Potential Misuse Of Nonprescription Uti Products
The danger of carcinogenicity with phenazopyridineapparently remains open. However, the FDA and the manufacturersoverlooked a far more likely scenario that could cause patient harm. If awoman has a UTI, she should make an appointment with a physician toreceive the appropriate antibacterial/antimicrobial prescription. If sheunwisely chooses to take an OTC product as her sole treatment, she mayexperience relief of discomfort and assume that she does not need to seea doctor. By doing so, she avoids the trouble of providing a urinespecimen and saves the associated costs of a physician office visit. Should she fail toobtain a prescription, her UTI may continue, worsening as the days passwithout effective treatment.
Manufacturers responsibly urge purchasers on productlabels to obtain a diagnosis and use the product only for relief whilethey are waiting to see their physicians or for the prescription tobegin to work. The labels also warn against use for more than 2 days.Despite the presence of these warnings, research conducted by theNational Council on Patient Information and Education confirmed thatpurchasers often disregard package labels.9 In this case, disregarding the label could lead to permanent kidney damage.6 Thus, the advice and assistance of the pharmacist is crucial when consumers request these products.
How Serious Is A Uti
Urinary tract infections can be painful and uncomfortable, but they ultimately donât pose a serious threat to your health as long as you seek medical treatment as soon as possible.
Read on to learn more about when urinary tract infections turn into kidney infections, the differences between the two, and what you can do to properly treat and prevent them.
After Taking Antibiotics How Long Does It Take Pid To Clear Up
Related questions
Found in:
Read Also: Azo Urinary Tract Defense Directions
What Is The Treatment For A Kidney Infection
- Antibiotics will usually clear the infection. An antibiotic is usually prescribed straightaway if a kidney infection is suspected, even before the result of the urine test is known. Some germs are resistant to some antibiotics. Therefore, sometimes a change of antibiotic may be needed if the urine test shows a germ which is resistant to the initial antibiotic. The course of antibiotics is for 7-14 days, depending on which one is used. Commonly used antibiotics for kidney infections include ciprofloxacin, cefalexin, co-amoxiclav or trimethoprim.
- Painkillers such as paracetamol can ease pain and reduce a high temperature . Stronger painkillers may be needed if the pain is more severe. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen are not usually recommended for a person with a kidney infection. This is because they may possibly cause problems with the working of the kidney during a kidney infection.
- Plenty of fluid should be taken to prevent lack of fluid in the body .
In many cases, the infection is not too severe, treatment can be taken at home and the infection will clear with a course of antibiotic tablets. If treatment is to be home-based, a doctor should be called if the symptoms are not improving after 24 hours, or the person is feeling more unwell.
However, some people need to be admitted to hospital â for example if:
You May Like: Kidney Pain High Blood Pressure
Preventing Urinary Tract Infections And Kidney Infections
Urinary tract infections and kidney infections can generally be prevented through similar means.
If you suffer from any symptoms of a urinary tract or kidney infection, talk to your doctor immediately. The faster you act, the more effective the treatment.
If you experience any symptoms of urinary tract infection or kidney infection, call or book online with PlushCare to set up a phone or video appointment with a top U.S. doctor today.
Donât Miss: Can Seltzer Water Cause Kidney Stones
Also Check: How To Get Rid Of Urinary Tract Infection Pain
Can You Take Antibiotics And Azo Together
Azo is a tool that lets you do a lot of things. You should take this medication by mouth three times a day after meals or as directed by your doctor. Taking this medication along with antibiotics for symptoms related to a urinary tract infection or self-treating should not take longer than two days without consulting your doctor.
Where Should I Keep My Medicine
Keep out of the reach of children.
Store at room temperature between 15 and 30 degrees C . Protect from light and moisture. Throw away any unused medicine after the expiration date.
NOTE: This sheet is a summary. It may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Also Check: Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotics Walmart
What Should You Not Take With Azo
Azo Urinary Tract Defense Antibacterial Plus Urinary Pain Relief Tablets
HSA/FSA Eligible
AZO Urinary Tract Defense Antibacterial Protection. Helps Control a UTI Until You Can See a Doctor. #1 Most Trusted Urinary Health Brand. 18 Tablets
AZO Urinary, Bladder, and Vaginal Health Products AZO helps you Own Your Day with our complete line of urinary and vaginal products. Whether you’re looking for the #1 most trusted over-the-counter UTI pain reliever, a product to slow the progression of your UTI, one of the most trusted over-the-counter homeopathic medicines for vaginal and yeast infection symptom relief, or a naturally sourced supplement to support bladder control, AZO has a full line of products specifically formulated to help you maintain your urinary, vaginal and bladder health.
- TAKE AT THE FIRST SIGN OF A URINARY TRACT INFECTION Helps control your urinary tract infection until you see a doctor.
- SLOWS DOWN THE GROWTH OF BACTERIA. Contains methenamine, a powerful anti-bacterial medicine that works by slowing down the growth of the bacteria along the urinary tract and helping to control your UTI.
