A pharmaceutical composition that is an intravesical formulation for bladder instillation for treating or ameliorating a lower urinary tract disorder selected from the group consisting of interstitial cystitis and radiation-induced cystitis comprising: (a) an anionic polysaccharide in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder, wherein the anionic polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, dermatan sulfates, heparin, heparan sulfates, and keratan sulfates; (b) lidocaine in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; (c) a buffer that buffers the solution at a pH that ensures that a sufficient portion of the lidocaine is present in an uncharged state so that the lidocaine can cross the cell membranes, wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, phosphate buffer, and Tris buffer, and the buffer is present in a quantity such that the buffer has a buffering capacity at least equivalent to the buffering capacity of a quantity of sodium bicarbonate such that, when the formulation is dissolved in an aqueous liquid for administration, the sodium bicarbonate is present at a concentration of 0.20 M to 0.45 M, and wherein the pH at which the solution is buffered is from 7.3 to 7.7; (d) optionally, an osmolar component that provides an isotonic or nearly isotonic solution compatible with human cells and blood, wherein the osmolar component is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, dextrose, dextran 40, dextran 60, and mannitol; and (e) optionally, an additional component comprising one or more of the following in any combination: (i) a compound that enables persistence of the composition to the surface of the bladder epithelium in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder, wherein the compound that enables persistence of the composition to the surface of the bladder epithelium is a thermoreversible gelling agent; (ii) an antibacterial agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; (iii) an antifungal agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; and (iv) a vasoconstrictor agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder. (a) an anionic polysaccharide in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder, wherein the anionic polysaccharide is selected from the group consisting of hyaluronic acid, hyaluronan, chondroitin sulfate, pentosan polysulfate, dermatan sulfates, heparin, heparan sulfates, and keratan sulfates; (b) lidocaine in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; (c) a buffer that buffers the solution at a pH that ensures that a sufficient portion of the lidocaine is present in an uncharged state so that the lidocaine can cross the cell membranes, wherein the buffer is selected from the group consisting of sodium bicarbonate, phosphate buffer, and Tris buffer, and the buffer is present in a quantity such that the buffer has a buffering capacity at least equivalent to the buffering capacity of a quantity of sodium bicarbonate such that, when the formulation is dissolved in an aqueous liquid for administration, the sodium bicarbonate is present at a concentration of 0.20 M to 0.45 M, and wherein the pH at which the solution is buffered is from 7.3 to 7.7; (d) optionally, an osmolar component that provides an isotonic or nearly isotonic solution compatible with human cells and blood, wherein the osmolar component is selected from the group consisting of sodium chloride, dextrose, dextran 40, dextran 60, and mannitol; and (e) optionally, an additional component comprising one or more of the following in any combination: (i) a compound that enables persistence of the composition to the surface of the bladder epithelium in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder, wherein the compound that enables persistence of the composition to the surface of the bladder epithelium is a thermoreversible gelling agent; (ii) an antibacterial agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; (iii) an antifungal agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; and (iv) a vasoconstrictor agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder. (i) a compound that enables persistence of the composition to the surface of the bladder epithelium in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder, wherein the compound that enables persistence of the composition to the surface of the bladder epithelium is a thermoreversible gelling agent; (ii) an antibacterial agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; (iii) an antifungal agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder; and (iv) a vasoconstrictor agent in a quantity sufficient to treat or ameliorate the lower urinary tract disorder.