Why doesn't amoxicillin work for uti !

[shygirliee56]

Hi ladies I have a uti since Sunday and was put on amoxicillin but wasn't working and now have to switch antibiotics has this happened to anyone I have to take trimethoprim I have realised these work so well

The standard practice response for a UTI is shite. I am now taking D Mannose which studies have found to be as effective as antibiotics. So far no symptoms after six weeks of mild, intermittent symptoms. Three days of antibiotics didn't do the trick surprisingly.

Yes it's very common to have to switch antibiotics for a urinary tract infection. Having said that amoxycillin isn't the usual 1st line antibiotic for cystitis.

@SummerHouse

The standard practice response for a UTI is shite. I am now taking D Mannose which studies have found to be as effective as antibiotics. So far no symptoms after six weeks of mild, intermittent symptoms. Three days of antibiotics didn't do the trick surprisingly.

My friend has a bladder problem and gets loads of UTIs, nobody had suggested d mannose to her (she's had camera, urology etc) I mentioned it to her, she started it and not one UTI since, she said it's actually changed her life

Trimethoprim should be first choice. Amoxicillin isn't terribly effective against UTI bacteria. But lab needs to culture the urine to know for sure which antibiotic will work.

There are different strains of utis so the same antibiotic won't work on them all. This has happened to me quite a few times now, having to be switched to a different antibiotic after a few days. Chances are the doctors have given you an antibiotic that will clear most strains or the one that would work on the last one you had so you could start taking them then your urine sample result have come back from the lab and the doctors have realised that the original antibiotic won't work. You have my full sympathy, UTIs are awful! Hope you are feeling better soon

d mannose

Yes, I agree, D Mannose can be effective specially if the symptoms are only just starting

If it's a full blown infection that is difficult to shift, they should be doing a culture to identify exactly which bacteria it is and which antibiotic should be given

This is due to the surge in antibiotic resistant bacteria which is a huge global health crisis that no one talks about much any more. UTIs are one of the most common infections to be resistant to antibiotics because they are so common and have been treated with antibiotics for so long. This is why it's very important that the urine is cultured to find out what bacteria is causing the infection so the right antibiotic can be prescribed. www.health.harvard.edu/blog/antibiotic-resistant-urinary-tract-infections-are-on-the-rise-2019101417982

Yes I've had this. There are different strains that have different antibiotic resistance and unless you want to do a test and get a report back before starting medication, the first lot arent guaranteed to work.

I've also had it where its been a really bad infection and the antibiotics have worked but its taken me a couple of weeks to feel like things are normal down there

There are different strains of utis so the same antibiotic won't work on them all. This has happened to me quite a few times now, having to be switched to a different antibiotic after a few days. Chances are the doctors have given you an antibiotic that will clear most strains or the one that would work on the last one you had so you could start taking them then your urine sample result have come back from the lab and the doctors have realised that the original antibiotic won't work

This is exactly how it works!

Trimethoprim or nitrofurantoin (depending on local policy and levels of resistance to trimethoprim) are the first-line antibiotics for uncomplicated UTIs in the UK - do you know why you were prescribed amoxicillin?

Yes that particular antibiotic often does not work. Trimethoprim 3 day course is best. I used to suffer a lot. I privately ordered some of the 3 day treatment and keep it in the cupboard. Hopefully I will never need it but prefer having to hand just in case.

I can second the D manrose suggestion - amazing. I take it intermittently if I feel the burn coming on. So far 2 years no uti whereas previously a couple a year. I tended to find I would suffer whenever I was rundown or had a sore throat.

UTIs can be caused by a number of different bacteria. Different antibiotics treat different bacteria. A dip test will only tell you you have a UTI, to know which bacteria it is caused by your sample needs to be sent off to the lab and cultured (grown more of in the lab) then they can tell which antibiotics will actually work best.

For the majority of UTIs they can treat with a broad spectrum antibiotic (one that kills most bacteria) but for others they need one that kills that specific type so you might need to change. They usually just start an antibiotic straight away for lower UTIs rather than wait for culture results.

It's weird they chose amoxicillin though (unless you are pregnant? In which case it's weird they've switched to trimethoprim)

Trimethoprim should be avoided in the first trimester and nitrofurantoin shouldn’t be given close to term but neither are absolutely contraindicated in pregnancy, although trimethoprim is generally not used if possible. NICE guidelines are that amoxicillin should only be given for UTIs following culture if it’s confirmed the bacteria is susceptible so it’s not typical for it to be prescribed as a first option.

Yes this happened to me! I was in so much pain when i had to crawl back to the docs and say the amoxicillin wasnt working. I had nitrofurantoin and the relief was almost immediate.
It just depends on the particular strain causing your uti.