For an uncomplicated UTI, treatment with UTI antibiotics is available without a prescription from one of our knowledgeable pharmacists.

If you are interested in UTI antibiotics, we will need to check that you meet certain criteria before we can supply them. A pharmacist will run through a series of questions to check that your UTI is suitable for treatment at the pharmacy. If you do meet the criteria for pharmacy UTI antibiotics without a prescription, we can supply specific antibiotics in limited quantities. The antibiotics available are nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim.

This service is available for women aged 16 to 65 years old. It is completely confidential and provided discreetly.

If you have any symptoms consistent with a more serious or recurring infection, we cannot provide UTI antibiotics. Instead, we will advise you to see a doctor. A serious or untreated UTI can reach the kidneys, which requires urgent medical attention. The sooner you get treatment, the less likely you are to experience complications or worsening of your symptoms.

While antibiotics are the first treatment for urinary tract infections, self-care strategies can also help you manage a UTI:

• Drink plenty of water – this helps dilute your urine and flush away the bacteria.
• Avoid drinks that tend to irritate the bladder – this includes coffee, alcohol and citrus juices.
• Use a hot water bottle or heating pad – place it on your lower stomach to help alleviate discomfort.

Urinary alkalinizers are also available at Life Pharmacies. These may provide some relief from the painful symptoms of a UTI by making your urine less acidic.

Probiotics can support gastrointestinal health, and are sometimes promoted for urinary tract health, too. There is some evidence that they may reduce the recurrence of UTIs in women who are prone to these infections.

Cranberry juice or cranberry tablets are sometimes recommended for preventing or alleviating urinary tract infections. Research hasn’t yet determined whether these are helpful, but you may like to try them.

Our pharmacists can talk to you about your symptoms and use their medical expertise to determine whether you have a UTI.

Alternatively, UTI testing kits are available at our pharmacies. These at-home self-testing kits can provide a result from your urine sample in just minutes. Visit our self testing page for more information about at-home UTI testing.

You can make an appointment or walk into a pharmacy today to speak to one of our pharmacists about your UTI symptoms, and they can assess which UTI treatments might be right for you.