DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and interstitial cystitis
What 4 graded rows on dmso (dimethyl sulfoxide) agree on for interstitial cystitis, and where they differ. Counted side by side, never averaged.
Consensus finder Rows from the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page, reviewed Oct 21, 2026 How it decides
What the rows agree on
Each block and row is one graded row from the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page, with its PubMed record.
Your question
DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) and interstitial cystitis
4 rows · 753 peopleMostly an improvement: 3 of 4 rows, and most of the people. 1 had mixed results.
- BGrade B× 3
- CGrade C× 1
- Rows
- 4
- Trials
- 17
- People
- 753
- Pooled reviews may count some twice
What the rows share
From the rowsThe best-graded row, grade B, is a meta-analysis of 554 people (2025) and found an improvement.
The rows run from 33 to 554 people, published from 1988 to 2025: 1 pooled review and 3 single studies.
The rows
3 improved · 1 mixed- BGrade BSymptom, problem and pain scores in interstitial cystitis (pooled) · Improved
Meta-analysis, 14 studies · n 554 · 2025 · People with interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome in 5 randomized trials and 9 single-arm or cohort studies
As given in each included study · Varied by study
Compared with before treatment, the symptom index fell 5.59 points, the problem index 5.14 points and pain scores 3.27 points (all p < 0.00001). Adverse events occurred in 37.6%, mostly mild.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 40205912 (opens PubMed)
- BGrade BBladder pain and urinary symptoms in interstitial cystitis · Improved
RCT · n 96 · 2021 · Japanese adults with bladder-centric interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (symptom index 9 or more, diagnosed by cystoscopy)
One bladder instillation every 2 weeks · 12 weeks
The O'Leary-Sant symptom index fell 5.2 points with DMSO vs 3.4 with placebo (difference −1.8, 95% CI −3.3 to −0.3; P = 0.0188). Bladder pain, urination frequency, voided volume and global response also improved more than with placebo; side effects were mild to moderate.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 33580603 (opens PubMed)
- BGrade BSymptom and urodynamic improvement in interstitial cystitis · Improved
Crossover RCT · n 33 · 1988 · 30 women and 3 men (mean age 48, symptoms for a mean 5.5 years) with biopsies suggestive of interstitial cystitis (Canada)
One instillation every 2 weeks · Two sessions of 4 instillations each (crossover)
53% were markedly improved on DMSO vs 18% on placebo (subjective), and 93% vs 35% improved on objective urodynamic measures. No significant side effects were noted.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 3288775 (opens PubMed)
- CGrade CInterstitial cystitis symptoms: DMSO mix vs a bupivacaine, triamcinolone and heparin mix · Mixed
RCT · n 70 · 2023 · Women with newly diagnosed interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (USA); 83 randomized, 70 completed all instillations
Six weekly bladder instillations · 6 weeks
A fall of more than 29.5% in the symptom index occurred in 63% with DMSO vs 43% with BTH (p = 0.15, not significant). Pain and night-time urination fell significantly more with DMSO; bladder capacity rose in both groups.
Row on the DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) page · PubMed 36747494 (opens PubMed)