CanesOasis Cystitis Relief
From £8.99
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Our friendly team is available to help Monday to Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm.
If you need urgent assistance, do not use this service. Call 111, or in an emergency call 999.
Cystitis is a common bladder infection that causes burning when you pee and needing to go often. If you’re a woman aged 18 to 64 with typical symptoms, you can get treatment without a GP appointment: complete a confidential online consultation and a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber will check whether an antibiotic is right for you.
Cystitis is inflammation of the bladder, usually caused by bacteria from the gut, such as E. coli, reaching the bladder. It’s the most common type of urinary tract infection (UTI) in women. Typical symptoms are burning or stinging when you pee, needing to pee more often or urgently, cloudy or strong-smelling urine, and pain low in your tummy. Mild cystitis often gets better on its own within a few days, and an antibiotic can help it clear faster. Read more about cystitis symptoms and causes, or how to treat cystitis at home.
You can get cystitis treatment online if you’re a woman aged 18 to 64 with typical symptoms, and you aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding. A GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber reviews your consultation and, if an antibiotic is suitable, prescribes nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim, usually as a 3-day course. Our guide to UTI antibiotics in the UK explains how they compare.
UK guidance (NICE) recommends two first-choice antibiotics, both from £12.99 for a 3-day course. CanesOasis sachets (£8.99) can ease burning but aren’t an antibiotic. The prescriber recommends the right option for you.
| Treatment | Key information | Best for | Price From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrofurantoin 100mg MR | First-choice antibiotic (NICE). One capsule twice a day with food, usually for 3 days. Resistance is uncommon. Not suitable if your kidneys don’t work well. | Most women with uncomplicated cystitis | From £12.99 |
| Trimethoprim 200mg | First-choice antibiotic (NICE) if the risk of resistance is low. One tablet twice a day, usually for 3 days. | Women who haven’t taken trimethoprim in the last 3 months, or can’t take nitrofurantoin | From £12.99 |
| CanesOasis sachets | Sodium citrate to ease burning; not an antibiotic, and doesn’t clear the infection. Women only. Don’t use with nitrofurantoin. | Easing mild symptoms for up to 2 days | £8.99 (6 sachets) |
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
Online treatment is for women aged 18 to 64 with typical symptoms of cystitis (burning when you pee, needing to go often or urgently), with no fever, back pain or blood in the urine, who aren’t pregnant or breastfeeding.
If you recognise your symptoms from a previous episode, online treatment may still be suitable. But if you’ve had 2 urine infections in 6 months, or 3 in a year, please see your GP instead. You’ll need a urine culture to find the right antibiotic, and your GP can discuss prevention.
See your GP or call NHS 111 if you’re a man, under 18 or 65 or over, pregnant or breastfeeding, have kidney disease or a catheter, or have a fever, back pain or shivering. In England, women aged 16 to 64 can also get free treatment for uncomplicated cystitis from a pharmacy through NHS Pharmacy First.
Contact your GP or NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) the same day if:
FACT: Mild cystitis often clears on its own within a few days, and painkillers help in the meantime. Antibiotics can help it clear faster, and a prescriber can advise whether you need one. Kidney infection is uncommon, but get help quickly if you develop a fever or back pain.
FACT: It’s usually caused by bacteria from your own gut reaching the bladder. Sex, menopause and some types of contraception make it more likely. It isn’t a sign of being unclean.
FACT: NICE found no good evidence that cranberry products or cystitis sachets treat cystitis. Drinking enough fluid to avoid dehydration is sensible.
Paracetamol, or ibuprofen if it’s suitable for you, can ease the pain while your body or an antibiotic clears the infection.
Drink enough so you’re not dehydrated, and pale-yellow urine is a good guide. NICE found no evidence that drinking extra amounts treats cystitis.
Don’t hold on when you need to go, and pee soon after sex. The evidence is limited, but it’s simple and safe.
Perfumed soaps, bubble baths and intimate sprays can irritate. Use mild, unscented products and cotton underwear.
Take it exactly as prescribed, even if you feel better. Don’t keep leftovers or share antibiotics.
Treating cystitis is one part of looking after yourself. Check whether any of these apply.
Free NHS treatment: in England, many pharmacies treat uncomplicated UTIs in women aged 16 to 64 for free through NHS Pharmacy First. It isn’t for pregnancy, repeated infections or signs of a kidney infection.
STIs: chlamydia and gonorrhoea can cause similar symptoms. If you’ve had a new partner, consider a free STI test.
Thrush: antibiotics can trigger thrush. See our guide to thrush after antibiotics. -
Side effects: most are mild. Our guides to trimethoprim side effects and nitrofurantoin explain what to expect.
