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Urinary tract infection in males is a common condition. It occurs when harmful bacteria affect any part of your urinary tract system (it can be your bladder, urethra, ureters or even kidney that is affected). Antibiotics are the most effective treatment option for UTIs. Antibiotics destroy the infection-causing bacteria and provide fast symptomatic relief as well.
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The common symptoms of UTIs in men that antibiotics actively treat are:
- Pain in the pelvic region
- Burning sensation while passing urine
- The frequent urge of peeing
So, whenever you face these symptoms just get in touch with a specialist doctor. The doctor will prescribe you antibiotics to treat the urinary infection. Let’s know about some of the most effective antibiotics for UTIs in men.
Antibiotics for UTIs in men
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is among the most common antibiotics that doctors prescribe men with a UTI. It is a safe antibiotic that immediately works on the symptoms of the infection. Hence, it relieves the pain and the burning sensation associated with the urinary tract infection.
Ceftriaxone
Ceftriaxone is a very effective antibiotic for UTI in men and treats even severe cases. It increases the volume of urine and allows the bacteria to flush out of the body. So, ceftriaxone acts as a diuretic and you should drink lots of water to avoid the chances of dehydration.
Bactrim
Bactrim is composed of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole. This antibiotic can cure severe cases of UTIs in men. It proactively shows its action on killing the bacteria and removing them from the lining of the urinary tract. Doctors also prescribe Bactrim for other bacterial infections such as pneumonia, bronchitis, etc.
Macrobid
It is also known as Nitrofurantoin. Macrobid treats the mild cases of urinary tract infections in men. When the infection is uncomplicated, the doctor prescribes Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin) for 5-7 days. Completing the due course of antibiotics for UTIs in males is a must to assure that the infection does not recur.
Levofloxacin
This antibiotic is quite widely used for men suffering from urinary tract infections. Levofloxacin also works in cases where the person has some resistance to antibiotics. So, it is a very reliable antibiotic that doctors use for urinary infections in men. Levofloxacin also cures the problem of severe diarrhea that E. Coli causes.
Fosfomycin
Fosfomycin is a very common and safe antibiotic that doctors usually prescribe for mild urinary infections. The dosage of fosfomycin is also quite light and is of course given in the initial stage of the urinary infection in men.
Cephalexin
Cephalexin prevents bacterial infection in the urinary tract from growing. It also brings immediate relief to the discomforting symptoms of UTI in men. Cephalexin is a generic medicine that effectively deals with other infections such as ear infections.
These are the best antibiotics to cure urinary infections in men. The dosage and the course of these antibiotics depend upon the seriousness of the infection.
The choice of antibiotics that doctor prescribes also depends on other factors such as:
- The age of the patient
- Medical history of infection (if any)
- Allergy to a particular antibiotic
Duration of antibiotic treatment for UTI in men
Usually, doctors prescribe antibiotics for 5-7 days to treat the infection properly. The treatment is prolonged when the case is complicated. A complicated case of UTI means that the underlying cause of infection is a disease or a medical condition. Such a disease can be enlargement of the prostate, kidney stones, etc. So, to treat the infection, the doctor has to treat the root cause of UTI once and for all. Mostly, the antibiotics go on for about 2 weeks in complicated cases. (Also Read: How Does A Male Get A Urinary Tract Infection? )
In between the treatment, if the symptoms of UTI suddenly grow severe, consult your doctor right away. It can happen when medicine does not suit your body. Therefore, the doctor needs to change the antibiotic.
Follow-ups for UTI are necessary
The doctor will ask for a follow-up urine test to determine if the infection is still there in the body. Usually, the course of medicine extends depending on the condition. If you tend to miss the follow-ups, it will not assure you whether the infection is still there in the body or not. And leaving the condition unattended will cause you trouble only. Also, if you leave your medicines in between, there are high chances that the infection will recur. To prevent the chances of recurrence, you must complete the course of antibiotics and go for regular follow-ups.
Side-effects of antibiotics to look out for
All the above-mentioned antibiotics for UTI in men are safe and the chances of side-effects are rare. But, you must not take it lightly when any side-effect starts showing up.
The side-effects of the antibiotics for UTI are:
- Nausea and dizziness
- Unusual and itchy rashes on the body
- Headache
- Bodyache
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
If you face any of these conditions when you are on antibiotics, immediately get in touch with your doctor. Only the specialist doctor can fix these side-effects. In addition to this, avoid going for self-medication for any side-effects; doing so can make your condition worse.
Apart from medical treatment, there are certain things that can help you in managing UTI. These tips include dietary and lifestyle changes. Let’s take a quick look at the tips to deal better with urinary infections.
Other tips that can help in managing UTI in males
- Drink at least 7-8 glasses of water every day. This helps in passing the toxins along with the urine.
- Drink cranberry juice without adding any extra sugar. Fresh cranberry juice removes the bacteria from the lining of the tract. These harmful bacteria get out of the body through urine.
- Have probiotic products such as yogurt. Probiotics promote the growth of healthy bacteria in the gut which kill the infection-causing bacteria.
- Increase your consumption of vitamin C. Especially, citrus fruits are a rich source of vitamin C. Apart from citrus fruits, oranges, kiwi, and red peppers contain high amounts of vitamin C (ascorbic acid).
- Maintain proper hygiene of your genital area and follow good bathroom habits.
- Make sure that you do not hold the urge to pass urine for long as it increases the chances of UTI.
- You can also take the help of natural supplements of garlic and cranberry.
These are some simple yet effective tips that will allow you to get rid of UTI faster. Don’t forget to discuss them once with your doctor, so that you receive the right treatment.
Also Read: Top 10 Home Remedies For Urinary Tract Infections In Males
