How to get rid of nausea from a UTI

UTIs are common bacterial infections of your urinary tract — your bladder, urethra, and kidneys. They usually cause several uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• pain when urinating
• a frequent and increased urge to pee
• cloudy or bloody urine

In some cases, severe UTIs can cause you to feel nauseous. This usually occurs if the UTI has spread to your kidneys and will likely be accompanied by fever and muscle aches. If this happens, treating the UTI is important.

You can also help ease nausea using OTC and home remedies. But targeting the UTI with antibiotics will likely help you feel completely better.

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How do UTIs cause nausea?

UTIs are very common infections that can affect your urethra, bladder, or kidneys.

Uncomplicated UTIs generally affect your lower urinary tract — your bladder and urethra. While uncomfortable, these infections are usually mild, and they clear up on their own in around 20% of cases, especially with increased hydration.

Complicated UTIs include those that affect your upper urinary tract — your kidneys. These are also known as pyelonephritis. They’re considered more serious than uncomplicated UTIs because there’s a higher risk of the infection entering your bloodstream. This can lead to severe complications like sepsis.

Kidney infections can cause the same UTI symptoms as lower UTIs, including pain when urinating and bloody or cloudy pee. But they usually also cause other symptoms, including fever, chills, pain in your lower back or side, and nausea and vomiting.

Nausea can happen because the infection has become more severe. The pain itself may cause you to feel nauseous. Or it may be due to the inflammation in your kidneys. Problems with kidney function may also lead to nausea.

How to manage nausea from UTIs

There are many different ways to manage nausea, regardless of its cause. You’ll most likely try OTC medications or lifestyle strategies. There are prescription medications that can treat nausea and vomiting. But prescription medications are rarely used to manage UTI-related nausea.

Medications

Medications used to treat nausea and vomiting are called antiemetics. They usually treat symptoms of nausea and vomiting rather than the root cause (in this case, UTIs). Doctors may recommend them alongside other medications to treat the underlying cause.

Antihistamines are a common OTC option. Antihistamines that may help manage nausea include:

• dimenhydrinate (Dramamine)
• meclizine (Bonine)
• promethazine (Phenergan)

Bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) is another common OTC medication that you can take to settle your stomach if you’re experiencing nausea and vomiting.

Home remedies

Some home remedies you can try include staying hydrated and making sure you get plenty of rest. Considering your diet may also help while you recover.

A bland diet full of low fat, soft, non-spicy foods might help soothe your stomach, including:

• eggs, tofu, and wheat
• bland vegetables, including carrots and spinach

Consider avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms, including:

• acidic fruits like lemons and oranges
• alcoholic drinks (if you drink)
• non-lean meat

Ginger is another commonly discussed method for easing nausea. It has long been used for this purpose and is considered to have anti-inflammatory effects in your body. According to some 2018 research, it may be effective at reducing nausea because of this. You may consider trying ginger teas or supplements.

Note that these strategies will not treat the underlying cause of your nausea, so it’s important to talk with a doctor. But these strategies might ease your symptoms while you recover.

UTI treatment

The best way to get rid of nausea due to UTIs is by treating the underlying cause, which may be a bacterial infection. Because of this, the primary treatment is antibiotic medications.

Common antibiotics for treating UTIs include:

• nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
• sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim)
• amoxicillin clavulanate (Augmentin)
• ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan)
• trimethoprim (Proloprim)

The length of time you’ll need to take antibiotics depends on individual factors and the type of antibiotic your doctor prescribes. Treatment can last for as little as 3 days or may last for 1 to 2 weeks. But you may start to feel better within a few days of starting the medication.

Online care for UTIs

If you’re experiencing nausea due to a UTI, this likely means that the infection has spread to your kidneys, which is generally considered more serious than a lower UTI. While some uncomplicated UTIs may go away on their own, complicated ones have a higher risk of serious complications, so treatment is necessary.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

UTIs are very common conditions, and most cases are mild and easily treatable. The most common symptoms affect urination, causing pain, blood in your urine, and increased urgency of urination. But in some cases, you might experience nausea and vomiting.

Nausea and vomiting with a UTI are often a sign that the infection has spread to your kidneys. You might also notice fever and pain in your side or back. This is a more serious infection, and treatment is necessary.

You can manage nausea using OTC medications and home remedies. But the recommended treatment will be to target the underlying UTI with antibiotics.

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