis

During a cystoscopy, doctors primarily look for histamine-containing mast cells that are multiplying. These are typical of interstitial cystitis. At the same time, tissue samples are taken during treatment to rule out cancer.

The difficult thing is to rebuild the damaged bladder wall, the GAG layer. There are therefore different therapies for the treatment of interstitial cystitis, or simply IC. In the early stages, an oral medication containing sodium pentosan polysulphate, which has been approved since last year, can help. The medication is covered by health insurance. Antidepressants are also said to help because they suppress the urge to urinate and the pain.

Irrigation is also considered effective. However, they are not currently covered by health insurance and treatment can take years. A treatment is said to cost between 50 and 80 euros. Initially, this takes place once a week, then at increasingly longer intervals.

In so-called EMDA therapy, an electrode is also inserted into the bladder: With the help of an electric current, the effect of the substances introduced into the bladder should be enhanced. Patients also have to pay the costs of around 200 euros per treatment themselves. The bladder can also be treated with Botox to calm it down. However, Botox breaks down, which is why the injection into the bladder has to be repeated at regular intervals.

In more severe cases, a bladder pacemaker can be considered. For this, electrodes are implanted in the lower back to alter the transmission of pain. Removal of the bladder would be the last option.

More information is also available at www.apotheken-umschau.de.