Treatment:

Cystitis should be promptly treated. Antibiotics are used to fight the bacterial infection. You should finish the entire course of antibiotics. Commonly used antibiotics include:

• Nitrofurantoin
• Sulfa drugs (sulfonamides) such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim)
• Amoxicillin
• Cephalosporins
• Ciprofloxacin or levofloxacin
• Doxycycline

Another medication called Pyridium may be used to reduce the burning and urgency associated with cystitis. In addition, common products that increase acid in the urine, such as ascorbic acid or cranberry juice, may be recommended to decrease the concentration of bacteria in the urine.

Follow-up may include urine cultures to make sure that bacterial infection is gone.

Expectations (prognosis):

Most cases of cystitis are uncomfortable but disappear without complication after treatment.

Complications:

• Chronic or recurrent urinary tract infection
• Complicated UTI (pyelonephritis)
• Acute renal failure

Calling your health care provider:

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of cystitis, or if you have already been diagnosed and symptoms get worse. You should also call if new symptoms develop, particularly fever, back pain, stomach pain, or vomiting.