- DUAL ACTION FORMULA and ANTIBACTERIAL AND PAIN RELIEF IN ONE. Contains methenamine, the only antibacterial UTI ingredient available without a prescription, and sodium salicylate for general pain relief.
- #1 MOST TRUSTED BRAND. As the most trusted brand in OTC Urinary Health, you can rely on AZO to control your infection until you can see a doctor. Remember, only a doctor can prescribe the antibiotics needed to fully treat your UTI.
Read Also: Can Peyronies Cause Urinary Problems
Let Kidney Stones Pass
Stones typically take several weeks to a few months to pass, depending on the number of stones and their size. Over-the-counter pain medications, like ibuprofen , acetaminophen , or naproxen , can help you endure the discomfort until the stones pass. Your doctor also may prescribe an alpha blocker, which relaxes the muscles in your ureter and helps pass stones quicker and with less pain.
If the pain becomes too severe, or if they are too large to pass, they can be surgically removed with a procedure called a ureteroscopy. Here, a small endoscope is passed into the bladder and up the ureter while you are under general anesthesia. A laser breaks up the stones, and then the fragments are removed.
What Is Azo Urinary Pain Relief
AZO Urinary Pain Relief is a pain reliever that affects the lower part of your urinary tract .
AZO Urinary Pain Relief is used to treat urinary symptoms such as pain or burning, increased urination, and increased urge to urinate. These symptoms can be caused by infection, injury, surgery, catheter, or other conditions that irritate the bladder.
AZO Urinary Pain Relief will treat urinary symptoms, but this medication will not treat a urinary tract infection.. Take any antibiotic that your doctor prescribes to treat an infection.
AZO Urinary Pain Relief may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
You May Like: Artificial Urinary Sphincter Surgery Recovery
Is It Safe To Have Azo During Pregnancy
Surgery during your first trimester puts you at higher risk for miscarriage. AZO is pregnancy category B according to the FDA which means it is theoretically safe during pregnancy. You definitely need to get the UTI cleared up with some antibiotics thoughthey are extra risky during pregnancy and can become kidney infections much more easily.
When You Feel Better Stop Taking Antibiotics Right Away
Finish the course. Even if you start to feel better.
Too short a course of antibiotics can fail to clear a UTI properly, so your symptoms might well come back.
And if you finish your course of antibiotics and you still dont feel better go back to your GP. You might need a longer course or different type to kill the infection once and for all. If not the infection could well hang around for weeks or months, gradually get worse, and harder to cure.
We dont want this to be a scare story but there are well over a million people in the UK alone who have chronic infections from UTIs that never cleared up.
Recommended Reading: Men’s Urinary Tract Problems
Will Common Foods Alcohol Or Medications Affect My Test Results
Most substances will not interfere with the test. However, some medications can affect the color of your urine, making it difficult to properly match the colors. For example, if you take more than 500 mg of Vitamin C in 24 hours, you may obtain a false negative nitrite result. The drug tetracycline may also cause a false negative WBC result. If you are having difficulty reading the test strip or getting a negative result while experiencing UTI symptoms, contact your healthcare professional immediately.
Flush Out A Uti With Lots Of Water
Weve all heard this one. Drink lots and lots of water to wash away the bacteria causing the infection. For starters youll end up peeing more, which youre probably already doing and painfully so.
Your urine contains natural defense chemicals against infection, so drinking lots of water may dilute them and stop them working so well.
If you do need to see your GP and a urine sample is required to check your urine for infection, drinking too much water may make it too dilute for the tests to diagnose an infection.
If youre taking antibiotics for your infection drinking lots of extra water may also dilute the antibiotic making it less effective.
And if you have an embedded infection then no amount of drinking water will flush away the bad bacteria. Its sat nicely in cells where antibiotics cant even touch them.
Also Check: Foods For Healthy Urinary Tract
The Fight Against Antibiotic
One in five women will experience a UTI in their lifetime. Some women will have many more. Repeated use of antibiotics could be a concern, especially for women with recurring UTIs.
Thats why the effort to find a nonantibiotic treatment for something as common as UTI has been widely welcomed by the larger medical community. But this study, and several others like it, suggests there isnt yet a safe alternative for all women.
This is a fairly recurring theme that erupts every year or so, said Dr. Rick Pescatore, DO, an attending physician and the director of clinical research for the department of emergency medicine at Crozer-Keystone Health System in Chester, Pennsylvania. Its a direct result of a very small 2010 study that suggested ibuprofen might be similar to an antibiotic not generally recommended to use for the treatment of UTI due to bacterial resistance.
Pescatore says the study created the illusion of efficacy and gave a head start in its comparison to antibiotics. Multiple investigations since then have consistently demonstrated ibuprofen to be inferior and possibly even an independent risk factor for harm when compared to antibiotics, he said.
