Botox as a Treatment for Interstitial Cystitis in Women

Summary

Patients with interstitial cystitis have been well documented to have pelvic floor muscle tenderness as well as pain on bladder distension. Some investigators have even suggested that pelvic floor muscle pain is primarily the cause of bladder problems. Botulinum toxin A causes muscle relaxation by inhibiting the acetylcholine release at the neuromuscular junction. It has been shown that this mechanism relieves pain in a number of muscle spasm-related syndromes. Because, at present, there is little effective therapy available for patients with interstitial cystitis, the researchers want to determine if botulinum toxin A will relieve bladder and pelvic pain in these patients.

Timeline

Start

2004-05

Primary completion

2009-06

Completion

2010-09

Drugs

Indications