# Tell me your UTI home remedies **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 10, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867 "2013-08-10T13:56:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/1 "2013-08-10T13:56:43Z")
I’ve been to the doctor, peed in a cup, and am on my second day of antibiotics. But I’m feeling really crappy. I don’t know whether I should drink more to flush my system out, or drink less so I don’t have to try to pee so much. Any tips? ---
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/2 "2013-08-10T14:00:27Z")
Well, you already have antibiotics so this isn’t for this time, but in the future take the OTC medication Cystex as SOON as you start to feel it coming on and it will probably stop it before it gets bad. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/3 "2013-08-10T14:00:37Z")
Flush! And to make you less wary of peeing, do you have [phenazopyridine](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phenazopyridine) available? It’s sold over the counter in the US but you might be able to get it via prescription as well. It stains your urine a fluorescent orange, but really cuts the pain and discomfort down. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/4 "2013-08-10T14:01:25Z")
More water is better. The urge to pee will be there, so the more in your bladder the better. Use the pain relief/antiurge meds (either by Rx or OTC. AZO makes a good product and most store brands are good too. Look for phenazopyridine in the active ingredients list). They help tremendously. You’re fighting an infection, so you’ll have systemic symptoms, like body aches. Advil can help with that. Warm compresses on your pelvis can help too. Sorry. :(. Been there too many times. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/5 "2013-08-10T14:16:03Z")
Thanks all, I’ll up the liquids today and if I’m still feeling this crappy tomorrow, I’ll pop to the chemist and see what they can offer (I’m in the UK). ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/6 "2013-08-10T14:22:28Z")
I don’t know if it’s still current theory, but there was a time when oral sex was considered a source. Having partner use an antiseptic mouthwash used to be recommended as a preventative measure. And cranberry juice for treatment. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/7 "2013-08-10T14:32:27Z")
> [@aNewLeaf](#): > > I don’t know if it’s still current theory, but there was a time when oral sex was considered a source. > Having partner use an antiseptic mouthwash used to be recommended as a preventative measure. > > And cranberry juice for treatment. Only treatment is antibiotics. Cranberry juice might help prevent infections, but once you’ve got symptoms or a positive urine culture any home remedies put you at risk of getting a really bad infection or a kidney infection. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2013, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/8 "2013-08-10T14:38:09Z")
Since you’re already on antibiotics, the only thing I’d recommend is drinking a lot of water and/or cranberry juice. ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/9 "2013-08-11T00:50:09Z")
Ibuprofen, lots of water, showers instead of baths and no undies till about a week after it’s gone. I had frequent UTI’s even though I always peed after sex (the single thing I remembered from Young Miss magazine); turned out I had kidney stones. If you have UTIs a couple of times a year it’s worth asking your doc to check. This may be annoying, but if you don’t already do it, try to get up about midway through the night to pee; if you have a big glass of water just before you go to bed this should not be difficult. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/10 "2013-08-11T02:51:03Z")
It’s worth noting that phenazopyridine is not an antibiotic, just a “painkiller” of sorts, so it is not a replacement for proper antibiotic treatment for UTIs. But it makes them pass by a hell of a lot more comfortably. I would recommend not wearing nice light-colored undies while taking it, too. The orange dye effect is pretty impressive. ---
