heparin + lidocaine

Heparin + lidocaine is a combination drug used primarily as an intravesical (bladder) instillation for the treatment of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Heparin is a glycosaminoglycan with anticoagulant properties that also helps restore the bladder’s mucosal barrier. Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that blocks sodium channels on nerve cells, providing rapid pain relief. When administered together—often in an alkalinized solution to enhance efficacy—the combination provides significant and immediate relief from urinary urgency, frequency, and pain associated with IC/BPS flares. The mechanism involves both anesthetizing bladder nerves (lidocaine) and augmenting the defective permeability barrier of the bladder urothelium (heparin). Clinical studies have shown this combination can provide up to 12 hours of symptom relief[1][2][3][5][8].

Brand names

Alenura

Other names

alkalinized lidocaine and heparinlidocaine plus heparinintravesical heparin-lidocaine combination