How to Treat Cystitis: Self-Care, Remedies, Antibiotics and Prevention
What helps cystitis at home, what the evidence says about cranberry and sachets, when you need an antibiotic, and how to stop it coming back.
Part of our cystitis guide: symptoms, causes and treatment.
Get urgent help first. Call 999 or go to A&E if you feel very unwell, confused or very drowsy, or have a very fast heartbeat or breathing, or cold, blotchy skin: these can be signs of sepsis. Call 999 too for swelling of the face, lips or throat, or difficulty breathing after taking a medicine. Contact your GP or NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) the same day if you have pain in your back or side, a high temperature, shivering or vomiting, which can be signs of a kidney infection, or if you can see blood in your urine. Online treatment is not suitable in these situations.
Quick answer: mild cystitis often gets better on its own within a few days. Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen ease the pain, and drinking enough to avoid dehydration helps you feel better. An antibiotic, usually nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim for 3 days, helps it clear faster. Get help the same day if you have a fever, back or side pain, or blood in your urine, or you’re pregnant.
Get Cystitis Treatment Online
Access Doctor is a GPhC-registered pharmacy (#9011198). If you’re a woman aged 18 to 64 with cystitis symptoms, a pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your online consultation and prescribes an antibiotic if it’s suitable for you. Dispensed from our UK pharmacy. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose.
Start Cystitis Consultation →Who our online service is for. Access Doctor treats cystitis online for women aged 18 to 64 with typical symptoms who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding. Men, anyone under 18, women aged 65 and over, and anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding should see a GP, because a urine test and a different plan are usually needed. In England, many pharmacies treat uncomplicated cystitis in women aged 16 to 64 for free through NHS Pharmacy First.
How to ease cystitis at home
If you’ve had cystitis before and recognise the symptoms (burning when you pee, needing to go often or urgently, and pain low in your tummy), these can help while it clears:
Take painkillers
Paracetamol, or ibuprofen if it’s suitable for you, eases the pain. Check the leaflet, or ask a pharmacist if you’re not sure.
Drink enough
Drink enough so you’re not dehydrated: pale-yellow urine is a good guide. NICE found no evidence that drinking extra amounts treats cystitis.
Go easy on bladder irritants
Coffee, alcohol and fizzy drinks can irritate the bladder and make symptoms feel worse while you recover.
Use a hot water bottle
A covered hot water bottle on your tummy or between your thighs can ease cramping pain.
Rest, and avoid sex for now
Sex can make the irritation worse. Wait until your symptoms have gone.
Pee when you need to
Don’t hold on. Emptying your bladder fully is more comfortable and sensible.
Cranberry, sachets and other remedies: what the evidence says
| Remedy | What the evidence says |
|---|---|
| Cranberry juice or capsules | NICE found no good evidence that cranberry treats cystitis. For preventing repeat infections, NICE says the evidence of benefit is uncertain, with no evidence of benefit for older women. It’s generally safe to try, but don’t rely on it, and check with a pharmacist if you take warfarin. |
| Cystitis sachets, such as CanesOasis (sodium citrate) | They make urine less acidic and may ease burning, but NICE found no good evidence that they help. They’re for women only and aren’t suitable in pregnancy, or if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease or need a low-salt diet. Don’t use them with nitrofurantoin, because they make it work less well. |
| Probiotics | The evidence that they prevent or treat UTIs is limited. They’re not a substitute for treatment. |
| D-mannose | A sugar sold as a supplement to prevent repeat UTIs. The evidence is limited, and it isn’t a treatment for an active infection. |
| Baking soda (bicarbonate) drinks | Not recommended. They contain a lot of salt and can be harmful for some people. |
When you need an antibiotic
For women who aren’t pregnant, NICE says mild cystitis can be managed with self-care, or with a “back-up” prescription to use if it doesn’t start to improve within 48 hours or gets worse. An antibiotic helps the infection clear faster, and many women prefer to start one straight away. A prescriber can help you decide.
You’re more likely to need an antibiotic if:
- your symptoms are moderate or severe, or aren’t improving after 2 or 3 days of self-care;
- you have several typical symptoms, such as burning when you pee, needing to pee at night, and cloudy urine;
- you’ve had cystitis before and it needed an antibiotic to clear.
