Otc Uti Treatment Options
UTIs are typically treated with a course of antibiotics that may run for a single day or a course of 7 days but usually lasts at an average of 1-3 days for uncomplicated urinary tract infections. However, some infections might not even need a course of antibiotics and may cease to exist. But, while treatment of UTIs without antibiotics may be a possible prospect in the future, for now, only a few equally effective OTC UTI treatments are available that can help a patient manage their symptoms. These include:
Hydration: Although not exactly an OTC UTI treatment method, hydration is still the key to treating a UTI quickly. If youve contracted a UTI, it is important to have fluids as frequently as possible so that you urinate more frequently and the harmful bacteria are flushed out of your urinary tract through natural means. This option means curing your symptoms without the use of medication.
- Probiotics: Probiotics serve as an excellent OTC UTI treatment option that helps promote digestion and immunity in your body. Probiotics restore the good bacteria present in your gut and reduce the chances of reinfection.
- Ascorbic Acid: Increasing your Vitamin C intake not only strengthens your immune system but is also a greater OTC UTI treatment option since it helps acidify the urine which may reduce the chance of reinfection.
How I Treated Myself Without Antibiotics
Ive had my first serious episode of bladder infection when I was 32.
When I say serious infection I mean: blood in the urine, shivers, temperature, feeling the intense urge to urinate and pain while trying to eliminate.
Because I am all about trusting the body and natural remedies to heal, I didnt take antibiotics.
I may sound calm now, but let me be honest: I was so freaked out at that time!
Because I hadnt experienced something like this before.
In spite of the fear, Ive done a lot of research on natural remedies and Ive consulted with my homeopath.
And Ive used the remedies and suggestions I share in the infographic bellow.
It took me about 24h to get out of the crisis , and a couple of weeks to feel completely recovered. I continued taking cranberry supplements for about 6 months to prevent a recurring episode.
Then Ive recently had another one.
But this time it was way milder.
Ive been in the crisis for about 12h and in a few days I felt completely recovered. And I did this using only some of the remedies Ive used the previous year.
When Ive asked my women friends what do they do in such cases, I was surprised to hear that many of them get sick even a few times a year and that they take some form of antibiotics.
But because in time the bacteria becomes resistant to antibiotics, they need stronger and stronger drugs that have such devastating side effects on their immune system.
If Cystitis Keeps Coming Back
If you keep getting cystitis , a doctor may prescribe stand-by antibiotics or continuous antibiotics.
A stand-by antibiotic is a prescription you can take to a pharmacy the next time you have symptoms of cystitis without needing to visit a GP first.
Continuous antibiotics are taken for several months to prevent further episodes of cystitis.
These may be prescribed:
- if cystitis usually occurs after having sex
- if cystitis isn’t related to having sex
Your doctor may also recommend some measures you can take to prevent cystitis, although it’s not clear how effective these are.
Page last reviewed: 09 August 2018 Next review due: 09 August 2021
Recommended Reading: How To Test For A Bladder Infection At Home
Cut Back On Meat And Poultry
Some studies, such as one published in August 2018 in the journal mBio, have linked contaminated poultry and meat to E.coli bacteria strains that can cause UTIs. These studies havent proven that eating meat or poultry causes UTIs. In fact, some E.coli can live in the intestines without causing any problems. However, bacteria from the gut can enter the urinary tract and cause infection. This risk is greater in women than men, because women have shorter urethras than men, meaning the bacteria has less distance to travel to reach the bladder.
Cutting back on meat and focusing on fruits and veggies may slightly cut your risk of UTIs. According to a study of Buddhists in Taiwan, published in January 2020 in Scientific Reports, compared with nonvegetarians, vegetarians had a 16 percent lower risk of UTI.
Related: Vegetarian Diet Linked to Lowered Risk Of Urinary Tract Infection
What Is A Bacterial Infection
Before learning about how to cure Bacterial Infection, it is essential to know what a bacterial infection is. Microorganisms like Bacteria can survive in different environments including the human body.
These can live in or on the body of humans. While there are many bacteria that are not harmful and greatly aid in body processes, certain bacteria do harm the body causing infections. Such infections are contagious and the transmission is through different media like air, food, and water.
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Why Antibiotics Are The Golden Standard
Urinary tract infections occur due to an external bacterial infection in the urinary tract of a body. The most common treatment option is a course of antibiotic therapy that targets the pathogens and the bacteria causing the infection.
The appropriate antibiotic course leads to higher symptomatic and bacteriological cure rates and significantly reduces the chances of reinfection. The types of antibiotics prescribed as the first line of treatment are based upon the type of bacteria found in your urine after the urine analysis, your health status, and the severity of the infection.
Do I Really Have To See A Doctor For A Uti
It may seem unnecessary to see a doctor for such a common illness. Why not just let it go and treat it on your own? Dr. Elizabeth Rice, a licensed naturopathic doctor and primary care physician at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine, has tips for natural treatments, but says you always have to be careful. A partially treated or mistreated UTI can quickly become a serious condition known as pyelonephritis , so care must always be taken when treating UTIs naturally.
