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Soothe the sting with UTI treatments.

If you’ve ever had a Urinary Tract Infections (UTI), you’ll recognise the signs - a constant, urgent need to urinate, often followed by a burning sensation when you do. UTIs are one of the most common infections, affecting approximately 1 in 2 women at some point in their lives.

UTIs can occur anywhere along the urinary tract. They develop when bacteria or other microbes enter the urinary tract or bladder and begin to multiply, leading to a range of painful symptoms.

If left untreated, a UTI can spread to the kidneys and other parts of the body, so it’s important to recognise the signs and seek treatment as soon as possible. Urinary tract infections can cause symptoms such as pain when urinating, urgency, and lower abdominal discomfort.

Our pharmacists can assess symptoms and, if required, prescribe the medication to help manage the infection quickly, as well as guidance on when to seek further medical care. This service is a funded treatment and is part of the Government's Extended Pharmacy Services programme*

*Eligibility for Women aged 16–65 years. The government-funded pharmacy consultation and treatment, enables eligible patients to now access subsidised medicines and consultation directly from pharmacists. Our pharmacist will be able to provide more details on eligbility.

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Urinary tract infection (UTI) antibiotics

What are UTI symptoms, what UTI treatment options do you have, and could a pharmacist conultation for UTI antibiotics be appropriate for you?

A urinary tract infection, also known as a UTI or cystitis, is a common condition – more than half of Kiwi people will have a UTI at some time in their lives.

What causes UTIs? A UTI is usually caused by E coli bacteria getting into the urethra. The bacteria cause inflammation in the lining of your urinary tract and bladder, which can be painful.

TIPS AND ADVICE

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.
Pee frequently – don’t hold your urine in; emptying your bladder helps clear the infection.
Take prescribed antibiotics properly – finish the entire course even if symptoms improve.

UTI Symptoms
UTI symptoms may include all or some of the following:
- A strong urge to urinate (pee).
- Pain or a burning sensation when you pee.
- Needing to go the toilet often.
- Passing only small amounts of urine (pee).
- Cloudy urine.
- Pain in your lower tummy and/or pelvic region.
A UTI is not usually a serious health condition, but it can make some people, particularly elderly people, quite unwell.
Antibiotics for UTI treatment

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.
What other UTI treatments can help?
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.
How do you know if you have a UTI?

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.
Book online, call us, or just walk in

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.