ELMIRON (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium)

What is this medication?

ELMIRON (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium)
Urinary Analgesic

ELMIRON (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) is officially indicated for the relief of bladder pain or discomfort from Interstitial cystitis.  It is sometimes used off-label for joint pain/osteoarthritis in sports medicine.

How does this medication work? 

ELMIRON (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium) is a low molecular weight heparin-like compound.  It has an anticoagulant and fibrinolytic effect.  It is used to treat interstitial cystitis and it is believed to bind to the bladder wall mucosa and act as a buffer to protect tissues from irritating substances in the urine.  Pentosan polysulphate sodium has reportedly been used by medical doctors for knee and bone pain and recently demonstrated in a clinical trial to control and prevent joint pain by controlling bone marrow lesions in the joint cavity.

How should I take this medication? 

Oral: Take 100mg three times daily.

Note: Patients should be re-evaluated after 3 months.  The risks and benefits of continued use beyond 6 months in patients who have not responded is not known.

How to Take: Take with water 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal. 

What should I watch for while using this medication? 

Before starting ELMIRON (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium), make sure your physician is aware of any allergies or medications you currently take, if you are pregnant, or breastfeeding. Use with Caution in Pregnant Women; no adverse events have been seen in animal reproduction studies however, reversible limb bud abnormalities were observed in vitro animal studies. Use with caution in patients with signs or symptoms of underlying coagulopathies or increased risk of bleeding (i.e. receiving blood thinners, thrombolytics, NSAIDs or high dose aspirin).

What if I miss a dose?

If you miss a dose of medication, try to take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, take only that scheduled dose. Do not take double or extra doses.

How should I store this medication?

Keep out of the reach of children at all times. Store at room temperature, 59 to 86° F (15 to 30° C). Protect from light. Keep the container tightly closed. Properly dispose of any unused medication after the expiration date.

What are the possible side effects of using this medication?

Headache, dizziness, alopecia, skin rash, diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, rectal hemorrhage, abnormal hepatic function tests.

Note this is not a complete list of side effects for ELMIRON (Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium), only common ones.