Current evidence also suggests the efficacy of  dimethyl sulfoxide and amitryptyline therapy .
Hydroxyzine , intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin  , and  resiniferatoxin therapy  failed to demonstrate efficacy , but evidence was inconclusive owing to method ological limitations .
Pentosan polysulfate may be modestly beneficial for symptoms of PBS/IC .
There is insufficient evidence for other pharmacologic treatments .
BACKGROUND More than 180 different types of therapy have been used in the treatment and management of  painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis ( PBS/IC ) , yet evidence from clinical trials remains inconclusive .
This study aim ed to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacologic approaches to PBS/IC , to quantify the effect size from r and omized controlled trials , and to begin to inform a clinical consensus of treatment efficacy for PBS/IC .
The efficacy of intravesical Tice strain bacillus Calmette-Guerin in the treatment of interstitial cystitis: a double-blind, prospective, placebo controlled trial.
PURPOSE Interstitial cystitis is a debilitating bladder disease of unknown etiology with no cure . A recent report suggested that bacillus Calmette-Guerin ( BCG ) may be effective in the treatment of interstitial cystitis . A r and omized , prospect i ve , double-blind , placebo controlled trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravesical BCG in treating interstitial cystitis was done . MATERIAL S AND METHODS Patients meeting the National Institute of Arthritis , Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases criteria for interstitial cystitis received 6 weekly instillations of Tice strain BCG or placebo .  Periodic question naires , voiding diaries and cystometrograms were obtained . A total of 30 evaluable subjects was enrolled in the study with a mean followup of 8 months ( range 6 to 13 ) . Based on an exit question naire a responder was defined as one who rated the interstitial cystitis symptoms as moderately improved or better . RESULTS A 60 % BCG response rate was noted , compared to a 27 % placebo response rate . Minimum voided volume and quality of life improved in the BCG group compared to placebo .  Adverse events were similar in each group , mostly irritative in nature , and no significant systemic events were noted . CONCLUSIONS Intravesical Tice strain BCG appears to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of interstitial cystitis . Additional studies must be performed to confirm the results of this pilot study
Current evidence also suggests the efficacy of  dimethyl sulfoxide and amitryptyline therapy .
Hydroxyzine , intravesical bacille Calmette-Guérin  , and  resiniferatoxin therapy  failed to demonstrate efficacy , but evidence was inconclusive owing to method ological limitations .
Pentosan polysulfate may be modestly beneficial for symptoms of PBS/IC .
There is insufficient evidence for other pharmacologic treatments .
BACKGROUND More than 180 different types of therapy have been used in the treatment and management of  painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis ( PBS/IC ) , yet evidence from clinical trials remains inconclusive .
This study aim ed to evaluate the efficacy of pharmacologic approaches to PBS/IC , to quantify the effect size from r and omized controlled trials , and to begin to inform a clinical consensus of treatment efficacy for PBS/IC .