Abacterial cystitis; Radiation cystitis; Chemical cystitis; Urethral syndrome - acute
Treatment:
The goal of treatment is to manage the symptoms.
Medical Treatments:
Anti-cholinergic drugs can help improve bladder contraction and emptying. Possible side effects include slowed heart rate, low blood pressure, increased thirst, and stomach discomfort.
Muscle relaxants (such as diazepam) and alpha 1-blockers (prazosin) may be used to reduce the strong urge to urinate or need to urinate frequently.
Surgery is rarely performed unless a person has severe urinary retention or significant blood in the urine.
Diet:
Avoid fluids that irritate the bladder such as alcohol, citrus juices, and caffeine.
Other therapies:
Bladder exercises to re-establish a pattern of regular and complete urination may help. Bladder training exercises involve developing a schedule of times when you should try to urinate, while trying to delay urination at all other times. One method is to force yourself to urinate every 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours, despite any leakage or urge to urinate in between these times. As you become skilled at waiting this long, gradually increase the time intervals by 1/2 hour until you are urinating every 3 to 4 hours.
Pelvic muscle strengthening exercises called Kegel exercises are used primarily to treat people with stress incontinence. However, these exercises may also help relieve symptoms of urgency related to long-term (chronic) noninfectious cystitis. Performing the exercises properly and regularly increases the method's success.
Electrical stimulation to the pelvis may be used as a treatment for noninfectious cystitis, but this is controversial.
Expectations (prognosis):
Although most cases of cystitis are uncomfortable, they usually resolve over time.
Call your health care provider if symptoms indicate that cystitis may be present, symptoms worsen, or new symptoms develop, especially fever, back or flank pain, and vomiting.
Stenchever A. Comprehensive Gynecology. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001:831.
Review Date: 5/10/2006
Reviewed By: Neil D. Sherman, MD, Urologist, Essex County, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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