A woman with her hands in front of her crotch who may have cystitis symptoms

Cystitis Treatment

Request cystitis antibiotics to quickly and effectively treat bladder infections within 3 days.

Test to see if you have a UTI or deal with one quickly with a cystitis treatment that’s right for you.

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    Request a cystitis treatment to clear infections in as little as 3 days.

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    No face-to-face appointment is needed. Choose from free home delivery or collect from your local Superdrug Pharmacy in as little as 2 hours.

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    Get the first in-line antibiotic treatments, proven to clear up cystitis in over 85% of cases.

Available from £12.99
About this service

Cystitis is a common bladder infection which causes a painful or burning sensation when urinating. It affects over half of the women in the UK at some point in their lives. Although it can get better on its own, you might need a course of antibiotics to clear it up.

You can request cystitis antibiotics without any face-to-face consultations from Superdrug Online Doctor. All you have to do is fill out an online health questionnaire for one of our doctors to review and approve the treatment if it is right for you. Our doctors can prescribe a course of nitrofurantoin which is up to 92% effective at clearing cystitis infections between 3 and 7 days. You must complete the full course of antibiotics to prevent the infection from coming back.

If you think you may have cystitis but aren’t quite sure if you do you can always request a UTI TestCard from us. To do this, you can fill out a short online questionnaire for one of our doctors to approve.

headshot of medical editor brenda Ikeji

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Ikeji

Last reviewed: 04 Sep 2024

Available Treatments and Tests Kits

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Nitrofurantoin PR + TestCard UTI

A TestCard and antibiotic treatment combo pack

In stock
from £35.00

Antibiotic treatment that clears up cystitis within 5 to 7 days

In stock
from £22.99
(£3.83/capsule)

Simple home test to check if you have a UTI

In stock
from £12.99
(£12.99/test kit)
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How it Works

About Cystitis Treatment

What is cystitis?

Cystitis is a common urinary tract infection (UTI) that affects the bladder. It is more common in women than men because women have a shorter urethra (the tube that allows urine to leave the body) making it easier for bacteria to reach the bladder and cause infection.

The most common cause of cystitis is bacteria and around 95% of cases are caused by Escherichia coli (E. coli). Bacteria are commonly found around the vagina and the anus and both are close to the opening of the urethra, which makes it easy for bacteria from stool, or during sex, to enter.

Sometimes cystitis will go away on its own, but antibiotics may be needed if the symptoms are particularly severe or if they last for a long time.

What are the symptoms of cystitis?

The symptoms of cystitis include:

  • pain, burning or a stinging sensation when you pee
  • needing to pee more often and more urgently than usual
  • dark, cloudy, or strong-smelling pee
  • pain in your lower tummy

How long does cystitis last?

Mild cystitis infections will usually go away on their own within a few days. If you need antibiotics to clear the infection, you’ll usually notice your symptoms have gone away within 1 to 3 days.

How to check if you have cystitis

You can check if you have cystitis with an at-home UTI TestCard. All you need to do is collect a pee sample, use the UTI test strips that come with the pack to check your sample and use the TestCard app to receive your results within a couple of minutes.

You can request a UTI TestCard on its own or with a course of nitrofurantoin from Superdrug Online Doctor.

What causes cystitis?

The main cause of cystitis is bacteria from stool entering the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, and making its way to the bladder.

Several things can increase your risk of getting cystitis, such as:

  • having sex
  • being pregnant
  • wiping from back to front after going to the toilet
  • menopause
  • having diabetes
  • a history of UTIs
  • kidney stones
  • difficulty emptying your bladder

How to treat cystitis

The main treatment for cystitis is a course of specific antibiotics called nitrofurantoin. Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract infections and most people feel better within a few days of starting treatment.

Can cystitis clear up on its own?

Mild cases of cystitis will usually clear up on their own within a few days. However, if your symptoms get worse or they do not improve, you may need antibiotics to stop the infection from travelling to your kidneys.

Do over-the-counter treatments work?

Some people take over-the-counter treatments like cystitis sachets to help relieve their symptoms. Not all are proven to work, but may be worth trying:

  • Cystitis sachets: Over-the-counter sachets that contain potassium citrate or sodium citrate. They can be effective at relieving the symptoms of cystitis if no bacterial infection is present by making your urine less acidic.
  • Cranberry juice: Some people drink cranberry juice to prevent cystitis but there is no evidence it can treat it once the infection has started. Anyone who has interstitial cystitis should avoid cranberry juice because it can make your symptoms worse.
  • Lemon barley water: Diluted barley water also helps to change the acidity of your urine and helps to flush out toxins. It naturally contains citrate, one of the ingredients in cystitis relief sachets.
  • Painkillers: You can take mild painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if you have a lower UTI to help manage any pain or discomfort.
  • Probiotics: Some research shows that women who took probiotics reduced the rate of UTIs by 76%, resulting in a 90% drop in antibiotic use.

Can cystitis come back after treatment?

Yes, cystitis can come back after treatment, especially if you do not finish your course of antibiotics. Some people also experience frequent cystitis infections or a condition called interstitial cystitis (also known as bladder pain syndrome).

If you keep getting cystitis or experience any of the following symptoms, you should speak to a doctor:

  • pelvic pain that does not go away
  • changes in your peeing pattern which affects your daily life

There are things you can do at home to help manage mild cystitis symptoms, such as:

  • take paracetamol up to 4 times a day to manage pain or discomfort
  • drink water
  • avoid sex
  • avoid drinks that can irritate your bladder such as fruit juice, coffee, fizzy drinks, and alcohol
  • hold a hot water bottle over your tummy
  • pee often and don’t hold it in

How to prevent cystitis

If you get recurrent cystitis or want to avoid getting it, there are several things you can do, including:

  • take showers rather than baths
  • avoid using perfumed soap or bubble bath to wash your genitals
  • pee when you need to rather than holding it in and try to fully empty your bladder
  • always wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet
  • pee as soon as you can after sex
  • wear cotton panties
  • drink plenty of water throughout the day
  • avoid drinking lots of coffee and alcohol
  • wash the skin around the vagina with plain water
  • avoid using spermicide with condoms or diaphragms

Cystitis Treatment FAQs

Can men get cystitis?

Yes, men can get cystitis but it is more common in women because women have a shorter urethra which is close to the vagina and anus. At Superdrug Online Doctor we only offer cystitis treatment for women, but men can check if they have a UTI with our at-home UTI TestCard kit.

Can sex cause cystitis?

Cystitis can be triggered by sex, so women may develop cystitis symptoms within 1 or 2 days of having sex. This is because sex increases the chance of bacteria getting into the bladder not because cystitis is an STI.

What is the difference between cystitis and UTI?

Cystitis is a UTI that specifically affects the bladder. A UTI is an infection that affects any part of the urinary tract, such as the:

  • urethra
  • bladder
  • ureters
  • kidneys

Does cranberry juice help with cystitis?

Although some research suggests that it can prevent half of recurrent UTIs, there is no evidence to suggest that cranberry juice can help if you already have a cystitis infection.

Why is cystitis worse at night?

You may find that some symptoms are worse at night or early morning, such as stinging or burning when peeing, because your urine output is lowest at this time. Because you pee less at night, this increases the risk of pain or discomfort in your bladder.

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