This Is How Long It Takes For UTI Medications To Start Working

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs for short, can bring with them symptoms that range from annoying to extremely painful. According to Mayo Clinic, women are more likely than men to experience urinary tract infections, though anyone can be susceptible regardless of gender or age. If you develop a UTI, you will probably be eager for it to go away ASAP. Luckily, there are several treatment options available for urinary tract infections, and knowing how long each takes to help resolve symptoms can be helpful information in easing the discomfort of the experience.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urinary tract infections often occur when bacteria from the skin or rectal area enters the urinary tract through the urethra. UTIs usually affect the bladder, but can also impact other areas of the urinary system, including the ureters, urethra, and kidneys (per Mayo Clinic). If the infection is isolated to the bladder, then treatment is typically routine and straightforward. Symptoms of a bladder-based UTI often involve frequent and painful urination, feeling like you have to urinate even though your bladder is empty, cramping within the lower abdominal region, and occasionally blood-colored urine. Should you develop a fever, nausea, pain in your lower back or at your sides, or begin vomiting, you should seek immediate medical attention since the infection may have reached your kidneys. For non-emergent UTIs isolated to the bladder, here is how long it takes for common medications to begin easing symptoms and resolving the infection.

To completely cure a urinary tract infection (UTI) and have all symptoms resolve quickly, antibiotics are the best and only type of medication that can eradicate infection, according to GoodRx Health. There are several different types of antibiotics that can be used to treat urinary tract infections, but note that all must be prescribed by a healthcare provider. Antibiotics can't be purchased without a prescription. Luckily, antibiotics prescribed for a UTI often work quickly with some options resolving the infection within as little time as three days. Antibiotic treatments are typically prescribed to be taken for a specific number of days with five to seven days being the most common, though sometimes a healthcare provider may recommend a 10 or 14-day course of antibiotics. Always finish the entire course of antibiotic treatment prescribed to you, even if your symptoms resolve before you've completed the antibiotics.

You'll want to prioritize seeing a healthcare provider for antibiotics because there can be serious repercussions if a UTI is left untreated or is not treated properly, as per Dip UTI. Since most infections are a result of dangerous bacteria in the body, leaving a UTI untreated can result in the infection spreading to the kidneys and potentially other areas both inside and outside of the urinary tract. A serious kidney infection could lead to hospitalization, which is definitely a motivator to see your doctor for a brief course of antibiotics upon the first signs of a UTI.