Interstitial Cystitis Advice

There are many things available on the market which claim to help IC: a wide host of supplements, pills and potions, some pharmaceutical, many others not. Though some are little more than snake oil (figuratively speaking), others have surpassed their counterparts and have the track records to back up their claims. One such product is Prelief.

If you have visited many of the IC websites out there you will most likely have seen the adds for Prelief, but what exactly is it? FDA approved since 1998, Prelief is a food grade mineral chemically known as calcium glycerophosphate, which is listed as a dietary supplement. Created by AkPharma Inc, Prelief was originally aimed towards those suffering from gastric troubles like heartburn that stem from the consumption of acidic foods and beverages, as it works by binding to the acid in foods and neutralizing them. However, it was quickly discovered that Prelief had an effect on the bladder (on people with IC, Over-Active Bladder Syndrome and Prostatitis), as well as those suffering from IBS.

It has long been known that food has a very direct affect on the bladder of IC patients, most of whom can no longer eat certain foods due to the increase in symptoms they provoke. Enter Prelief. First of all, it’s worth pointing out that Prelief will not necessarily work for you, or work enough that you think it’s worth your time and money to continue on it, but several ICers who do try Prelief see a noticeable, often substantial, improvement in their symptoms.

Prelief is available over the counter, usually located in the antacid aisle of most pharmacies and grocery stores, although at this point in time, it is only available in the United States and online from AkPharma Inc. It does not require a prescription and is relatively inexpensive (compared to many of the IC prescription drugs). It is available in tablet form (which also contains magnesium stearate as a binding agent), ingested prior to eating, during the meal, or directly after (useful if you ate a “trigger” food without realizing at the time) and as a powder (granulate) that is directly sprinkled onto or stirred into problematic foods.

The medical community took note; something that helps IC doesn’t come along every day. So a number of studies have been undertaken and carried out to document the role Prelief plays in IC. The findings are very encouraging. For example, a retrospective study carried out by Gomelsky, Bologna, et al (findings documented in the June 2001 Journal of Urology) showed that 61% of the 203 IC patients they studied reported a reduction in urinary urgency (feeling like you have to go all of a sudden). Moreover, 70% of the same patients noted a decrease in overall IC related pain and discomfort.

A retrospect study by Dr. Kristene Whitmore (Chief of Urology at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia, PA.), noted that of the 250 ICers she studied (all of whom found that certain foods intensified their IC symptoms) 83% of those who were troubled by tomato products reported an improvement in their symptoms when taking Prelief. High improvement rates were also reported in those who were bothered by alcohol. None of the patients in her study reported any adverse side effects from Prelief.

Interestingly, 88% of the patients in the study, continued to use Prelief afterwards, for their own benefit. Another neat fact is that many of the patients could tell they were being given a placebo (it was a controlled study, implementing the use of placebos to some patients), and so they went and bought Prelief on their own, most likely because they were so impressed with the results they were experiencing (sounds like something I would do). The Quebec Urological Association carried out a study involving 550 food sensitive IC patients. The researchers assessed the patient’s symptoms using pain (VAS-PI) and urge intensity (VAS-UI) scales as well as the O’Leary Problem/Symptom Index. Changes in symptoms while using Prelief were measured over a four-week time span (patients took between 2 and 10 tablets per day). The study resulted in high numbers of patients who reported relief when taking Prelief with problematic food, with pain decreasing (on the VAS-PI scale) from 76.7% to 41%. They concluded that Prelief is in fact an effective, safe product for use in treating food sensitive IC (especially when patients can identify their trigger foods), and it can bring about a significant decrease in symptoms that are heightened when problematic foods are eaten.

A survey from Buckinghamshire, England by the Interstitial Cystitis Support Group of 32 ICers concluded that 81% were able to handle a wider range of acidic foods and beverages while taking Prelief. Other documented studies have shown similarly positive results. As well, AkPharma (makers of other well known products such as Beano and Lactaid) have carried out their own extensive research, showing such results as a 96% neutralization of acid in a 6-ounce cup of coffee when consumed with 2 packets of granulated Prelief. As well, 3 tablets taken with a 4-ounce glass of Chardonnay wine reduced the acid level present by 80%. These two examples help to show that the right “dosage” (quantity) of Prelief can be critical in its overall effectiveness in combating IC symptoms due to problem foods.

What does this mean to you? Well, I have personally tried Prelief (if you contact AkPharma they will send you a decent sized free sample: Their toll free hotline is 1-800-994-4711), and though I wasn’t so bold as to venture into the coffee/alcohol realm, I did notice that it made tomato products much more bearable, as well as apple juice and milk chocolate. I would thoroughly suggest that you try Prelief for yourself, it has no taste (and it doesn’t alter the taste of food), and it may help you eat foods you once thought were completely off limits for you. As well you can take it as often as you want or need.

So while many foods have high acid contents, and a “healthy” bladder would most likely never become aware of the acid levels in them, our IC bladders are very acutely aware of the acid in many, many foods. By neutralizing a large percentage of that acid Prelief helps to make certain foods more tolerable. It’s an ingenious product, which can be taken at your own discretion. While it doesn’t target symptoms that are not directly food related per se, it may help you feel better overall by reducing the total amount of symptoms/pain/discomfort that you are experiencing, because a lot of that suffering may, possibly, be due to certain foods in your diet. Prelief might just be the relief you are looking for. It certainly has my approval.