Urinary tract infections (UTIs), also called bladder infections, happen when bacteria get into your bladder, kidneys, or another part of your urinary tract. They're common, affecting over 50% of women and 10% of men. Antibiotics are the best way to treat a UTI and relieve its symptoms of pain, burning, and an urgent need to pee.
These medications kill bacteria that cause the infection. It’s important to take them just as your doctor prescribes; if you don’t, a minor UTI can turn into a serious kidney or blood infection. Which antibiotic you need and how long you take it depend on your urine (pee) test results.
Best Antibiotic for UTI
Your doctor will take a urine sample to confirm that you have a UTI. Then the lab will grow the germs in a dish for a couple of days to find out which type of bacteria you have. This is called a culture. It’ll tell your doctor what type of germs caused your infection. They’ll likely prescribe one of the following antibiotics to treat it before the culture comes back:
When your doctor gets the results of the culture, they may switch the antibiotic to one that is made specifically to fight the bacteria causing your UTI.
Getting the most out of antibiotic treatment for your UTI
Here are some tips for making sure the antibiotics you take are as effective as possible.
| What to Do | What Not to Do |
|---|---|
| Take all of your medication as prescribed. | Don’t stop your medication early, as that can make your infection return. |
| Drink plenty of water. | Avoid caffeine, black tea, and energy drinks. |
| Pee when you feel the urge. | Don’t hold your pee, as it keeps harmful bacteria in your body. |
| Place a warm (not hot) heating pad on your lower belly to soothe discomfort. | Don’t spend time in baths, bubble baths, or hot tubs, as they can irritate a UTI. |
| Eat plain Greek yogurt, pickles, sauerkraut, and other probiotic foods. | Don’t eat citrus fruits such as lemons or oranges, and stay away from spicy foods. |
Complicated vs. uncomplicated UTI
The medication and dose you get also depend on whether your infection is complicated or uncomplicated.
Uncomplicated means your urinary tract is normal, and you are otherwise healthy. This makes your UTI easier to treat.
Complicated means there is another condition that makes your UTI harder to treat.
You might have a complicated UTI if you’re pregnant or if you have:
- UTIs that keep coming back and can’t be controlled with typical antibiotics
- Problems with kidney function
- A weakened immune system due to HIV, steroid use, or another cause
- A problem with your urinary tract, such as a narrowing of your ureters, which are the tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder
Treating a complicated UTI
To treat a complicated infection, your doctor may prescribe different antibiotics and you may have to take them for a longer time. Depending on severity and drug resistance, treatment options include:
Standard oral antibiotics. Fluoroquinolones (such as ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin) may be used for outpatient treatment, though doctors avoid them for simple UTIs due to potential side effects and antibiotic resistance.
Targeted oral antibiotic. If your infection is resistant to standard oral drugs, your doctor may prescribe tebipenem pivoxil (Utebzi). It's the first FDA-approved oral carbapenem antibiotic, giving patients with limited or no other oral treatment options a way to get treated at home without needing a hospital IV.
Intravenous (IV) hospital antibiotics. If your infection is severe, high-risk, or you cannot take oral pills, you may need IV therapy in a clinic or hospital using drugs such as ceftriaxone, cefepime, ertapenem, meropenem, or piperacillin/tazobactam .
Over-the-counter antibiotics for UTI
You can’t get oral antibiotics over the counter in the U.S. Antibiotics don’t all work the same way, and you need to see your doctor to find out which one you should use. Antibiotics can also have serious side effects, so it’s important that you only take them under your doctor’s supervision.
Best antibiotic for UTI in older people
Common antibiotics used to treat UTIs might not work as well in older people. They are at higher risk of having drug-resistant infections, which means it’s harder or even impossible for antibiotics to cure the infection. This is especially common for people in nursing homes and hospitals.
For uncomplicated UTIs that are easier to treat, a narrow-spectrum antibiotic such as trimethoprim may help. Narrow-spectrum means it’s only able to kill certain types of bacteria. Complicated UTIs are more often treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics that can kill many types of bacteria.
It’s important for older people to be treated quickly with antibiotics. Research shows that not getting antibiotics or waiting to take them can increase the risk of blood infections and death.
UTI Treatment in Pregnancy
UTIs are one of the most common complications when you’re pregnant. The physical changes that your urinary tract goes through during pregnancy can increase the risks of bacterial growth and UTIs. This can cause a more serious infection for you or the fetus. You should report any symptoms to your doctor.
Antibiotics for UTI in pregnancy
Your doctor may prescribe nitrofurantoin (Macrobid, Macrodantin). It treats many types of bacteria that are common during pregnancy.
If you’re pregnant, you should not take fluoroquinolone antibiotics. They may harm the fetus.
