Antibiotics Used For Uncomplicated Utis
If you are a healthy individual whose urinary tract is anatomically and functionally normal and you have no known heightened UTI susceptibility youve got whats dubbed an uncomplicated UTI, according to guidelines published in August 2019 in the Journal of Urology. For these individuals, antibiotics are considered the first-line of treatment.
The type of antibiotics you are prescribed and for how long is contingent on the type of bacteria detected in your urine, your current health status, and whether your UTI is uncomplicated or complicated. Depending on which antibiotic your doctor prescribes, women may need a single dose or up to a five-day course. For men, antibiotics are usually given for a slightly longer period of time, notes UpToDate.
Typically, if you are diagnosed with an uncomplicated UTI, one of the following will be prescribed as first-line treatment:
The following antibiotics are considered second-line treatments for UTI. They are generally chosen because of resistance patterns or allergy considerations:
RELATED: The Connection Between E. Coli and UTIs
What Can I Take To Relieve Pain
Phenazopyridine hydrochloride may relieve your pain, burning, itching, and urgency to urinate within 20 minutes. Avoid taking it if you have kidney disease or are allergic to dyes. Do not worry if your urine turns reddish-orange when you take this medication. This common effect is not harmful, but it can stain clothing.
Methenamine and sodium salicylate work together to slow bacterial growth along the urinary tract and to control the UTI. Do not take this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, are on a low-sodium diet or anticoagulant therapy, or have stomach problems.
You can also take other pain relievers, such as NSAIDs or acetaminophen .
Are Uti Antibiotics Over
The United States does not allow the purchase of antibiotics without a prescription. If you want to get a prescription, you will need to speak with a doctor or nurse practitioner. Video conferencing, phone calls, or in-person meetings are all options. It is helpful to see a doctor in person if you have never had an UTI before.
Also Check: Recurrent Bladder Infections And Cancer
Homeopathic Uti Over The Counter Treatment
Homeopathy treats the whole patient, not a symptom or group of symptoms. If you ask a homeopath, they prefer to prescribe remedies based on individual patient assessment, not just isolated symptoms. Therefore, a homeopathic doctor would prefer to prescribe you a remedy uniquely addressing your individual health needs.
Purchasing an off-the-shelf remedy is considered to be less effective than taking one recommended specifically for you.
However, there are several widely-recognized homeopathic UTI OTC remedies readily available. Many naturopathic doctors find the following remedies helpful for their patients with UTI symptoms.
Cantharis
Advised for those who experience a constant, strong urge to urinate with a sharp pain right before and after peeing. Other symptoms include a sensation of bladder fullness but only being able to release a few drops of urine when peeing.
Nux vomica
This remedy is advised for those who feel a strong urge to urinate, burning or cramping pain in the bladder area, and an itching sensation while the urine passes.
Other notable symptoms that can be helped include irritability, impatience, and feeling cold. This remedy is great if your symptoms are relieved by hot baths or with a hot bottle applied to your lower abdomen.
Sarsaparilla
This remedy is often useful in cystitis and may help when symptoms are unclear, or if other remedies have not been effective.
Uristat Ultra Uti Relief Pak
- Detect your urinary tract infection early with UTI test strip and experience relief with urinary pain relief tablets.
- Quickly detect the presence of a UTI within 2 minutes using UTI test strip
- Includes maximum strength, easy to swallow, Cranberry flavored coated tablets for fast, temporary relief of urinary pain, burning and urgency.
- From the makers of Monistat FSA/HSA eligible item in the USA
Recommended Reading: Best Cranberry Juice For Bladder Infection
Phew Its Over But Will It Come Back
Theres good news and theres bad news. The bad news: one out of five women who get a UTI will get another one. If you do get another UTI, speak with your doctor about UTI treatment options, he or she may prescribe a longer course of antibiotics or have other UTI treatment options for you. The good news: changing up some of your daily habits and following some of our tips above may also help you protect yourself. When it comes to keeping UTIs away, knowledge is power.