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, any other medicines you take and recent antibiotics. 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. - Don’t share antibiotics or keep leftovers. Return any unused tablets to a pharmacy. - Report side effects: tell a pharmacist or doctor. You can also report them to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme (yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk).
Your consultation is confidential, and we only contact your GP if you agree. Access Doctor is a private service. Free NHS options: - England: NHS Pharmacy First at a local pharmacy (women 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 UTIs; ask your local pharmacy, or call NHS 111 Wales; - Northern Ireland: your GP, or a community pharmacy for advice.
Self-care, painkillers, what the evidence says, and when you need an antibiotic.
Read guideWhich antibiotic is used in the UK and how they compare.
Read guideHow to take it, side effects and dark urine.
Read guideWhat it treats, how to take it and how quickly it works.
Read guideCommon and serious side effects, and what to do.
Read guideOur main guide to cystitis.
Read guideAnswers about antibiotics, symptoms, prevention and when to see a GP.
Yes, if you’re a woman aged 18 to 64 with typical symptoms, and you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding. You complete a confidential consultation, and a GPhC-registered pharmacist independent prescriber checks whether an antibiotic is safe and suitable. Men, women 65 and over, and anyone with signs of a kidney infection need to see a GP.
UK guidance recommends nitrofurantoin or trimethoprim as first choices. Nitrofurantoin is often preferred because resistance to it is less common, but it isn’t suitable if your kidneys don’t work well. Trimethoprim is a good option if you haven’t taken it in the last 3 months. The prescriber chooses based on your health and recent antibiotics. Our UTI antibiotics guide compares them.
Many people start to feel better within a day or two. The usual course is 3 days; the prescriber may give a longer course if it’s needed. Finish the course even if you feel better. If your symptoms haven’t started to improve within 48 hours, or they get worse, contact a GP or NHS 111.
Often, yes. Mild cystitis commonly clears within a few days, and painkillers and fluids can help in the meantime. An antibiotic can help it clear faster. If symptoms are severe, getting worse or not improving after a few days, get advice. See our guide on how to treat cystitis.
No. CanesOasis contains sodium citrate, which makes urine less acidic and may ease burning. It doesn’t treat the infection, and NICE found no good evidence that urine alkalinising products help cystitis. It’s for women only, and isn’t suitable in pregnancy or if you have heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney disease or a low-salt diet. Don’t use it while taking nitrofurantoin, because it reduces how well nitrofurantoin works.
Not through our service. Urine infections in men are less common and more often linked to other problems, so UK guidance recommends a urine test and a longer course. Please see your GP.
Not online. Urine infections in pregnancy need a urine test and a specific antibiotic course, because untreated infection can affect the pregnancy. Please contact your GP or midwife the same day. If you’re breastfeeding, see your GP or a pharmacist.
If you’ve had 2 urine infections in 6 months, or 3 in a year, that’s called recurrent cystitis, and we’ll ask you to see your GP instead of ordering online. Repeat infections need a urine culture to check which bacteria are causing them and which antibiotic will work, and your GP can discuss prevention.
Yes, antibiotics can upset the natural balance of bacteria in the vagina and trigger thrush in some women. If you notice itching and thick white discharge after treatment, a pharmacist can recommend an antifungal treatment. See our guide to thrush after antibiotics.
Yes. Thrush, bacterial vaginosis and STIs such as chlamydia can cause similar symptoms, especially if you also have unusual discharge or itching. If you’ve had a new partner, consider an STI test. If symptoms don’t improve with treatment, see your GP.
Call 999 or go to A&E if you feel very unwell, confused or very drowsy, or have a very fast heartbeat, fast breathing, or cold, blotchy skin. These can be signs of sepsis. Contact a GP or NHS 111 the same day for pain in your back or side, a high temperature, shivering or vomiting, which can be signs of a kidney infection.
Yes. In England, many pharmacies treat uncomplicated UTIs in women aged 16 to 64 for free through Pharmacy First, and your GP can also help. Scotland and Wales have similar pharmacy schemes. Access Doctor is a private alternative if you’d prefer to order online.
The usual course for cystitis in women is 3 days, as UK guidance recommends. A 7-day course is available if the prescriber decides it’s needed, so you don’t need to choose. The trimethoprim and nitrofurantoin pages list both pack sizes and prices.
No. Nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim are prescription-only medicines in the UK, so you need a consultation with a prescriber: online, with your GP, or at a pharmacy through NHS Pharmacy First in England. Cystitis sachets such as CanesOasis are sold without a prescription, but they only ease symptoms and don’t treat the infection.
Helpful reads related to this treatment area.
Access Doctor makes it fast and simple to get cystitis antibiotics online in the UK. Get trimethoprim from £8.99 or nitrofurantoin from £10.99 with next-day delivery. Our UK-registered prescribers review your consultation and issue a prescription where appropriate — no GP visit, no waiting room.
