Cystitis Treatment

Cystitis, also known as a bladder infection, has symptoms that are related to those of a urinary tract infection. With both, it is important to drink plenty of water, to flush out the bladder.

The symptoms include:

1. Needing to urinate more often;
2. Experiencing pain or a burning sensation when urinating;
3. Bad smelling or cloudy urine;
4. Seeing blood in your urine (this only happens occasionally); or
5. Feeling pain or discomfort in the lower abdomen

In nine out of ten cases of female bladder infection, cystitis is caused by E.coli bacteria from the bowels. Women have a shorter urethra than men and it sits closer to the anus. These E.coli bacteria move from the anus to the urethra as a result of poor hygiene habits (such as wiping your bottom from back to front, instead of from front to back).

It is also possible for women to get cystitis from having sex because the bacteria can be rubbed into the urethra – you can reduce the risk of this happening by urinating after sex to flush out any bacteria that might have transferred. Certain sexually transmitted infections can mimic some of the symptoms of a bladder infection. If the burning sensation during urination is accompanied by any discharge, you should see a doctor.

Likewise, if you experience persistent pain and difficulty urinating, you should also see a doctor, as this can be a symptom of kidney stones or other infections.

MacroBid is an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections. It contains the active ingredient nitrofurantoin, which is filtered out of the blood into the urine by the kidneys. Once in the urine, MacroBid kills the bacteria that are causing an infection in the urinary tract.

MacroBid is a prolonged-release medication. This means that the medication works slowly and gradually over a few hours. For this reason, you should swallow the capsules whole. Don’t chew them or break them open to take them.

MacroBid can turn your urine a dark yellow or brown colour. This is normal – it is caused by the colour of the medicine.

In addition to your antibiotic cystitis treatment you should make sure you drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol and acidic fruit juices, as these drinks may irritate your bladder further. You can also use over the counter painkillers such as ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve the pain. Avoid having sex until your infection has cleared entirely, as sex might worsen your condition. Some women find, that cranberry tablets are an effective cystitis treatment. However, they have only been found to have a preventative effect and they are not suitable for curing an acute infection.

Some patient also find it helpful to drink urine alkalising agents from the pharmacy to complement their cystitis treatment. Alkalising agents make your urine less acidic, which may reduce the pain while urinating. However, there is no proof that they are actually effective.

Male bladder infections are far less common than female bladder infections.

When men reach their 50’s, they are more likely to develop a bladder infection than when they were younger. The symptoms are the same for both men and women. However, male bladder infections can be a sign of an infected prostate or of a problem with the kidneys (for example, kidney stones) that could block the flow of urine. For this reason, we’d recommend you get checked out by your GP, just in case it is something more serious.

The antibiotic MacroBid rarely causes side effects.

In rare cases, side effects can include:

• Skin rashes
• Diarrhoea
• Feeling sick