Can Methenamine and Vitamin C Help Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)?
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common infections, especially as you get older. You can easily treat the simplest UTI with antibiotics. But for some people, infections may come frequently. For intermittent urinary tract infections, treatments such as Methenamine and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can reduce the threat of infection.
What
is methenamine?
Methenamine (Hiprex)
is an antibiotic that people often use to help prevent UTIs in the first place.
But it's different from other antibiotics that treat active UTIs.
Maximum UTI treatment
kills the bacteria that cause the infection. Methenamine reduces the amount of
bacteria in the urine by producing formaldehyde in the urinary tract. This will
not kill the bacteria, but it will prevent the bacteria from multiplying in the
urine.
Methenamine may be
effective in preventing intermittent UTIs when more common antibiotics don't
work.
Should
You Take Methenamine With Vitamin C?
Some people take
vitamin C along with methenamine. This is because vitamin C can help acidify
the urine. And methenamine works best when your urine is acidic. It will not
actually form formaldehyde unless the pH of the urine reaches a highly acidic
position.
There are mixed data
on how effective it is. But 1 to 4 grams of vitamin C may have some benefits.
It may work to increase the effect of methenamine on decreasing bacteria in the
urine.
Does
vitamin C alone help UTIs?
Many people use
vitamin C as a supplement to help UTIs. But it is not a proven treatment. There
are limited and mixed data on vitamin C alone as an effective treatment for
UTIs.
There is some early
laboratory research showing that vitamin C can help the growth of some
bacteria. But studies have yet to show this in humans. So experts do not
recommend vitamin C to help or treat UTIs.
How
do you use methenamine?
Methenamine is
approved for long-term use in people who are at risk for intermittent urinary
tract infections. And it is also safe to use in children over 6 years of age
with intermittent infections. Depending on the term, people generally take
either 500 mg twice a day or 000 mg 4 times a day. There are no specific
guidelines for the length of treatment and it can vary from person to person.
It is important to
note that methenamine is not a useful treatment for an active infection. This
is because it does not work to kill the bacteria. It works by preventing
further growth of bacteria. So you'll need more traditional antibiotics to
treat an active UTI. Your provider will go over your treatment options with you
and determine if methenamine is a good choice for you.
What
are the benefits of methenamine?
The use of
antibiotics for intermittent UTI infections poses a potential problem of
antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This often involves standard treatments such as
sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin. But with
methenamine, the threat of antibiotic resistance is lower. This means you can
take methenamine for longer periods of time without developing antibiotic
resistance.
Are
there any byproducts of methenamine?
In general, methenamine
is safe to use. But as with any drug, there is a threat of methenamine side
products. Most by-products are related to the gastrointestinal (GI) system. You
can occasionally avoid this by taking the medicine with food. Implicit
by-products of methenamine include
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Stomach cramps
• Diarrhea
• Loss of appetite
• Rash
Methenamine can also
cause problems if you have certain pre-existing conditions. If so, you should
inform your provider
• does not like
aspirin
• Liver problems (such
as cirrhosis)
• order a complaint
• Gout
• She plans to get
pregnant
Which
antibiotics should you try before methenamine to help a UTI?
There are several
standard specifics for UTI prevention. The medication your provider often
recommends depends on your medical history. Your provider will also take into
account the bacteria and treatment in your past infections and any drug
preferences or implicit relationships.
• The preferred
treatment for UTI prevention often includes
• Nitrofurantoin
• Trimethoprim
• Cephalexin
However, methenamine
may be a reasonable option to try if you have had no success preventing
intermittent UTIs with standard treatment.
UTI, also known as urinary tract infection, is a very common
type of infection of the urinary system. A UTI can affect any part of your
urethra, ureters, bladder, and kidneys. Symptoms usually include the need to
urinate often, discomfort when urinating, and pain in the sides or lower back.
Our experienced healthcare providers will discuss your diagnosis, provide UTI treatment, and counsel you on preventative care and healthy choices. If you’re experiencing any pain, burning sensation, and discomfort from a UTI, then please do not wait because this may progress into a Kidney Infection or worse. Speak to our team at UrgentWay Walk-in Clinic immediately uti treatment urgent care
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