what medicine can i get over the counter for cystitis or an urinary tract infection?
Aug 29, 2010
in
Urinary Tract Infections
i just found out i got an infection and i am wondering what medicines are there to help me get cured. and what medicines i can get over the counter since i cant afford going to the doctor.
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10 comments
nuit blanche on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Sorry, but you need a physician to ensure that your condition is brought on by a UTI and you need him/her to prescribe the appropriate treatment.
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/urinary-tract-infection/DS00286/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs
If your doctor suspects you have a urinary tract infection, he or she may ask you to turn in a urine sample to determine if pus, red blood cells or bacteria are present in your urine. To avoid potential contamination of the sample, you may be instructed to cleanse your genital area with an antiseptic pad and to collect the urine midstream.
Laboratory analysis of the urine (urinalysis), sometimes followed by a urine culture, can reveal whether you have an infection. Although no simple test can differentiate between an upper and lower urinary tract infection, the presence of fever and flank pain indicate that the infection likely involves your kidneys.
If your symptoms are typical of a urinary tract infection and you’re generally in good health, antibiotics are the first line of treatment. Which drugs are prescribed and for how long depends on your health condition and the type of bacteria found in your urine.
Simple infection
Drugs commonly recommended for simple urinary tract infections include:
* Amoxicillin (Amoxil, Trimox)
* Nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrodantin)
* Ciprofloxacin (Cipro)
* Levofloxacin (Levaquin)
* Sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim)
Usually, symptoms clear up within a few days of treatment. But you may need to continue antibiotics for a week or more. Take the entire course of antibiotics recommended by your doctor to ensure that the infection is completely eradicated.
For an uncomplicated urinary tract infection that occurs when you’re otherwise healthy, your doctor may recommend a shorter course of treatment, such as taking an antibiotic for three days. But whether this short course of treatment is adequate to treat your infection depends on your particular symptoms and medical history.
Your doctor may also prescribe a pain medication (analgesic) that numbs your bladder and urethra to relieve burning while urinating. One common side effect of urinary tract analgesics is discolored urine — bright blue or orange.
Recurrent infection
If you have recurrent urinary tract infections, your doctor may recommend a longer course of antibiotic treatment or a self-treatment program with short courses of antibiotics at the outset of your urinary symptoms. Home urine tests, in which you dip a test stick into a urine sample, are now available that are highly sensitive and may be helpful if you experience recurring infections.
For infections related to sexual activity, your doctor may recommend taking a single dose of antibiotic after sexual intercourse.
If you’re postmenopausal, your doctor may recommend vaginal estrogen therapy to minimize your chance of recurrent urinary tract infections.
Severe infection
For severe urinary tract infections, hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics may be necessary.
? on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
All antibiotics require prescriptions form the doctor. Try drinking lots of cranberry juice.
Cinn on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
You will need to see a doctor to get a prescription.
Stephen on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
You can try Ural or other alkalising OTC. It will help with symptoms and combined with high fluid intake may cure it if you are lucky. Otherwise you need appropiate antibiotic
kathleen on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
How did you ‘find out’ that you have an infection? Who told you? what I do when I have questions that I cannot get answers to from a doctor is ask your local pharmacist. They would want to know how you know it is cystitis or a UTI
If you said, I have a history and have had this so many times that I know that is what it is…he may have some recommendations for you.
the problem is, if you have something else wrong, you may be losing time treating it for something else
lolakimba on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
For cystitis there are a few over the counter medicines,ask your local pharmacist,Urinary infection is a serious condition and you need to see your doctor soon, if the infection spread can cause damage to your kidneys and poison your blood.
Jessica on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
You can try cranberry pills or cranberry juice. Drink lots of water, too. But that won’t cure it, it won’t go away unless you get antibiotics.
littledevilinyourcup on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
if you have frequent UTI’s and know this is what it is you can often call the doctor and request that and antibiotic be called into the pharmacy. In the meanwhile stop all caffine and fizzy drinks. Drink water and cranberry juice as much as possible. OTC meds I like are Cystex and Peridium. The cyctex breaks down uria crystals and the peridium lessens the pain and burning. Also it seems weird but I also have noticed a difference in the length of the infection if I drink 1-2 beers and they make you pee more and the alcohol might kill the bacteria.
Daniel on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
talk to a pharmacist, they will be able to help you out.
LINDA R on August 29, 2010 at 2:13 pm
You need to see a doctor to find out for sure what is causing your symptoms, and to get appropriate treatment. The ONLY way to cure a UTI is to take a full course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed by a doctor. Some over the counter medications, such as AZO, may help reduce symptoms, but will not cure the infection. If you have a UTI and do not take the full course of antibiotics exactly as prescribed, until the medication is all, your UTI will spread and cause kidney damage and other serious problems. I understand your financial concerns, but believe me, it will be a lot less expensive for you to have this treated appropriately now than it will be if you wait until your infection has spread to your kidneys and the rest of your body. See a doctor.