Adding to Pescatores evidence is this new study of 383 women in three Scandinavian countries. Their uncomplicated UTIs were treated in one of two ways: with a standard course of antibiotics for three days or with ibuprofen for symptomatic relief.
What Is The Difference Between Azo Urinary Tract Defense And Azo Urinary Pain Relief
AZO Urinary Tract Defense and AZO Urinary Pain Relief contain different active ingredients that provide different UTI relief benefits. AZO Urinary Tract Defense contains methenamine to help control the infection until you can seek medical treatment and sodium salicylate to provide general pain relief. AZO Urinary Pain Relief contains phenazopyridine hydrochloride which provides fast, targeted relief for pain, burning and urgency associated with a UTI.
Recommended Reading: Homeopathic Treatment For Urinary Tract Infection
Uti Symptoms: The Why And The What
Lots of things can cause a UTI, but they all boil down to the presence of bacteriasomethings there that shouldnt be. There are several reasons why, but sex is a big one. In fact, nearly 80 percent of premenopausal women diagnosed with a UTI, have had sex within the previous 24 hours.2 During sex, bacteria from the genital area and the anus can come into contact with the urethra and after a quick trip up the urethra, it causes inflammation. The use of diaphragms and spermicide can also contribute to the development of UTIs, as could sex with a new partner or frequent intercourse.2One reason women are especially at-risk has to do with basic plumbinga womans urethra is significantly shorter than a mans, which means that the bacteria have a shorter distance to travel in order to cause infection. Also, in women, the opening of the urethra is closer to the anusmaking the trip for bacteria even shorter.3Other causes for UTIs range from simple things like holding your pee for too long, instances of extreme dehydration, stones in your kidneys or bladder, to catheterization or certain chronic conditions like diabetes.
Also Check: Wine For Kidney Stones
What Can Affect A Urine Pregnancy Test
Don’t Miss: Women’s Urinary Incontinence Swimwear
What Are Warnings And Precautions For Phenazopyridine
Warnings
This medication contains phenazopyridine. Do not take Azo Standard, Pyridium, Podium, Pyridiate, Baridium, Uricalm, Urodine, or UTI Relief if you are allergic to phenazopyridine or any ingredients contained in this drug.
Keep out of reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center immediately.
Contraindications
- Renal impairment
Effects of Drug Abuse
- May stain fiber or clothing.
- See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Phenazopyridine?”
Long-Term Effects
- Self-medication should not continue for more than 2 days if pain persists, consult a physician.
- See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Phenazopyridine?”
Cautions
- Changes in urine color may affect urinalysis based on spectrometry or color reactions.
- May stain contact lenses.
- Discontinue if the yellowish color of skin or sclera, as this is an indication of drug accumulation due to renal failure monitor geriatric patients due to greater risk.
- Self-medication should not continue for more than 2 days if pain persists, consult a physician.
- Intended as an analgesic, not for the treatment of urinary tract infection .
- Use caution in patients with G6PD deficiency hemolyticanemia may occur in the setting ofchronic overdose.
- Not for the treatment of urinary infection acts only as an analgesic.
- Discontinue over-the-counter use if symptoms last more than 2 days or adverse effects occur.
- May stain fiber or clothing.
Pregnancy and Lactation
How Does Azo Bladder Control & Weight Management Compare To Other Bladder Control Products
AZO Bladder Control®& Weight Management is a safe and drug free supplement with naturally sourced ingredients for day and night bladder support.* There are no known side effects directly attributed to the dietary ingredients in AZO Bladder Control®& Weight Management. When taken daily, AZO Bladder Control®& Weight Management helps support healthy bladder function, helps reduce occasional urgency, and helps safely manage your weight.*
Recommended Reading: Urinary Tract Infection And Alcohol
Side Effects And Risks Of Cranberry Juice
Talk with your doctor if you think you have a UTI.
Its important to treat a UTI during pregnancy even if you dont have any symptoms. This is because any kind of bacterial infection in the bladder can increase the risk of a kidney infection during pregnancy.
In fact, up to 30 percent of pregnant people with bacteria in their urine develop a kidney infection in later trimesters if its not treated. This can be very serious.
Your doctor might recommend a short course of antibiotics to treat a UTI. Cranberry juice may help prevent UTIs, but it wont treat them.
Most cranberry juices also have large amounts of sugar added theyre mixed with other kinds of juice to sweeten.
Check the sugar content of your cranberry juice. Balancing how much sugar you eat is especially important during pregnancy to prevent and treat gestational diabetes.
Look for pure, unsweetened cranberry juice without added sweeteners.
If its too sour or bitter for you, sweeten with natural stevia or monk fruit sweeteners. You can also add pure, unsweetened cranberry juice to fruit and vegetable smoothies.
A small study in 2015 suggests that taking cranberry capsules may have the same effect on UTIs during pregnancy as drinking lots of cranberry juice.
Still, more research is needed and you should take precautions when taking any supplements while pregnant.