Medication for Bladder & Colon Pain
Many different diseases affect the bladder and colon and pain is often a symptom. Types of pain can range from a deep stabbing pain to a burning sensation to a dull throbbing ache. Sometimes it can be difficult to differentiate between pain located in the bladder and that coming from a colon problem. In some cases medication may not be an option, but if it is, the kind of medication doctors use to treat your pain will be different depending on your diagnosis.
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Steroids
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One of the most common causes of bladder and colon pain is inflammation. Doctors commonly prescribe steroids to treat a host of diseases which cause inflammation.
Some common causes of inflammation in the colon include irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Prednisone is the most common steroid prescribed for inflammation in the colon. If your colon pain is caused by a problem in the rectal area like an anal fissure, your doctor may prescribe a corticosteroid cream to bring down inflammation.
Antibiotics
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The medical term for inflammation in the bladder is cystitis, and this can be caused by anything from a simple bladder infection to bladder cancer. Doctors prescribe various antibiotics for infections, and while these drugs don't treat the pain symptom, they do treat the cause for the pain.
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Antidepressants
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Antidepressants like Tofranil help relax your bladder and also block pain. Tofranil is a tricyclic antidepressant which blocks pain in the bladder and relaxes it to bring further relief.
Doctors also prescribe tricyclic antidepressants or SSRIs for colon pain. These two types of antidepressants work specifically in the intestines to block pain from diseases like irritable bowel syndrome.
Antihistamines
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Antihistamines relieve urinary urgency, which can cause bladder pain if you don't have immediate access to a restroom. They are commonly prescribed for a condition called interstitial cystitis. Also known as painful bladder syndrome, this disease causes severe pain in the bladder and pelvis area. That pain sometimes spreads to the colon when heartburn is also involved.
Elmiron
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Elmiron is a new medication developed specifically to treat interstitial cystitis. It works to protect the lining of the bladder from anything in your urine which can damage the bladder wall. It may take several months for this medication to relieve your bladder pain.
Non-prescription medications
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Some non-prescription medications may help relieve bladder and colon pain. Ibuprofen works to relieve pain by reducing inflammation, so it's perfect as a temporary solution for bladder and colon pain. However, ibuprofen can cause severe pain in people who have some colon conditions, so use it with care.
Acetaminophen is a classic pain reliever. Doctors may suggest a stronger dose of acetaminophen like Tylenol 3 for strong bladder or colon pain which isn't bad enough to require any of the prescription medications.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of hobvias sudoneighm
