What antibiotics are used to treat UTI?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on March 31, 2025.
The most common drugs used to treat an uncomplicated UTI include:
- trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra, others),
- nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Macrobid), and
- fosfomycin (Monurol).
A UTI (urinary tract infection) is usually caused by an infection in the bladder (cystitis), the kidneys (pyelonephritis), or the urethra (urethritis).
Although fluoroquinolones like ciprofloxacin (Cipro) or levofloxacin (Levaquin) have been commonly used to treat UTIs in the past, recommendations now state this class should be reserved for more serious infections when possible.
Your doctor may choose among these different antibiotics, or others, based on your individual patient characteristics or local resistance patterns seen in your community.
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Does Flagyl treat UTI infections?
The preferred oral treatments for uncomplicated UTI infections (acute cystitis) are: nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin); fosfomycin (Monurol); and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (Bactrim DS, Septra DS).
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How long do antibiotics take to work?
Antibiotics are life-saving medicines used to treat bacterial infections, but many people wonder how quickly they can expect to feel better after starting a course. The answer depends on several factors, including the type of antibiotic, the infection or condition being treated, and individual health differences.
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What happens if antibiotics don’t work for UTI?
If an antibiotic does not treat a urinary tract infection (UTI), the bacteria may have developed antibiotic resistance and your infection may worsen. A UTI may start as a bladder infection (cystitis) and could worsen into a more serious kidney infection (pyelonephritis) or urosepsis (a serious infection throughout your body) that is a medical emergency. Contact your doctor.
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Drug information
- Nitrofurantoin (1,892 reviews)
- Fosfomycin (79 reviews)
- Ciprofloxacin (937 reviews)
- Levofloxacin (746 reviews)
- Trimethoprim (196 reviews)
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