Key takeaways
- Antibiotics are the only proven medications that can cure urinary tract infections (UTIs). Doctors typically prescribe oral antibiotics like nitrofurantoin or sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim for 3 days to 2 weeks.
- Drinking plenty of water can help speed up recovery by flushing out bacteria. UTIs may clear up on their own in some cases, particularly in people who increase their hydration.
- Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or phenazopyridine (Uristat) may help ease UTI symptoms such as burning and urgency, but they won’t cure the infection. If you think you have a UTI, seek treatment right away to avoid complications like kidney infections.
Overview
Bacteria in your urinary tract cause UTIs. The urinary tract consists of your bladder, kidneys, and urethra. UTIs may cause symptoms such as:
- burning sensation when you pee
- frequent need to pee
- blood in your urine
- pain in your pelvis
If left untreated, they may lead to kidney infections or sepsis. Sepsis is a life threatening condition. Doctors generally prescribe antibiotics for UTIs, but over-the-counter (OTC) and natural remedies are also available.
Need a diagnosis or prescription for UTI? You can get discreet and expert on-demand care in as little as 15 minutes through Optum Perks. For $29, answer a few questions online and get a treatment plan from a US-licensed healthcare professional. Get started here.
Antibiotics for UTIs
Usually, bacteria cause UTIs. The first line of treatment is antibiotics, a class of medications that kill bacteria. Doctors will generally prescribe oral antibiotics that you can take at home.
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 should be able to notice if you’re responding to treatment for a complicated UTI within 24 to 48 hours.
Common antibiotics for treating UTIs include:
- nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
- sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim)
- amoxicillin clavulanate (Augmentin)
- ciprofloxacin (Ciloxan)
- trimethoprim (Proloprim)
Like any medication, antibiotics may cause side effects. Some of the side effects include:
- nausea and vomiting
- abdominal pain
- yeast infections
- rashes
- allergic reactions
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the benefits of taking antibiotics outweigh potential risks or side effects. Continue taking your medication for its entire course, even if you start to feel better. Completing the course ensures that the infection is gone and doesn’t recur.
If you need help covering the cost of medications, the free Optum Perks Discount Card could help you save up to 80% on prescription drugs. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.
Free prescription coupons
Seriously … free. Explore prices that beat the competition 70% of the time.
Get free cardOTC medications
Antibiotics are the only proven medication to treat UTIs. If you think you have a UTI, you will need to receive a prescription for antibiotics from a doctor.
Antibiotics may take a few days to start working till you notice any relief from your symptoms. Meanwhile, some OTC medications may help soothe your symptoms. Examples of OTC medications include:
Phenazopyridine (Uristat) is an OTC drug that can help manage your symptoms. This drug is a urinary analgesic, meaning it relieves pain when it passes through urine. It also helps reduce the urgency and frequency of your pee.
You can take phenazopyridine three times daily for 2 days. You can take it for up to 5 days. This drug may help ease your symptoms while you wait to notice relief from the antibiotics.
UTI treatment at home
You can try natural, at-home remedies to ease UTI symptoms or speed up your recovery.
Drinking plenty of water is the number one method to help speed up UTI recovery. Increasing your water intake will make you urinate more, which helps flush out the infection. UTIs may clear up on their own in around 20% of cases, particularly in people who increase their hydration.
Another option for treating UTIs at home is taking vitamin C supplements. Vitamin C may have antibacterial effects. One 2023 study in rats with UTIs suggested that vitamin C has antibacterial effects. It could significantly reduce UTIs.
Vitamin C is available OTC as a dietary supplement. However, speaking with a doctor before starting any new supplements may be a good idea.
Drinking cranberry juice is one of the most common methods to speed up UTI recovery. Many people believe it can help reduce symptoms and even get rid of the infection. However, evidence is mixed on whether cranberry can help with UTIs.
Drinking high amounts of cranberry juice may have the same effect as drinking more water. It can help increase your urine output and flush out the infection. This may lead to a belief that cranberry juice, rather than improved hydration, is having an effect.
Along with these methods, it’s important to maintain a high level of hygiene while you have a UTI. You may also wish to avoid sexual activity while you recover. This will help avoid any more bacteria being introduced into your urinary tract.
Online care for UTIs
If you have a UTI, seeking a diagnosis and the proper treatment right away can help speed up your recovery.
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.
Preventing UTIs
After treating UTIs, you can follow certain steps so that you don’t have them again, or if you suspect you have a UTI, you can stop it early on.
Maintaining healthy hygiene habits is essential in preventing UTIs. The CDC recommends that you pee after any sexual activity and wipe front to back. This will help avoid introducing bacteria to your urinary tract. Avoid using harsh chemicals around your genitals, and consider taking showers instead of baths.
Staying hydrated not only helps treat active UTIs but may also help to prevent them. A 2019 study aiming to reduce the number of UTIs in people living in care homes suggested that implementing a hydration regimen reduced the incidence of UTIs requiring antibiotics by 58%.
While evidence is mixed that cranberry can treat UTIs, there is some evidence that it may help prevent them.
For example, a 2021 review suggests that cranberry consumption significantly reduced UTI risk in people. However, researchers note that the studies they reviewed had some limitations, so the results may not be reliable.
Summary
Antibiotics are the only proven medication that can cure UTIs. Doctors will prescribe them after you receive a diagnosis of a UTI. You can take them at home, generally over a few days to a week.
Alongside antibiotics, some OTC painkillers can help soothe your symptoms, but OTC painkillers won’t cure your condition.
Make sure you drink plenty of water. This can be beneficial in speeding up your recovery and preventing the recurrence of UTIs. Some evidence suggests that cranberry juice can help prevent them from developing.
If you think you have a UTI, consider seeking treatment right away. Getting a course of antibiotics is the only certain way to ensure your UTI goes away without causing further complications.
Download the free Optum Perks Discount Card to save up to 80% on many prescription medications. Plus, you can now get them delivered to your home in as little as 3 days. Search for your medication here.