Over The Counter Bladder Infection Medication For Dogs
Bladder infection medication for your dog can be difficult to deal with, but the more effectively you treat your dogs bladder infection the faster it will be gone and the happier your dog will be. There are a number of treatment options and your vet can help you choose the right one. Always watch for other symptoms and reactions to medications and treatments. Report these reactions or additional symptoms immediately to ensure a serious condition doesn’t emerge.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Best Medication For Bladder Infection
How To Cure A Urinary Tract Infection With Diet
The best way to cure a urinary tract infection is to stop the issue with good old-fashioned diet. A large number of women will experience an acute urinary tract infection at some point in their lifetime. The most common symptom, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians, is lower abdominal pain/cramps and frequency of urination. These symptoms are often accompanied by fever, but fever is not always present.
Urinary tract infections can be cured with proper diet and medication. However, there are some foods that you might want to avoid in order to prevent a UTI from occurring. The following two tips can help you cure your UTI with diet:
1. Avoid caffeine and eat plenty of organic grapes and citrus fruits.
2. Drink plenty of water and herbal tea, even if you dont feel like it.
Urinary tract infections are generally caused by bacteria that travels to the urinary tract from other parts of the body. While many people can clear up UTIs with antibiotics, there are other ways to get rid of the infection at home without taking unnecessary medication. A person can use diet changes to help their UTI go away more quickly and be less likely to return in the future.
What Is A Urinary Tract Infection
If you have ever experienced the frequent urge to go the bathroom with painful and burning urination, you have probably experienced a urinary tract infection . UTIs are one of the most common types of infections, accounting for over 10 million visits to health care providers each year. Roughly 40% of women experience a UTI at some time, and in women, it is the most common infection. Healthcare costs related to UTIs exceed $1.6 billion per year.
A urinary tract infection can happen anywhere along your urinary tract, which includes the kidneys , the ureters , the bladder , or the urethra . Most UTIs occur in the bladder and urethra. Common symptoms include frequent need to urinate, burning while urinating, and pain in lower abdomen area.
There are different types of UTIs based on where the bacteria goes. A lower urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria gets into the urethra and is deposited up into the bladder this is called cystitis. Infections that get past the bladder and up into the kidneys are called pyelonephritis.
Urinary tract infection symptoms may include:
- Pain or burning upon urination
- A frequent or urgent need to urinate
- Passing small amounts of urine
- Blood in the urine or or pink-stained urine
- Urines that looks cloudy
- Strong-smelling urine
- Pain, cramping in the pelvis or pubic bone area, especially in women
Upper UTIs which include the kidney may also present with symptoms of fever, chills, back or side pain, and nausea or vomiting.
Also Check: What Age Can You Get Bladder Cancer
Why Should I Take The Full Dose
Antibiotics work well against UTIs. You might start to feel better after being on the medicine for just a few days.
But even so, keep taking your medicine. If you stop your antibiotics too soon, you wonât kill all the bacteria in your urinary tract.
These germs can become resistant to antibiotics. That means the meds will no longer kill these bugs in the future. So if you get another UTI, the medication you take might not treat it. Take the full course of your medicine to make sure all the bacteria are dead.
Can I Take Soothe With Uqora’s Other Products
Soothe can be safely taken alongside any of Uqora’s other products. When using with Clarify , we recommend using Clarify before taking Soothe. Soothe’s active ingredient is a dye that enters the urine to take effect and relieve UTI pain. However, it also turns the urine bright orange! Since Clarify’s test strips use color to indicate if you might have a UTI, the orange urine will make them more difficult to interpret. If you’ve purchased both together, we suggest using Clarify before taking Soothe.
Also Check: What Causes Bladder Pain And Pressure
Practice Good Sexual Hygiene
The also says that sexual intercourse introduces bacteria and other microbes from outside the body to the urinary tract. Practicing good sexual hygiene can help to reduce the number of bacteria that people can transfer during intercourse and other sexual acts.
