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How to Find Medication to Treat a Bladder Infection

A bladder infection (also called a urinary infection or cystitis) is an inflammation of the urinary system, especially the bladder. Although they can often be cleared up by your immune system alone, there are many medications that can treat a bladder infection. Finding the right one with the help of your health care provider depends on several factors.

  1. Always Defer to Your Health Care Provider

    • Although there is plenty of information on the internet or through word of mouth, always consult with your health care provider to find medication to treat your bladder infection. He can give you information on side effects and possible drug interactions. If cost is an issue or you want to avoid antibiotics for other reasons, he can suggest home remedies that can help in your individual situation, or suggest ways to prevent recurring bladder infections.

    Causes and Symptoms

    • First, your health care provider must be sure that you even have a bladder infection. These infections occur when bacteria that is normally found on the skin or in the intestinal tract is spread into the urinary system. This can happen any number of ways, including normal sexual intercourse and poor hygiene. Once the infection has set in, you may experience an increased urge to urinate or a burning sensation when you do urinate. Your urine may appear dark, cloudy or even bloody. You can also have cramps or bringing in your pelvis or lower back. Only a health care professional can diagnose a bladder infection.

    Allergies

    • The first question your health care provider will ask when searching for medication to treat a bladder infection is if you allergic to anything. Allergies can cause worse reactions and conditions than the infection you were trying to treat. For example, penicillin is a common medical allergy. If you are allergic to penicillin, your health care provider will never prescribe you amoxicillin, a penicillin type antibiotic used to treat bladder infections.

    Other Medications

    • The next step in your search for the right medication to treat your bladder infection is taking stock of the medications you are already taking. Certain drugs cause unhealthy interactions with other drugs, doing more harm than good. If you are considering taking nitrofurantoin, avoid taking probenecid or magnesium salts. If you are already on warfarin, avoid taking a trimethoprim/sufamethoxazole combination like Bactrim.

    Cost

    • Cost is another consideration when finding a medication to treat your bladder infections. Depending on your health care plan, prescription antibiotics can be expensive, especially if you are prone to these infections. Your health care provider can suggest other ways to treat your bladder infections with more cost-effective home remedies. He may suggest a cranberry juice regime or taking vitamin C tablets. There are also over-the-counter bladder infection medicines like the Azo brands.

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