If youre just starting to feel or see potential UTI symptoms, you can try a few natural remedies to try to flush out the bacteria and reduce inflammation before the infection really takes hold, Rice says. Increase your intake of fluids to help flush the bladder. But if the symptoms persist more than a day, or get worse, you have to go to the doctor.
Going to the doctor may be a bit annoying, but a UTI that morphs into a kidney infection is way worse than an afternoon in the waiting room. Kidney infections can lead to potentially life-threatening sepsis or permanent kidney damage. Seeing a doctor to prescribe antibiotics may ultimately help you avoid a lifetime of medical complications.
You know your body best, so listen to it. You may not run to the doctor after one weird-feeling pee. If you start to have mild symptoms, here are a few natural choices that may help you out.
Read Also: How To Reduce Bladder Pain
Wipe From Front To Back
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases , UTIs can develop when bacteria from the rectum or feces gain access to the urethra. This small channel allows urine to flow out of the body.
Once bacteria are in the urethra, they can travel up into other urinary tract organs, where they can lead to infections.
After urinating, wipe in a way that prevents bacteria from coming into contact with the genitals. Use separate pieces of toilet paper to wipe the genitals and anus.
I What Is Bacterial Infection
To understand what bacterial infection is and how to treat bacterial infection, we should perceive the concept of bacteria. According to Dr. James Steckelberg, who is a consultant in the Division of Infectious Disease as well as a professor of medicine working at Mayo Medical School, bacteria are microscopic and single-cell organisms that are able to live almost everywhere, regardless climate and location.As you know, bacteria can live in the air, soil, and water. They also live on and inside many carrying parties such as plants, animals, and even human bodies. By that, they have certain impacts on the carrying parties, actually. In addition to the benefits that they can bring, for instance, they perform vital functions for organisms as well as in the environment, bacteria are still considered as a negative connotation. Bacterial infection is an example.
If you want to understand in depth, you can click at and read the specific study on bacteria.
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How To Cure Uti
Here’s a short summary of the key issues raised by Dr. Mercola:
Size of Problem
- some 50% of women in the US have urinary tract infection issues
- around 11 million visits to health professionals
- 10 times more women than men suffer UTIs — added by me
Symptoms and Signs
- cloudy or dark urine color
Prevention is Better Than Cure
- 16 x more effort and resources to treat an infection than to prevent it
Prevention Through Lifestyle Changes
- go to the bathroom when you feel the need — not holding it in
- wipe from front to back to prevent bacterial contamination
- empty bladder after intercourse and scrupulously clean the area
- shower instead of bathing
- avoid non-natural feminine hygiene products – use only natural products
Try to Avoid Antibiotics
Doctors will usually propose antibiotics to cure urinary tract infections but these kill your good bacteria as well as your bad. You can use natural home remedies for urinary tract infections. Dr. Mecola suggests:
- taking good bacteria through food and / or supplements
- taking cranberry extract tablets – not juice
- taking D-Mannose which is a naturopathic remedy for urinary tract infections.
How To Treat Bladder Infection Naturally Without Antibiotics 10 Tips
If you experience the stabbing and burning pain every time you urinate, it means that you suffer from bladder infection. This disease is caused by bacteria growth in urethra and the bladder. Bladder infection can affect anyone of any age, race or gender however, it is said that women face the more possibility in developing bladder infection than men and children. Bladder infection has the second name which is urinary tract infection. Beside medication and drug treatment, alternative solution on how to treat bladder infection naturally without antibiotics is lifestyle changes and home remedies.
Recommended Reading: Bladder Infection Back Pain Right Side
Garlic On How To Treat Bacterial Infection
You can lay your belief in garlic because it is also another natural home remedy with antibacterial properties. Garlic is available in every kitchen and it is the excellent home remedy to treat different fungal and bacterial infections. An effective way on how to treat bacterial infection is eating 4-5 cloves of garlic per day. You can chew and swallow it. Another way is taking garlic in the form of capsules. However, this way may be less effective than chewing garlic freshly. If you cannot stay with fresh garlic cloves, you can think of its capsules but we still recommend you eating it raw. Besides, garlic tea is another solution that is also considered as the herbal remedy on how to treat bacterial infection. You should add some cloves in the boiling water and steep for a few minutes before sipping the garlic tea. It is easy to have a cup of garlic tea so that you are supposed to spend a little effort and time on it. Garlic tea will be a useful treatment.
To know other benefits of garlic, you can view at Benefits Of Garlic
Holistic Strategies To Prevent Uti Naturally Without Antibiotics
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Its no fun to deal with chronic UTIs, especially if the only solution you know is to take a low dose of antibiotics indefinitely. While antibiotics are the only FDA approved option to prevent UTI, there is an alternative strategy to prevent UTI naturally.
