Yet few are aware of this painful, and often debilitating, bladder condition
Raritan, NJ (October 20, 2009) – More than one million Americans – most of them women –suffer from a painful and little-known bladder condition called interstitial cystitis (IC). To raise awareness and recognize the ongoing struggles of people living with this painful bladder condition, Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™ announces the second annual Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Week, October 19-23, 2009.
IC is a painful, and often debilitating, chronic condition in which the bladder lining becomes irritated and inflamed. Although men can develop IC, it is far more common among women. In fact, of the estimated 1.3 million Americans with IC, more than 1.2 million are women. People who have ongoing or periodic pelvic pain, frequent and urgent urination, and pain during or after sexual intercourse, may have this chronic, yet treatable condition called IC, also known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS).
IC Awareness Week acknowledges the daily challenges people with IC must overcome to manage this under-diagnosed and under-recognized condition. The goal of the week is to raise awareness by sharing information, insights, and experience from those living with IC. According to one IC patient, "IC does not have to control your life...IC is painful, discouraging, and frustrating, but learn to appreciate small gains over its symptoms and continue to celebrate life!"
Since IC is neither a well-known nor well-accepted medical condition, increasing awareness is important. The symptoms of IC – pain in the pelvic area, going to the bathroom urgently or frequently, and pain during or after sex – are sometimes mistaken for other pelvic conditions such as endometriosis, recurrent urinary tract infections, and overactive bladder.
Research shows that most patients consult at least 5 physicians, including psychiatrists, during a period of more than 4 years before being diagnosed with IC. “By increasing awareness of interstitial cystitis and the 3 symptoms most commonly associated with IC – Pain, Urgency, and Frequency – we want people to ask ‘could it be IC?’ sooner,” says Katherine LaGuardia, MD, director, medical affairs, Ortho Women's Health & Urology™.
Treatment approaches differ from one patient to the next, but most IC patients find success with a combination of dietary modifications and medication. IC patients should avoid acidic foods and carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages. Some have success with medical therapies like ELMIRON® (pentosan polysulfate sodium), the only FDA-approved oral medication for relief of the bladder pain or discomfort associated with IC.
For more information on interstitial cystitis, please visit: www.AllAboutIC.com
About ELMIRON® (pentosan polysulfate sodium)
ELMIRON® is indicated for the relief of bladder pain or discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis. ELMIRON® is available by prescription only.
Important Safety Information
ELMIRON® is a weak anticoagulant (blood thinner) which may increase bleeding. Call your doctor if you will be undergoing surgery or will begin taking anticoagulant therapy such as warfarin, heparin, high doses of aspirin, or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
ELMIRON® should not be taken if you have a known hypersensitivity to the drug or similar drugs.
The most common side effects observed in clinical trials were blood in stool, diarrhea, nausea, hair loss, headache, rash, upset stomach, abdominal pain, liver function abnormalities, and dizziness. Hair loss, when it occurred, was almost always limited to a single area of the scalp, and grew back when ELMIRON® was discontinued.
The mechanism of action of ELMIRON® in interstitial cystitis is not fully understood.
Please see full Product Information for ELMIRON®.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
About Ortho Women's Health & Urology™
Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a leader in the fields of women’s health and urology, celebrating more than 75 years of partnering with women. Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™ is committed to helping people live healthier lives and to meeting the needs of healthcare professionals and patients with products. For more information on these products, birth control, bladder health or general women’s health issues, please visit www.orthowomenshealth.com.
Ortho Women's Health & Urology™ is a Division of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AllAboutIC.com is published by Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Firsching, Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™
AFirschi@its.jnj.com
(908) 218-7583
Yet few are aware of this painful, and often debilitating, bladder condition
Raritan, NJ (October 20, 2009) – More than one million Americans – most of them women –suffer from a painful and little-known bladder condition called interstitial cystitis (IC). To raise awareness and recognize the ongoing struggles of people living with this painful bladder condition, Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™ announces the second annual Interstitial Cystitis Awareness Week, October 19-23, 2009.
IC is a painful, and often debilitating, chronic condition in which the bladder lining becomes irritated and inflamed. Although men can develop IC, it is far more common among women. In fact, of the estimated 1.3 million Americans with IC, more than 1.2 million are women. People who have ongoing or periodic pelvic pain, frequent and urgent urination, and pain during or after sexual intercourse, may have this chronic, yet treatable condition called IC, also known as painful bladder syndrome (PBS).
IC Awareness Week acknowledges the daily challenges people with IC must overcome to manage this under-diagnosed and under-recognized condition. The goal of the week is to raise awareness by sharing information, insights, and experience from those living with IC. According to one IC patient, "IC does not have to control your life...IC is painful, discouraging, and frustrating, but learn to appreciate small gains over its symptoms and continue to celebrate life!"
Since IC is neither a well-known nor well-accepted medical condition, increasing awareness is important. The symptoms of IC – pain in the pelvic area, going to the bathroom urgently or frequently, and pain during or after sex – are sometimes mistaken for other pelvic conditions such as endometriosis, recurrent urinary tract infections, and overactive bladder.
Research shows that most patients consult at least 5 physicians, including psychiatrists, during a period of more than 4 years before being diagnosed with IC. “By increasing awareness of interstitial cystitis and the 3 symptoms most commonly associated with IC – Pain, Urgency, and Frequency – we want people to ask ‘could it be IC?’ sooner,” says Katherine LaGuardia, MD, director, medical affairs, Ortho Women's Health & Urology™.
Treatment approaches differ from one patient to the next, but most IC patients find success with a combination of dietary modifications and medication. IC patients should avoid acidic foods and carbonated, caffeinated, and alcoholic beverages. Some have success with medical therapies like ELMIRON® (pentosan polysulfate sodium), the only FDA-approved oral medication for relief of the bladder pain or discomfort associated with IC.
For more information on interstitial cystitis, please visit: www.AllAboutIC.com
About ELMIRON® (pentosan polysulfate sodium)
ELMIRON® is indicated for the relief of bladder pain or discomfort associated with interstitial cystitis. ELMIRON® is available by prescription only.
Important Safety Information
ELMIRON® is a weak anticoagulant (blood thinner) which may increase bleeding. Call your doctor if you will be undergoing surgery or will begin taking anticoagulant therapy such as warfarin, heparin, high doses of aspirin, or anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.
ELMIRON® should not be taken if you have a known hypersensitivity to the drug or similar drugs.
The most common side effects observed in clinical trials were blood in stool, diarrhea, nausea, hair loss, headache, rash, upset stomach, abdominal pain, liver function abnormalities, and dizziness. Hair loss, when it occurred, was almost always limited to a single area of the scalp, and grew back when ELMIRON® was discontinued.
The mechanism of action of ELMIRON® in interstitial cystitis is not fully understood.
Please see full Product Information for ELMIRON®.
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
About Ortho Women's Health & Urology™
Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™, Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc., is a leader in the fields of women’s health and urology, celebrating more than 75 years of partnering with women. Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™ is committed to helping people live healthier lives and to meeting the needs of healthcare professionals and patients with products. For more information on these products, birth control, bladder health or general women’s health issues, please visit www.orthowomenshealth.com.
Ortho Women's Health & Urology™ is a Division of Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AllAboutIC.com is published by Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
# # #
MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Firsching, Ortho Women’s Health & Urology™
AFirschi@its.jnj.com
(908) 218-7583