If you don’t get treatment, your UTI could lead to:
- Kidney infection
- Premature birth
- Low birth weight
- High blood pressure
- Preeclampsia
How Long to Take Antibiotics for UTI Treatment
Your doctor will let you know how long to take your UTI medicine. Typically, for an uncomplicated infection, you’ll take antibiotics for two to three days. Some people will need to take these medicines for seven to 10 days. For a complicated infection, you might need to take antibiotics for 14 days or more.
If you still have symptoms after you finish your antibiotics, your doctor may do another urine test to see whether the bacteria are gone. If you still have an infection, you’ll need to take antibiotics for a longer period.
If you get recurrent UTIs, you may need a long-term course of antibiotics. And if sex causes your UTIs, your doctor may have you take a dose of the medicine right before you have sex.
Why should I take the full dose?
Antibiotics work well against UTIs. You might start to feel better after being on the medicine for just a couple of days. But it’s important to keep taking your medicine. If you stop your antibiotics too soon, you won’t kill all the bacteria in your urinary tract. It can start to grow again, and your infection can get worse.
Side Effects of Antibiotics
Like any medicine, antibiotics can have side effects, such as:
- Rash
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Nausea, vomiting
- Headache
- Yeast infections
Other, more serious but uncommon effects can happen, such as an infection with a bacteria called Clostridioides difficile. This can cause diarrhea and severe colon damage — and even death. Also, if you are allergic to antibiotics, you could have a serious or life-threatening reaction.
Antibiotic resistance
The germs in UTIs can become resistant to antibiotics over time. That means the medicines will no longer kill these germs in the future. So if you get another UTI, the medication you take might not treat it.
UTI Treatment at Home
You should always see your doctor when you have a UTI. But there are some things you can do at home that may help relieve symptoms and prevent future infections. These home remedies aren’t proven to cure an infection, so you shouldn’t use them in place of medical treatment.
Baking soda for a UTI
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, might help reduce the acidity of your pee and treat some of the symptoms of a mild UTI. Drinking a glass of water with 1 teaspoon of baking soda dissolved in it every three or four hours may help. But you shouldn’t do this without talking to your doctor first. Some people who need to control their salt intake shouldn’t try this because baking soda is very high in sodium.
Apple cider vinegar for a UTI
Some of the enzymes in apple cider vinegar may help keep bacteria from multiplying. You can also drink this mixed with water. Ask your doctor how much and how often you should drink it. Drinking too much can have negative effects, such as tooth erosion.
Supplements for a UTI
Some supplements that could help treat and prevent UTIs along with medical care include:
- Vitamin C
- Probiotics (good bacteria)
- D-mannose, a type of sugar
- Cranberry products
Recurrent UTI Treatment
Your doctor may run more tests if you get two UTIs in six months or three or more within a year. That means you have recurrent UTIs.
You may need to take a small dose of antibiotics every day. Your doctor might also tell you to take a small amount of antibiotic before or after you have sex or when you start to notice symptoms of an infection.
What Happens Without UTI Treatment
Your body’s immune system can sometimes clear a UTI without any treatment. But more often than not, these infections do not go away without antibiotics.
Getting treatment for your UTI quickly can prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of your urinary tract. If you ignore UTI symptoms, the infection can spread to your bladder and kidneys, where it can be much harder to treat. It’s rare, but the infection can also get into your bloodstream.
When to Call Your Doctor
Your UTI symptoms should improve in a few days with treatment. Call your doctor if:
- Your symptoms don’t go away.
- Your symptoms get worse.
- Your symptoms come back after you’ve been treated.
- You have bothersome side effects from your antibiotics.
- You have a fever.
- You develop back pain.
- You are vomiting.
Takeaways
Urinary tract infections (UTIs), or bladder infections, are very common. They happen when bacteria get into your bladder, kidneys, or another part of your urinary tract. The most effective treatment for these infections and their symptoms is antibiotics.
Antibiotics for UTI Treatment FAQs
How can I lower my risk of getting another UTI?
Drug-free techniques to help avoid UTIs include emptying your bladder before and after sex, drinking at least 64 ounces of water a day, and peeing every two to four hours.
Can I take over-the-counter pain relief with UTI antibiotics?
It’s usually safe to take over-the-counter pain relievers with UTI antibiotics to help with any discomfort. But these meds only relieve your symptoms; they don’t cure your infection. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to be sure anything you take won’t interfere with your antibiotic.
What should I do if I miss a dose of my UTI antibiotic?
Take it as soon as you remember. But if it’s time time for your next dose, skip the missed dose, and resume your regular schedule. Never double up on your medication to make up for the missed dose.