What happens if you take uti medicine without having a uti?

Kidney and urinary tract
1

What would happen if you take the antibiotics and didn't actually have a uti ? Would it be harmful ?

2

Hi Brandi,

It's always best to only take medication when a uti has been confirmed, but if your GP suspects an infection, they are probably being cautious by giving you a short dose of antibiotics. After all if a uti is neglected, it can be mischievous and gets into your kidneys. So don't worry. 

Best of luck. 

Sam x

3

Brandi, which antibiotics were you given.

 

4

I'm taking one a day Nitrofurantoin to prevent another attack. Both my GP and Urologist think this is a good idea for a period of 3 months. It worked a couple of years ago to stop relapses, I didn't get another uti for 18 months or so.

5

GP's sometimes prescribe a prophylactic which is a small dose of antibiotics over a short time usually 6 months I think as a preventive measure, it is usually given if you are prone to recurrent UTI's.

6

As long as the medicine is tolerable to you and you can put up with any side effects, then as you say this was probably prescribed by your Dr to prevent a further UTI.

However if you experience a side effect that you find intolerable then tell your GP straight away and they may consider stopping your medication or switching you onto a different one 

7

Hi Brandi,  So if I can offer any word of advice about antibiotics is to not take them unless there is a confirmed infection.  I was once put on on an antibiotic for the fact that the doctor was guessing I had an infection and I turned out having c-difficile.  I never did have an infection....so I think the antibiotics were trying to attack some bacteria that wasn't there so attacked my bowels.  That was the worst thing ever!!!!  To get a confirned diagnosis they do a urinalysis, and then they send the culture away...which takes 24-48 hours.  If you had a high fever, flank pain, then I could see them giving you something while you wait.  However the culture is what gives them the idea of what antibiotic you should be on as some antibiotics don't work for certain infections.   I used to think antibiotics were no big deal, but I have seen the severe side effects of taking them when not needing too....not to mention your body can become resistant to them so when you do have a bad infection some day they might not work.  So I would say.....be very careful.