{"id":61289,"date":"2023-11-13T14:19:56","date_gmt":"2023-11-13T19:19:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=61289"},"modified":"2025-09-03T11:05:01","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T15:05:01","slug":"best-antibiotic-for-uti-in-females","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/best-antibiotic-for-uti-in-females\/","title":{"rendered":"Best antibiotics for UTIs in females"},"content":{"rendered":"

For people assigned female at birth, a <\/span>urinary tract infection (UTI<\/span><\/a>) is a common and unpleasant condition. Anyone can get a UTI, but they are <\/span>more common in females<\/span><\/a>. The <\/span>symptoms<\/span><\/a> include a burning sensation while urinating, increased frequency of urination, and feeling an urgent need to urinate\u2014even with an empty bladder. If left untreated, UTIs can move into the kidneys, causing back pain, vomiting, and fever\u2014sometimes requiring hospitalization. Fortunately, many antibiotics work to treat UTIs, and often people begin to feel better within a day or so. Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) is one of the more commonly prescribed antibiotics<\/a> for UTIs in females. However, choosing the best antibiotic for UTIs in females depends on a few factors.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

First-line antibiotics for UTIs in females<\/span><\/h2>\n

The initial antibiotic chosen to treat a UTI may differ among medical professionals, partly because bacterial resistance to an antibiotic may vary from region to region.\u201cEach region might be a little bit different in terms of resistance. We try to stick with older antibiotics that have been around for a long time and find the one that we think is going to have the least resistance,\u201d says <\/span>G. Thomas Ruiz, MD,<\/span><\/a> OB\/GYN Lead at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthcare providers in the United States tend to prescribe one of three <\/span>first-line antibiotics for simple UTIs in females<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Macrobid<\/span><\/a> (nitrofurantoin mono-macro)<\/span> is commonly prescribed first for UTI symptoms. \u201cMacrobid is a really good antibiotic for UTIs,\u201d says Dr. Ruiz. For an uncomplicated UTI, the dose is twice a day for five days, which can make it more likely for patients to take the full course correctly in comparison to a seven-day antibiotic. However, Macrobid is not prescribed when there is concern about infection in the kidneys.<\/span><\/p>\n

Septra or Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Bactrim<\/span><\/a> and Septra are <\/span>sulfa-based antibiotics<\/span><\/a> that are usually prescribed twice a day for a week. These have long been considered the <\/span>standard treatment for acute and recurrent UTIs<\/span><\/a> for their effectiveness, low cost, and tolerability. However, there is more bacterial resistance to these antibiotics in some regions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Monurol (fosfomycin)\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Monurol<\/span><\/a> (fosfomycin)<\/span> is specifically for bladder infections and comes in a powder instead of a pill. It can be more expensive than other antibiotics, so it is not always people\u2019s first choice, though you can use a <\/span>SingleCare discount card<\/span><\/a> to reduce the price.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Other commonly prescribed antibiotics for UTIs in females<\/span><\/h2>\n

If those antibiotics can\u2019t be prescribed, the next options are oral beta-lactams, which are used for different types of bacterial infections and are one of the <\/span>most commonly prescribed drug classes<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Amoxicillin\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Amoxicillin<\/span><\/a> is in the <\/span>penicillin family<\/span><\/a> and works on many types of infections. But since <\/span>10% of U.S. patients report having had an allergy to penicillin<\/span><\/a>, it\u2019s not always the first choice. And since it\u2019s used for various kinds of infections, bacteria in the body can become resistant over time.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ampicillin\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Ampicillin<\/span><\/a>, which is <\/span>very similar to amoxicillin<\/span><\/a>, isn’t usually the first choice, either. That\u2019s because the <\/span>dosage of ampicillin<\/span><\/a> is usually taken every six hours for at least seven days. \u201cThe longer you take an antibiotic, the lower the compliance and the less likelihood that you\u2019ll finish the treatment,\u201d says Dr. Ruiz, since not finishing a course of antibiotics promotes bacterial resistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Keflex (cephalexin)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Keflex<\/span><\/a> (cephalexin) is another secondary antibiotic for UTI treatment. It is often one that doctors switch patients to if a urine culture indicates the strain of bacteria is resistant to the antibiotic prescribed as a first line of treatment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Rocephin (ceftriaxone)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Rocephin (<\/span>ceftriaxone<\/span><\/a>) is another <\/span>cephalosporin-class drug<\/span><\/a>, a type of medication that\u2019s similar to penicillin and used for many types of bacterial infections. It is injectable, so it\u2019s not used as a first choice since a nurse or healthcare provider has to administer it. And because it treats a wide range of bacteria, it may lead to bacterial resistance over time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Antibiotics for complicated UTIs in females<\/span><\/h2>\n

A <\/span>complicated UTI<\/span><\/a> is one that occurs in immunocompromised patients, involves the kidneys, or is associated with sepsis, fevers, stones, catheters, or urinary obstruction. Pregnancy is considered another high-risk condition because UTIs are associated with preterm labor. However, a healthcare provider will choose an antibiotic that is safe to use in pregnancy. In general, complicated UTIs are associated with a higher risk of treatment failure and require longer antibiotic courses. Some antibiotics that are generally reserved for complicated UTIs include <\/span>Cipro<\/span><\/a> (ciprofloxacin) and <\/span>Levaquin<\/span><\/a> (levofloxacin).<\/span><\/p>\n

Cipro (ciprofloxacin)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Cipro<\/span> is the most popular <\/span>fluoroquinolone-classified antibiotic<\/span><\/a>, which Dr. Ruiz says should be reserved for use on \u201ccomplicated UTIs that are resistant to everything else.\u201d The reason they use this one last is that \u201cyou don\u2019t want someone to get a resistance to an antibiotic and then nothing else works.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Levaquin <\/span>(levofloxacin)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Levaquin<\/span> is used for many types of infections, including UTIs. Like Cipro, it\u2019s also a fluoroquinolone antibiotic, so it\u2019s not commonly used as a first choice in order to avoid the development of bacterial resistance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects of common UTI antibiotics<\/span><\/h2>\n

Antibiotics generally work well for UTIs. But as with any medication, there may be side effects. Some of the more common effects that may occur with UTI antibiotics include:<\/span><\/p>\n