Purpose

The purpose of this study is to assess the use of peppermint oil as a treatment for Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS).

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 65 Years
Eligible Sex
Female
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Women ages 18-65 years old - Diagnosed with IC/BPS for at least one month prior to study enrollment

Exclusion Criteria

  • Culture proven urinary tract infection within 1 month of randomization - Gross hematuria - Currently pregnant or breastfeeding - Unable to speak and read English - History of allergic reaction to peppermint, coconut or enteric coating - History of malabsorption syndrome - History of gastroparesis - History of gastric bypass surgery - History of gastrointestinal, genitourinary or pelvic cancer in the last 5 years - History of insulin dependent diabetes - History of active urinary stone disease

Study Design

Phase
Phase 1/Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to the intervention or placebo arm. Allocation concealment will be in place to ensure the individual enrolling the subject into the study has no a priori knowledge of group assignment. Block randomization will occur with randomly mixed block sizes of 4, 6, and 8 using the randomization list generator at www.sealedenvelope.com. Randomization information will be kept confidential and only available to study personnel.
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Single (Participant)
Masking Description
The peppermint-oil and placebo treatments will be kept in a locked and secured area of the office, in a room not used for patient care. The bottles will be de-identified, with labels detailing the specific instructions for how to take the soft gels and the number in each bottle. Each group will be instructed to take one soft gel three times daily. The peppermint oil and placebo medications will be distributed by the research team. The manufacturer label will be covered up/removed and a study label stating the use of a study medication will be used to maintain patient blinding.

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Peppermint Oil
Participants in the intervention (peppermint oil) arm will receive soft gels of enteric-coated peppermint oil (0.2mL=200mg). The enteric coated peppermint oil soft gel utilized in this study is Peptogest Peppermint Oil from Schwabe North America (Nature's Way Brand).
  • Drug: Peppermint oil
    Enteric coated peppermint oil taken by mouth three times daily for 8 weeks.
    Other names:
    • Peptogest Peppermint Oil
Placebo Comparator
Coconut Oil
Participants in the placebo (coconut oil) arm will receive soft gels of enteric coated coconut oil. The enteric coated coconut oil soft gel utilized in this study is Coconut Oil from Schwabe North America (Nature's Way Brand).
  • Drug: Coconut Oil
    Enteric coated coconut oil taken by mouth three times daily for 8 weeks
    Other names:
    • Coconut Oil Pure Extra Virgin

Recruiting Locations

Springs Medical Center
Louisville, Kentucky 40205
Contact:
Sean Francis, MD

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Louisville

Study Contact

Jenna Warehime, DO
502-588-7660
pepperminttrial@gmail.com

Detailed Description

After being informed about the study and potential risks, all participants will complete validated IC/BPS symptom questionnaires for baseline screening. Once participants meet eligibility requirements and give written informed consent they will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to peppermint oil (200mg TID) or placebo (also TID). Participants will complete validated IC/BPS questionnaires and follow up surveys over 8 weeks.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.