#Over the counter uti medication how to#

This medication is also available as a generic. If you're looking to buy branded UTI medicine over-the-counter with methenamine, ask your doctor about Cystex. However, this medicine does not cure a UTI. It may also help control the infection from spreading. This medicine is also meant to help reduce pain and burning associated with UTIs. Popular brands include Azo and Uristat.Īnother over-the-counter medicine for UTI is Cystex which uses a combination of methenamine and sodium salicylate. These are available as over-the-counter UTI medicine. They can also help with other symptoms such as burning or the frequent need to go. Pain relievers like phenazopyridine hydrochloride can help to ease the pain associated with UTIs. Having said this, some UTI over-the-counter medicine may help relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms that come along with the infection. Over-the-counter UTI medicine is largely ineffective and not advised for the treatment of UTIs. Bacterial UTIs can only be treated with antibiotics. Is Over-The-Counter UTI Medicine Effective at Treating UTIs? Symptoms begin to clear up within three days.īut what about over-the-counter UTI medicine? Are they effective at treating UTIs? More on that below. Generally, these are short courses prescribed for uncomplicated UTIs. Since bacteria is almost always the culprit for UTIs, physicians will usually prescribe antibiotics.Īccording to Mayoclinic, commonly prescribed antibiotics include: However, they may also experience an increased need to urinate at night, chills and fever that last beyond two days, vomiting and nausea, and pain along the back.

Usually, people experience prolonged symptoms of lower UTIs.

Urinating more frequently but passing smaller amounts of urineĪccording to the University of Maryland Medical Center, those with upper urinary tract infections can expect more severe symptoms than those of cystitis.

This condition is much more serious, and, according to Harvard Medical School, it is potentially fatal.Īccording to American Urological Association, the usual symptoms of UTIs include: This is considered an upper urinary tract infection and is called pyelonephritis. However, if left untreated, the infection can spread to the kidneys. This type of infection is called cystitis which isn't usually life-threatening or serious-especially if it's caught and treated early. In lower UTIs, it's typically the bladder that becomes infected after bacteria travels up to it via the urethra. There are two general types of UTIs: lower UTIs and upper UTIs. The NIH explains that this is mostly due to women's shorter urethras which allow bacteria easier access to the bladder. According to estimates by the American Urological Association and the NIH, in their lifetime, women have a 40% to 50% risk of contracting at least one UTI. While both men and women can get them, women are at a much higher risk for UTIs. According to the National Institutes of Health, 'UTIs account for as many as 8.1 million visits to health care providers every year.' This includes your ureters, bladder, or kidneys.Īs mentioned previously, UTIs are one of the most commonly occurring infections.

#Over the counter uti medication how to#

Read on to learn more about, UTIS, UTI treatments, and how to prevent them from occurring in the first place! Get UTI Medicine for less:īuy UTI Medication What Are UTIs and What are the Symptoms?Ī UTI is an infection in any part of your urinary system. With this in mind, are antibiotics the only way to get rid of a bacterial UTI? What about over-the-counter UTI medicine? Can it cure a UTI as well? There are a lot of questions. While fungi, viruses, and parasites can all cause UTIs, these infections are typically caused by bacteria (usually E.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections.