Treatment of Interstitial Cystitis
Conventional treatment options for IC can include a combination of: medications, physical therapy, biofeedback training, bladder training (which involves gradually waiting longer to use the bathroom and stretching out the time between urinating), alternative treatments to control stress, lifestyle changes, and bladder surgery, when needed.

Examples of interstitial cystitis medications that are used to manage symptoms include:

Amitriptyline
Pentosan polysulfate
Hydroxyzine
Cimetidine
Gabapentin, used to help reduce side-effects

Prescription pain killers including opioid analgesics or codeine, or over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications such as aetaminophen, aspirin and ibuprofen.
Because IC is not caused by an infection, antibiotics haven’t been shown to be helpful. Antibiotics should only be used if it’s determined that an infection, such as a UTI, is the root cause of your symptoms.

When is surgery for interstitial cystitis recommended? Surgery is typically a last resort option if other treatments don’t do enough to manage symptoms.

Surgery for IC can involve inserting a small amount of liquid medication (medications used are Heparin, Lignocaine and sodium bicarbonate) into the bladder with a catheter while the patient is under anesthesia. The procedure helps to stretch the bladder lining and positively impact the nerves located in the bladder. This type of procedure is called badder instillation (or a bladder wash or bath). While it can help to decrease pain, it is usually only a temporary solution. Surgery may need to be repeated every six months or yearly in order to keep painful symptoms from returning. Rarely other surgeries will be needed, including to remove or enlarge the bladder.