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The information provided here is meant to give you a general idea about each of the medications listed below. Only the most general side effects are included, so ask your doctor if you need to take any special precautions. Only use each of these medications as recommended by your doctor, or according to the instructions provided. If you have further questions about usage or side effects, contact your doctor.
You may be prescribed antibiotics for 3-6 days. This treatment has been helpful for both younger and older women with UTIs, rather than taking the medication for up to 10 days (or more). * You should take the full course of medicine, even if you begin to feel better before all the medicine is gone.
In some cases, severe UTIs are treated with intravenous or intramuscular antibiotics. Researchers, though, found that oral antibiotics appear to be as effective in treating UTIs as other treatments. *
If you’re suspected of having a more serious infection, such as a kidney infection , you may need hospitalization, intravenous antibiotics, and fluids.
Common names include:
Possible side effects include:
Common names include:
If you are taking antacids or sucralfate, don’t take them within six hours of taking a fluoroquinolone. Take with a full glass of water.
Take norfloxacin on an empty stomach. The others may be taken either on an empty stomach or with meals.
Possible side effects include:
Common brand names include:
These medicines are usually not prescribed for babies less than three months of age. Elderly people have an increased risk of skin and bleeding problems with these medicines, especially if they are already using diuretic medicines.
Always take these drugs with a full glass of water.
Possible side effects include:
Common brand names include:
Take these medicines with food or milk in order to decrease the chance of stomach upset.
Possible side effects include:
Common brand names include:
This medication can help relieve the burning, urgency, and frequency of a UTI. You should stop taking this medicine when you are no longer having discomfort. You’re usually advised not to take this medicine for longer than two days. Take with food to decrease the chance of stomach upset. Don’t wear soft contact lenses while you’re using this drug; it may permanently stain the lenses.
Possible side effects include:
Call your doctor immediately if you’re taking this drug and notice:
Whenever you are taking a prescription medication, take the following precautions:
References:
American Foundation for Urologic Disease website. Available at: http://www.auafoundation.org/auafhome.asp .
Griffith’s 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/ .
*12/5/2007 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Pohl A. Modes of administration of antibiotics for symptomatic severe urinary tract infections [review]. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007(4). DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD003237.
*9/3/2008 DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance DynaMed's Systematic Literature Surveillance : Lutters M, Vogt-Ferrier NB. Antibiotic duration for treating uncomplicated, symptomatic lower urinary tract infections in elderly women. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2008;CD001535.
Last reviewed August 2008 by Jill D. Landis, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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