Antibiotics are prescription-only. In England, many pharmacies can treat uncomplicated cystitis in women aged 16 to 64 for free through NHS Pharmacy First. If you’re a woman aged 18 to 64 and would prefer to order online, our cystitis treatment online service lets a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber decide whether you need an antibiotic, and which one.
Which antibiotic?
UK guidance recommends two first-choice antibiotics for cystitis in women who aren’t pregnant, both usually taken for 3 days:
- Nitrofurantoin: one 100mg modified-release capsule twice a day with food. Often preferred because resistance to it is uncommon, but not suitable if your kidneys don’t work well.
- Trimethoprim: one 200mg tablet twice a day. A good choice if you haven’t taken it in the last 3 months.
Our guide to UTI antibiotics in the UK compares them side by side. For each medicine in detail, see our nitrofurantoin guide and trimethoprim guide.
How long cystitis lasts
- Without an antibiotic: mild cystitis often gets better within a few days.
- With an antibiotic: most women start to feel better within 24 to 48 hours, and symptoms usually settle by the end of a 3-day course.
- Not improving: if you’re no better after 48 hours on an antibiotic, or 3 days without one, or you get worse at any time, contact your GP or NHS 111.
When to see a GP instead
Self-care and online treatment aren’t right for everyone. See your GP, or call NHS 111, if:
- you’re pregnant or might be, or you’re breastfeeding;
- you’re a man, under 16, or 65 or over;
- you have a high temperature, shivering, back or side pain, or you’re being sick: signs of a kidney infection;
- you can see blood in your urine;
- you’ve had 2 UTIs in 6 months, or 3 in a year;
- you have a catheter, kidney problems, diabetes that’s hard to control, or a weakened immune system;
- you have unusual vaginal discharge or itching, which may be thrush or an STI rather than cystitis.
How to prevent cystitis
Cystitis can’t always be prevented, and the evidence for most of these steps is limited. They’re simple and safe, though, and many women find they help:
- Pee soon after sex.
- Don’t hold on when you need to go, and empty your bladder fully.
- Drink enough to stay well hydrated.
- Wipe from front to back after using the toilet.
- Avoid perfumed products such as scented soaps, bubble bath, bath oils and intimate sprays. Use mild, unscented products, and many women find showers better than long baths.
- Wear cotton underwear, and avoid very tight trousers.
- Think about your contraception if cystitis follows sex: spermicide and diaphragms can make it more likely.
If cystitis keeps coming back
If you’ve had 2 UTIs in 6 months, or 3 in a year, see your GP rather than treating each one yourself or ordering online again. Your GP can:
- send a urine sample for culture, to check which bacteria are causing it and which antibiotics work;
- look for a cause, such as a bladder that doesn’t empty fully;
- offer vaginal oestrogen if you’ve been through the menopause;
- offer methenamine hippurate, a non-antibiotic tablet that NICE recommends as an alternative to a daily antibiotic for some women;
- discuss a low-dose preventive antibiotic, either daily or as a single dose after a trigger such as sex, reviewed at least every 6 months.
Bladder pain that never clears? If you have bladder pain and urgency that keep coming back with negative urine tests, it may be bladder pain syndrome (interstitial cystitis), which isn’t an infection and isn’t treated with antibiotics. Your GP can refer you to a specialist.
Cystitis treatment from Access Doctor
If you’re a woman aged 18 to 64 with cystitis symptoms, a pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your consultation and, if you need one, chooses the antibiotic that suits you, usually as a 3-day course.
Antibiotic · Rx · first choice (NICE)
Nitrofurantoin 100mg MR capsules
One capsule twice a day with food, usually for 3 days. Not suitable if your kidneys don’t work well. From £12.99.
View product →Antibiotic · Rx · first choice (NICE) if resistance risk is low
Trimethoprim 200mg tablets
One tablet twice a day, usually for 3 days. Not if you’ve taken it in the last 3 months. From £12.99.
View product →Safety, confidentiality and free NHS options
Nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim are prescription-only medicines in the UK. Before anything is prescribed, a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your consultation, including your kidney health, the other medicines you take and any antibiotics you’ve had recently. We only prescribe an antibiotic when it’s appropriate: using antibiotics when they aren’t needed makes them work less well for everyone.
- Read the leaflet in the pack before you start.
