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 .
Psychometric validation of the O'leary-Sant interstitial cystitis symptom index in a clinical trial of pentosan polysulfate sodium.
The O'Leary-Sant Interstitial Cystitis Symptom Index ( ICSI ) has been proposed as a treatment outcome measure in interstitial cystitis ( IC ) . The psychometric properties of the ICSI were assessed for reliability and validity in a r and omized , double-blind clinical study of 300 , 600 , and 900 mg daily dose of pentosan polysulfate sodium ( PPS ) in patients with IC . The ICSI contains 4 items that measure urgency and frequency of urination , nighttime urination , and pain or burning . The ICSI index score is the sum of the item scores ( range : 0 - 20 ) . ICSI scores were obtained at baseline , 4 , 8 , 12 , 16 , 24 , and 32 weeks of treatment . Patients ' overall ratings of improvement of symptoms ( PORIS ) scores evaluating improvements in pain , urgency , and overall IC symptoms were also collected except at baseline . A total of 376 patients were included in the analysis . Psychometric properties evaluated included variability ( range ) , test-retest reliability ( intraclass correlation coefficient [ ICC ] ) , internal consistency ( the Cronbach alpha ) , construct validity ( convergent , discriminant ) , responsiveness , and clinical ly meaningful change . The ICSI items and index score had good variability and test-retest reliability . The ICSI demonstrated internal consistency reliability and was responsive to change . Participants indicating a 75 % improvement in PORIS had a 48 % mean reduction in the ICSI score , while participants reporting 100 % improvement in PORIS had a 77 % mean reduction in the ICSI score . The ICSI is a valid , reliable , and responsive measure of change in IC symptoms . This outcome measure should be utilized in future treatment outcomes studies in IC
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 .