When treatments fail, patients are often prescribed pain killers (i.e., opioids) to relieve the bladder pain caused by IC/BPS.
Long-term use of opioids, however, can cause you to build up a tolerance to them — which may make them ineffective — while also carrying the added risk of addiction.
Even after trying multiple ways to manage the pain associated with IC/BPS, many patients find themselves frustrated with the discomfort and life interruption associated with the disease. Those patients who have not responded to other therapies may be interested in this investigational treatment, which is being studied as an alternative to more invasive pain management options (catheterization, for example).