Amoxicillin is a highly effective treatment for a urinary tract infection (UTI). This drug is an antibiotic that helps fight infections by interfering with bacteria's ability to multiply. In most cases, a medical professional will prescribe amoxicillin to treat a urinary tract infection that is fairly simple. If the infection has become complicated or is seriously threatening the health of the patient, however, it may not be as effective. In cases in which amoxicillin and similar antibiotics cannot be used, the patient may have to be hospitalized and treated intravenously instead.
In most cases, amoxicillin is considered a reliable treatment for a simple urinary tract infection. When a person has a simple infection, this usually means he or she is otherwise healthy and the UTI is not causing severe symptoms or affecting other parts of the body. For example, a mild-to-moderate urinary tract infection may be treated with amoxicillin while an infection that has led to kidney problems may require another type of treatment.
To ensure the effectiveness of amoxicillin for a urinary tract infection, it is usually important to take this antibiotic exactly as the healthcare professional has prescribed. This means taking it on schedule and finishing the entire course of medication. Often, people think it is acceptable to stop taking medication once their symptoms have subsided. This is a bad idea, however, as doing so allows the bacteria to grow again and may lead to a worse infection and a bacterial resistance to the antibiotic.
When prescribing amoxicillin for a UTI, medical professionals usually prescribe it in the form of a pill or capsule. A patient can typically take the medication with or without food, as food will not hinder its effectiveness. Many people, however, prefer to take it with food to avoid the upset stomach some notice when they take amoxicillin on an empty stomach.
Though amoxicillin is known to be effective for the treatment of a urinary tract infection, there may be cases in which it fails to work as expected. This may occur when an infection has gone untreated for a significant period of time and progresses to affect the patient’s kidneys. In such a case, the patient may require a stronger antibiotic. If the infection is severe enough, his or her healthcare provider may even recommend hospitalization and powerful antibiotic treatment through an intravenous (IV) line.