Examples of good sexual hygiene include:
- urinating before and immediately after sex
- using barrier contraception, such as a condom
- washing the genitals, especially the foreskin, before and after engaging in sexual acts or intercourse
- washing the genitals or changing condoms if switching from anal sex to vaginal sex
- ensuring that sexual partners are aware of any current or previous UTIs
Manufacturers Respond To The Fda
The FDA received at least three responses to its list ofphenazopyridine questions within a 6-month period. The ConsumerHealthcare Products Association asked the FDA to reviewphenazopyridine, but completely sidestepped the issue ofcarcinogenicity.11 A submission from PolymedicaPharmaceuticals asserted that urinarydiscomfort should be self-treatable, and further argued against warningpatients on product labels that they may need a concomitantantibacterial.12 Polymedica also claimed that phenazopyridinedosages of 190 to 195 mg are safe and effective, but did not submitclinical dosage studies to support its assertions. Polymedica arguedagainst including any carcinogenesis statement. In short, the submissionwas entirely laudatory about phenazopyridine, although it did notreport newly conducted clinical studies, as would have been required bythe FDA to establish safety and efficacy.
A brief submission from Johnson & Johnson made essentially the same arguments as Polymedica, denying theneed for carcinogenicity labeling.13 This submission also failed to include new clinical studies providing evidence of safety and efficacy.
Recommended Reading: Azo Urinary Tract Defense Antibacterial Plus Urinary Pain Relief Tablets
Don’t Miss: Back To Back Bladder Infections
Urinate When The Need Arises
Frequent urination puts pressure on bacteria in the urinary tract, which can help to clear them out.
It also reduces the amount of time that bacteria in the urine are exposed to cells in the urinary tract, reducing the risk of them attaching and forming an infection.
Always urinate as soon as possible when the urge strikes to and treat UTIs.
You Can Get Help Without Going To A Doctors Office
In the past, receiving treatment for a UTI required scheduling an office visit and suffering through your symptoms until you can see a doctor. Now, telemedicine services like MDLIVE allow you can talk to a doctor via phone or videowherever you arein an average of 10 minutes or less. And if you need a prescription, you can have it in your hands that same day.
When it comes to UTIs, there are tests a doctor can run a urinalysis and culture, which can get quite expensive. However, if youre a healthy female between the ages of 18 and 65 with the symptoms of a UTI and without any complications, these tests most likely arent going to change the initial treatment a doctor prescribes, says Dr. Talbott.
If your doctor sees anything complicated in your symptoms, it does make sense to do a urinalysis and possibly other laboratory tests. But in a majority of cases, its reasonable to initiate treatment and forgo the cost and inconvenience of testing, and delay in treatment, because most of the time it wont change the antibiotic thats prescribed.
This makes telemedicine a more convenient and inexpensive way to get the treatment you need to minimize your discomfort and start feeling better, faster.*
Also Check: Exercises To Help Bladder Leakage
See A Healthcare Provider
While UTIs arent usually a cause for major concern, if you dont get them treated, they can lead to more serious problems like a kidney infection. If you have a UTI, make an appointment with a healthcare provider as soon as possible. The fastest way to feel better is by taking an antibiotic to kill the bacteria causing your infection.
If going to see a provider in-person is not an option , there are plenty of telehealth services available that will allow you to set up a virtual appointment. Check out GoodRx Care for treatment of UTIs as well as many other medical conditions.
During your appointment, your provider will ask you questions about what symptoms you are experiencing and if you are prone to UTIs. You might be asked to provide a urine sample either in the office you are seen in or at a lab close to you. Lastly, your provider will prescribe you a course of antibiotics to get started on right away.
Some common antibiotics used for treating UTIs include nitrofurantoin , sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim , and ciprofloxacin . Typically, you only need to take them for 3 to 5 days, and most people start to feel relief within the first 2 to 3 days. Antibiotics can cause nausea, stomach upset, and diarrhea for many people. But, taking your dose with food can help lessen nausea and stomach upset, and taking a probiotic supplement like L. acidophilus can help with the diarrhea.