**Author:** ![carnut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnut/32/3531_2.png) [@carnut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnut)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/11 "2013-08-11T02:58:13Z")
This one sounds weird and tastes horrible. But it seems to have worked for me twice (years apart). I learned this from a Hungarian woman I used to work with. She was appalled when a coworker landed in the hospital with a UTI. She was more appalled that we didn’t know the obvious (to her) remedy. Clean and slice up some parsnips and boil them for about 15 minutes. Remove the parsnips. Let the water cool. Drink the cooled water. It tastes awful. I don’t have scientific proof it works, only the anecdotal evidence that it appeared to work for me. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/12 "2013-08-11T03:24:19Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > It’s worth noting that phenazopyridine is not an antibiotic, just a “painkiller” of sorts, so it is not a replacement for proper antibiotic treatment for UTIs. But it makes them pass by a hell of a lot more comfortably. I would recommend not wearing nice light-colored undies while taking it, too. The orange dye effect is pretty impressive. This bears repeating. Cystex, AZO, Uristat, cranberry juice or tablets, phenazopyridine etc are not cures for a UTI. Only antibiotics will cure one. Going without antibiotics can lead to kidney infections, scarring of the urethra, or severe UTIs. I keep the AZO UTI test strips at home so I can do a quick test to see if I’m getting an actual UTI or some other cystitis. They’re the same strips doc use and indirectly test for the presence of bacteria in the urine. I find them really useful to have around for detecting recurrent UTIs before they get really bad. ---
**Author:** ![Bob\_Blaylock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_blaylock/32/3235_2.png) [@Bob\_Blaylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bob_Blaylock)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/13 "2013-08-11T03:40:00Z")
Sure sign that a hobby has turned you weird: Your wife mentions that she thinks she might have a UTI, and your reaction is to want a sample to look at under your microscope. [http://cdn.streamzoo.com/si\_9626452\_4xrm7ojvnw\_lr.jpg](http://cdn.streamzoo.com/si_9626452_4xrm7ojvnw_lr.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/14 "2013-08-11T05:51:26Z")
> [@sandra\_nz](#): > > I’ve been to the doctor, peed in a cup, and am on my second day of antibiotics. But I’m feeling really crappy. I don’t know whether I should drink more to flush my system out, or drink less so I don’t have to try to pee so much. Any tips? I vote drink more to flush you out, especially since fighting an infection can affect how well hydrated you are anyway. I also favor cranberry in such situations. I hate the taste, so I get the capsules or tablets. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/15 "2013-08-11T08:09:03Z")
Really rough night last night. Had abdominal pain that felt very similar to the bad period pain I used to get (I’m now on a contraceptive that means I don’t get periods at all). I was also sweating a lot. It’s taken four panadols at once to cut through the pain and I just feel so bloody exhausted. Peeing isn’t so painful now though. I’ll keep up the water drinking today. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/16 "2013-08-11T09:21:22Z")
When did you start the antibiotics? That usually clears it up very quickly. If you’re feeling poorly I’d call the GP again. The only time I actually felt very poorly the infection spread to my kidneys. To help myself drink lots of water I make this rule for myself: I start by drinking a large glass of water. When I need to pee I can’t go until I drink another. I start doing this at the first sign (I can smell it before I feel anything) and I can always cure it without needing antibiotics at all. ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/17 "2013-08-11T09:33:57Z")
I started the antibiotics on Thursday night, so I’ve now had 6 doses, 4 to go. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 9:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/18 "2013-08-11T09:58:36Z")
In my personal experience with antibiotics for a UTI it should’ve cleared up by now and you shouldn’t be feeling unwell. Call the GP and at the very least just ask the nurse! (Just my experience of course! I’m not a doc/nurse and just a random internet stranger who’s had UTIs in the past.) ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/19 "2013-08-11T11:20:44Z")
slight derail This probably wont apply to you but I am putting this out there as a fyi - Folks on lithium should not take any OTC uti treatments without discussing it with either their doctor or pharmacist. Some of them can seriously fuck up your lithium levels. ok now back to your regular programming I found a good hot bath helps. Because I can’t have most pain killers and I have had a lot of uits my doc recommended haemorrhoid cream, I also use zinc nappy rash cream. You could try a cold pack one your hooha. Yeah cranberries (other berries work too) and lots of water ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2013, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867/20 "2013-08-11T11:27:49Z")
Rather than cranberries or a cranberry drink, a mate found that cranberry extract capsules did the trick for him. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tell-me-your-uti-home-remedies/665867.md?page=2)