- Don’t share antibiotics or keep leftovers for another time. Return unused tablets or capsules to a pharmacy.
- Report side effects to a pharmacist or doctor. You can also report them to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.
Your consultation is confidential, and we only contact your GP if you agree. Access Doctor is a private service, and there are free NHS options:
- England: NHS Pharmacy First at a local pharmacy (women aged 16 to 64), your GP, or NHS 111.
- Scotland: Pharmacy First at a community pharmacy, or NHS 24 on 111.
- Wales: many community pharmacies can treat uncomplicated urine infections; ask your local pharmacy, or call NHS 111 Wales.
- Northern Ireland: your GP, or a community pharmacy for advice.
If you’ve had 2 urine infections in 6 months, or 3 in a year, see your GP rather than ordering again online. A urine culture can show which antibiotic will work, and your GP can look for a cause and talk about prevention.
Start Your Cystitis Consultation
A GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your symptoms and prescribes an antibiotic if it’s right for you, in line with NICE guidance. Approved before 3pm, Monday to Friday? Dispatched the same day, by Royal Mail Tracked 48, Tracked 24 or Special Delivery guaranteed by 1pm next working day: you choose.
Start Cystitis Consultation →For symptoms, causes and when to get urgent help, see our cystitis guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fastest way to get rid of cystitis?
An antibiotic, usually nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim, clears a bacterial bladder infection fastest, and most women start to feel better within 24 to 48 hours. Paracetamol, or ibuprofen if it’s suitable for you, eases the pain in the meantime. Mild cystitis often settles by itself within a few days.
Can cystitis go away without antibiotics?
Yes, mild cystitis often gets better on its own within a few days, and NICE says self-care is a reasonable first step for women who aren’t pregnant. An antibiotic helps it clear faster. If you’re no better after 3 days, your symptoms are severe, or you get a fever or back pain, get advice.
How long does cystitis last?
Mild cystitis often clears within a few days. With an antibiotic, most women feel better within 24 to 48 hours, and symptoms usually settle by the end of a 3-day course. If you’re not improving after 48 hours on an antibiotic, contact your GP or NHS 111.
How do I get rid of cystitis?
Mild cystitis often clears on its own within a few days with painkillers, enough to drink and rest. If your symptoms are moderate or severe, or not improving after 2 or 3 days, an antibiotic such as nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim helps it clear faster. Get help the same day for a fever, back pain or blood in your urine.
Does cranberry juice help cystitis?
NICE found no good evidence that cranberry juice or capsules treat cystitis, and evidence that they prevent repeat infections is uncertain. They’re generally safe to try, but check with a pharmacist first if you take warfarin.
Do cystitis sachets work?
Sachets such as CanesOasis make urine less acidic and may ease burning, but NICE found no good evidence that they help cystitis. They’re for women only, aren’t suitable for everyone, and mustn’t be taken with nitrofurantoin, because they reduce how well it works.
How do I stop getting cystitis after sex?
Peeing soon after sex, drinking enough and avoiding spermicide may help, though the evidence is limited. If you keep getting cystitis after sex, see your GP: they can look for a cause and, if needed, discuss a single antibiotic dose to take after sex.
When should I see a doctor for cystitis?
See a GP or call NHS 111 if you’re pregnant, a man, or 65 or over, if you have a fever, back or side pain, or blood in your urine, if you’re not better after 48 hours of antibiotics, or if you’ve had 2 UTIs in 6 months or 3 in a year. Call 999 if you feel very unwell or confused.
Can I treat cystitis at home?
Often, yes. Painkillers, drinking enough and resting help mild cystitis, which often clears in a few days. If it doesn’t, a pharmacist, your GP or a regulated online service can assess whether you need an antibiotic. Home treatment isn’t suitable in pregnancy or if you have signs of a kidney infection.
References
- NICE. Urinary tract infection (lower): antimicrobial prescribing (NG109). nice.org.uk
- NICE. Urinary tract infection (recurrent): antimicrobial prescribing (NG112). nice.org.uk
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries. Urinary tract infection (lower) – women. cks.nice.org.uk
- NHS. Cystitis. nhs.uk
- NHS England. Pharmacy First (uncomplicated UTI in women aged 16 to 64). england.nhs.uk
Medical disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for diagnosis and treatment. In a medical emergency, call 999.