Best Suppository: Nutrablast Boric Acid Suppositories
-
Natural, organic, and sustainable formula
-
Needs to be taken continuously for seven to 14 days
-
Slow acting
Each vaginal suppository contains the recommended 600 milligrams of 100% pure boric acid powder to target and eliminate excess yeast at the source. It offers immediate pain relief and works to improve overall vaginal health, balancing pH, and eliminating odors. If preferred, suppository applicators are sold separately.
Active Ingredients: Boric acid powder 600 mg | Doses: 30 | Uses: Supports healthy vaginal PH
Dont Miss: New Treatments For Neurogenic Bladder
You May Like: Can You Use A Drain Bladder On A Toilet
Can You Get Antibiotics For A Uti Without Insurance
You can definitely get antibiotics for a UTI without insurance. Though a prescription is required, insurance is not. And if you dont have insurance, dont worry there are many low-cost or even free options for getting the antibiotics you need.
Many of the antibiotics used to treat urinary tract infections are available as generics. This means that they are usually less expensive. And GoodRx can also help you keep your medication costs low. These antibiotics for UTIs are under $20 with a pharmacy discount:
In addition, many stores offer $4 generics for select medications, including some antibiotics. Some pharmacy chains like Publix even offer certain antibiotics for free.
Finally, if you are uninsured and finances are a barrier, Dispensary of Hope may be able to match you with a local option for free medications. Some doctors offices and free clinics may also have samples or free medications available for you to take home with you.
Can You Get Uti Antibiotics Over The Counter
Currently, no urinary tract infection antibiotics are available over the counter in the United States. A person must consult a doctor to get the UTI treated with an antibiotic. However, an OTC product called Uristat can be taken initially to
- Numb the bladder and urethra
- Ease the burning pain during the urination
This medication can be bought without a prescription from the pharmacy store. This product is not an antibiotic. Take phenazopyridine only for 48 hours, and be aware, it may cause the urine to turn brown, orange or red, which can stain a fabric or contact lens.
Read Also: Does Amitriptyline Help Overactive Bladder
Can I Treat A Uti Without Antibiotics
A person can try flushing out the bacteria with plenty of water. Hydrating the body with water up to two liters a day may help in mild urinary tract infections. Cranberry juice may help some people from developing recurrent UTIs. The urine alkalizers, such as sodium bicarb, may also help clear the UTIs.
Taking OTC drugs every time is not recommended. The infection may partially resolve and sometimes worsen over time, leading to a more severe kidney infection .
Pregnant women should always consult a doctor if they suspect UTI. Failing to do so can lead to premature birth and low birth weight.
How Do You Get Antibiotics For Uti Without Going To A Doctor
While you still need to see a doctor in order to get antibiotics for UTI, you do not have to physically go to a doctors appointment.
With PlushCare, you can schedule a virtual consultation with a doctor from the comfort of your own home. Make an appointment today to speak with a trusted physician and get UTI treatment by video or phone.
Appointments as low as $20.
Use our cost checker to see what youll pay
Don’t Miss: Feels Like I Have To Pee But Bladder Is Empty
What Can I Give My Dog For A Urinary Tract Infection
Before giving your pup something for a UTI, you should go to a vet sooner rather than later. If you wait too long to visit a vet, your pup could experience tremendous pain.
A vet will probably recommend several over-the-counter medications for treating UTIs in pups. A few effective over-the-counter treatment options are apple cider vinegar, citrus juice, cranberry juice, cranberry pills, Vitamin C, probiotic/prebiotic supplements, cranberries, and blueberries.
In addition, a long, warm bath is a great treatment option for UTIs in dogs. Make sure that your pup also drinks plenty of water to flush out the infection.
Donât Miss: Why Do You Keep Getting Urinary Tract Infections