Before allowing any instillation placed into the bladder, a wise patient will ask:
“What is it?”
“How does it work?”
“When will I know if it’s helping?”
“What are the risks or benefits?”
The most popular bladder instillation in use around the world is known as a “rescue instillation” because the patients may feel a reduction in their symptoms and/or pain after receiving a treatment. (Several “old” bladder treatments/instillations are now rarely used, including: clorpactin, silver nitrate, BCG or RTX.)
Many doctors and clinics use their own custom rescue instillation formula. The core pain fighting ingredient is usually an alkalinized local anesthetic, such as lidocaine or marcaine. Why is it alkalinized? The bladder lining has such a strong mucous barrier that normal lidocaine has difficulty crossing through it. However, researchers (such as Richard Henry, MD -Canada) noticed that if you alkalinized the anesthetic with a precise amount of sodium bicarbonate, it dramatically improved its ability to pass through the mucous to reache and soothe the irritated nerves and tissues beneath.
Elmiron or heparin are included in most instillations because they are believed to help restore the bladder mucous and to create protective barrier in the bladder. Many physicians also include a corticosteroid to help control inflammation, as well as an antibiotic if infection is an issue.
Some clinics recommend using instillations several times a week, while other suggest using it weekly.
Find more information about IC treatments and instillations at: https://www.ic-network.com/treatments/