Key points of the post:
- Address underlying health issues that cause recurrent UTIs in the first place
- Heal your bladder lining
- Lower the amount of bad bacteria
- Increase the number of good bacteria
- Change your diet
- Stop smoking and start exercising
- Meditate
Also Check: Antibiotics Given For Bladder Infection
Peeing Before And After Sex
This would only be helpful if your urine flow is strong enough. Also, unfortunately, bacteria are smarter than this and are able to attach even stronger when facing a urine flow. Therefore, you can only flush out non-pathogenic E.coli that do not have this mechanism of attachment or other pathogenic bacteria. In general, its a useful tip to lower the number of bacteria in the urine but its not enough.
Cystitis In Men And Older People
Men tend to get cystitis later in life. Where trouble with urine flow is a symptom, this may indicate that the underlying cause is a problem with their prostate gland.
Cystitis is common in older people, particularly if they are unwell. Bladder catheters and some urinary-tract operations may also increase the risk of cystitis.
Also Check: Unable To Control Bowels And Bladder
Consider Switching Birth Control
Some older research suggests that certain contraceptives may contribute to the cause of UTIs in some women.
If you use diaphragms, spermicides, or nonlubricated condoms and get frequent UTIs, it may be worth talking to your doctor to find other methods of birth control.
Its not uncommon for UTIs to go away on their own with at-home care and without the use of antibiotics.
Some research estimates that 25 to 42 percent of UTIs can go away on their own. This is usually only common in women with no other health issues.
However, there are some serious risks that can come from leaving a UTI untreated, including pyelonephritis and .
UTIs are painful, but with treatment, you can alleviate an infection and prevent recurrent infections. Talk with your doctor if you have symptoms of a UTI. With proper treatment, you should begin to feel better in a few days.
Take your antibiotics as instructed even after your symptoms improve to prevent complications or a secondary infection.
If the UTI doesnt resolve after antibiotic treatment or you end up with multiple episodes of a UTI, your doctor will likely do further testing.
This could be in the form of:
- cystoscopy
- urodynamic testing
You may be referred to a urologist, depending on the severity of your UTI or if you have chronic infections.
Certain strains of bacteria can cause UTIs. They can range from mild to severe. The degree of severity depends on multiple factors, including:
How Do You Sleep With A Uti
Use an incontinence pad or wear incontinence pants. These can lessen the concern of urinating in your sleep or give you the option of not getting out of bed to urinate. Use a hot water bottle or heating pad to warm your abdomen to minimize bladder discomfort or pressure. Completely empty your bladder before bed.
Read Also: Sleep Number Bed Bladder Replacement
When To Contact A Doctor
If a person suspects that they might have a UTI, they should speak with a doctor for advice on the best way to treat the possible infection.
Antibiotics may not always be necessary to treat UTIs, but it is still important to seek medical attention for any suspected infection. This will reduce the risk of a more severe infection developing that is harder to treat.
The signs and symptoms of UTIs include:
Below are answers to some frequently asked questions about treating UTIs.
Researchers Trick Our Cells Into Treating Utis Without Antibiotics
New research shows that our bodies own immune systems have another way to fight off urinary tract infections without antibiotics – and it’s super effective.
This is a pretty big deal, seeing as UTIs are one of the most common infections treated with antibiotics in humans something thats contributing to the rise of drug-resistant superbugs.
Right now, bacteria in the US are readily becoming resistant to our last lines of antibiotics, hospital infections are getting more and more deadly, and even gonorrhoea is on the verge of being untreatable in the near future. So finding anything that can treat bacterial infections without antibiotics is incredibly exciting for scientists.
UTIs are usually caused by E. coli or other bacteria entering the urinary tract and attaching to the cell wall of the bladder, urethra, or kidneys .
Researchers already know that the bladder has a bunch of defence mechanisms it uses to try and minimise infection. One of these involves the lining of the bladder shedding frequently, so any bacteria that attach get washed out.
But that doesnt work in all cases, and if E. coli does manage to attach to the bladder wall, the resulting infection can be painful, and unpleasant especially if antibiotics arent able to clear it. There are currently 8.1 million doctors visits annually in the US just as a result of UTIs.
Just another reason your immune system is amazing. And if we manage to get rid of UTIs because of it, I wont be complaining.
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The Best Course Of Action
For most sufferers, Ali advises the best course of action is to increase fluid intake, take appropriate pain relief and speak with a healthcare professional for further assessment of symptoms.
If symptoms persist for more than two days – or include a fever, loin pain and/or nausea and vomiting – it is important to see your GP for advice on whether antibiotics are required. It’s also important to go back if you’ve been started on antibiotics and symptoms do not improve within 48 hours.
“While some of the over-the-counter treatments may provide symptomatic relief, the 2018 NICE UTI guidelines state that there is no evidence found for cranberry products or urine alkalinising agents to treat UTI,” he adds. “However, there’s a clinical trial showing the effectiveness of D-mannose. And grapefruit seed extract and oil of oregano have also been found to be beneficial.”