What antibiotics are used to treat UTI?
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on April 1, 2024.
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.
Read next
Related medical questions
- What is the best antibiotic to treat a sinus infection?
- What medications can affect your taste or smell?
- How long does ciprofloxacin stay in your system when finished?
- Ciprofloxacin - can you crush Cipro 500 tablets and mix with food?
- What is "dual release" nitrofurantoin?
- What are the best antibiotics for pneumonia?
- What do I need to know about Drug Interactions?
- Can Levaquin cause tendonitis?
- How long do antibiotics take to work?
Drug information
Related support groups
- Ciprofloxacin (55 questions, 133 members)
- Nitrofurantoin (54 questions, 62 members)
- Trimethoprim (26 questions, 35 members)
- Levofloxacin (24 questions, 76 members)
- Fosfomycin (3 questions, 9 members)
- Urinary Tract Infection (198 questions, 595 members)
