Pharmacist

Back Menu
Take This Know This What If Comments

 

 


Let's see what is available over the counter for UTI.

Pharmacist

Once again, a UTI is an infection. No antibiotic over the counter to take care of this. What you can do is reduce the pain and burning sensation until you see a doctor.

Do not go more than 2 days without seeking medical care.

For now, let's make sure it doesn't spread as fast and get you some relief from the pain.

With this approach in mind, see what is available over the counter to help with UTI below.

Lady holding her lower abdomen


Urinary Pain Relief

This will help with the pain, burning and frequent, urgent urination.

Some contain phenazopyridine which is the same ingredient as the prescription urinary pain relief medication but at a lower strength.

Examples are Azo®, Uristat®, Leader®, Store brands.

 

Methenamine + Sodium Salicylate

Helps slow down the progression of the infection using the antibacterial agent methenamine.

Know that, this will not get rid of the infection.

Goal is to slow down the progression of the infection as it makes it's way up the urinary tract.

Pain relief not as fast as phenazopyridine, but if you have the money, you can use both together for maximum benefit.

Example: Cystex Plus®

 

Do this

Drink lots of water to dilute your urine and help flush out bacteria.

Woman with hot water bottle

Place a heating pad over your abdomen to ease pressure and discomfort.

 

Prevention

Recurring infections are common and some women may have 3 or more UTIs a year.
Once the UTI is treated, follow this plan to reduce the risk.

  • Drink 8-16 ounces of cranberry juice daily to keep bacteria from growing and clinging to your bladder wall.
  • If worried about calories, take cranberry tablets.
  • Drink plenty of water daily.
  • Wipe from front to back when you go to the bathroom.
  • Go to the bathroom right after you have sex.
  • Use tampons instead of sanitary pads and change them every 3 to 4 hours.
  • Avoid wearing ultra skin-tight jeans.

 

Last updated by pharmacist on : 03/26/2018

 

 

Know this about the safe and effective use of this recommendation.
Article photo

Our disclaimer

  • Recommendation is the opinion of a registered US Pharmacist currently practicing as a community pharmacist.
  • Recommendation is not an attempt to discuss all possible self care or treatment approach to this health challenge.
  • The responsibility of the recommending pharmacist is limited to this question:
    "If a patient presents with these symptoms, what will you recommend and why?"
    It is not an attempt to publish an article on the treatment of any condition. Just what would you tell a patient who present with so and so in the usual course of your practice.
  • The pharmacist image presented in this article may or may not be the actual image of the authoring pharmacist.
    Because we insist on using articles written by currently practicing community pharmacists, these pharmacists may choose to remain anonymous especially if they are employed by an employer to avoid being pressured to recommend a particular product to drive sales.
  • Please read the policies and terms of use for self-care OTC, selfcarepharmacist.com and it's affiliates by clicking on the button below.

 

 

 

 

What if you are currently experiencing the conditions listed below?

Or if you have a question for the pharmacist?
Pharmacist


You have a question

Please contact the pharmacist. He or she will gladly answer your questions.

Contacting the pharmacist

You may have to unlock the contact form using social networking tools (facebook, twitter, google+, linkedIn) we have made available to you.

If you can't do this, you will have to wait a few seconds depending on the number of users at the time.

Contact Pharmacist


What to expect

Expect a reply as soon as possible.
If the authoring pharmacist cannot reply within 24 hours, the system will push your email to the rest of the team. Any available pharmacist will answer your question as soon as possible.

If you have a comment and not a question, please post it in the comments section for all to read.

What can't be done:

No replies to vulgar, disrespectful emails.
The system is programmed to look for certain words that are disrespectful and will automatically delete such emails. They don't get to the pharmacist. This will blacklist your email address automatically.

Email addresses or questions are not saved.
They are deleted once answered and not stored in a database. Should you need to follow up, copy the previous question(s) along with the new message for quick reference.

The pharmacist does not reply to emails that are not relevant to the topic he or she authored. They are forwarded to the author of the topic and are under no obligation to reply.

We encourage pharmacists to respond to questions but are under no obligations to answer questions.

 

 

 

 

 

No comments or ratings on this recommendation yet. How about being the first to say something?
Pharmacist

 

Leave a comment Why?


  • Let others know if the recommendation worked for you.
  • Share your treatment outcome with others.
  • Add to the recommendation.
  • Improve on the recommendation.
  • Quickest way to ask a pharmacist a question.
  • What about you answering a question?