How To Get Rid of a UTI in 24 Hours

Urinary tract infections are infections affecting the urinary system. They are very common, especially in women, and often caused by E. coli bacteria.

If you have a UTI, you might wonder how to get rid of it quickly. This article answers that question.

PROMOTING RAPID SYMPTOM REDUCTION IN UTIS

While it’s typically not possible to eliminate a UTI in 24 hours, you can take action to reduce its severity significantly. Of course, the first step is determining that you have an infection. UTI symptoms include:

• Cloudy or foul-smelling urine
• Red, pink or cola-colored urine
• Pain while urinating
• Needing to urinate frequently
• Pain or tenderness in your abdomen
• Pain or tenderness in your lower back
• Pain or tenderness in your pelvic area
• Fever and chills
• Nausea and vomiting

If you’ve never had a UTI, you should see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis. However, if you’ve had a UTI (or several of them) before, you might know that’s what you have and want to start the healing process while you wait to connect with your provider and get a prescription.

To address your UTI symptoms right away, do the following:

• Use Over-the-Counter Pain Medication. Drugs like acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Aleve) and others can reduce your discomfort.
• Drink Lots of Water. Doing so helps flush bacteria from your bladder and out of your body. Diluting your urine can also reduce your pain when urinating.
• Urinate Often. Holding your urine gives bacteria time to grow and multiply, so you should get rid of it as soon as you feel the need to go.
• Drink Green Tea. In addition to hydrating you, green tea has a substance called polyphenolic catechin, which helps kill E. coli bacteria.
• Avoid Caffeine and Alcohol. They can irritate your bladder, amplifying your pain and discomfort. In addition, mixing alcohol with antibiotics can increase your risk of side effects. If you simply can’t go without your morning coffee, try to minimize your consumption.

HOME REMEDIES FOR UTIS

The only proven treatments for UTIs are the various antibiotics available. Unfortunately, there are many UTI myths and plenty of misinformation out there.

Drinking cranberry juice has long been touted as a natural remedy, but no significant evidence backs up that claim. Still, the risk of health problems from drinking cranberry juice is low, so some healthcare providers might recommend it in conjunction with taking an antibiotic.

Other home remedies for curing UTIs, including vitamin C, probiotics, apple cider vinegar, rice vinegar, bearberry, horseradish and others, haven’t been proven effective. So, you shouldn’t substitute them for the antibiotics your healthcare provider prescribes. An unproven home remedy is unlikely to resolve your infection, and relying on it can allow your infection to worsen.

GET HELP WITH UTIS FROM BAPTIST HEALTH

While you can’t get rid of a UTI in 24 hours, prompt action will help you start feeling better quickly. The best and fastest way to resolve a UTI is to contact your healthcare provider for a diagnosis and prescription while simultaneously doing what you can to reduce your symptoms and speed up your healing.

If you develop UTI symptoms, connect with your provider right away to get the treatment you need to address the infection. If you don’t have a Baptist Health provider, our online directory is a helpful resource for finding one.

Next Steps and Helpful Resources

Learn More About Women's Care at Baptist Health
How To Get Rid of a UTI
Why Do I Keep Getting UTIs?
UTI vs. Yeast Infection