How soon after starting Cipro does is help a UTI?

Question

I was diagnosed with a UTI on Labor Day, and started antibiotics (Cipro 500 mg 2 x's a day for 14 days) about 8:00pm that night. I was having a lot of back/kidney pain when I went to the doctor, as well as nausea, but no fever. I still have some nausea, and a lot of back pain. It has also moved from left side only to both sides. Is this a reason for concern, or should I give the antibiotics more time to work? She didn't specifically say if it was a bladder or kidney infection, just that the pain was in my kidneys. She also said there was glucose in my urine - was that because of the infection? If it IS a kidney infection, will the Cipro work, or should I go back for a f/u?

Answer 1

Drink lots of cranberry juice to cleanse your kidneys. I've had 2 UTI's and both times took Cipro for only 5 days.  My prescription was for 5 pills only.  And I felt better by the third day.  In your case,  I would say with your symptoms that you do have a kidney infection.  UTI's usually don't come with the nausea or back (kidney) pain.  Bacteria enters the urinary tract, hence the kidney infection.  

Glucose is not usually found in the urine.  But when it is, then further testing should be done for diabetes.  On the other hand, you may have glucose in your urine because of the infection.  This is called renal glycosuria.  Talk to your doctor again and ask lots of questions.

P.S. My Cipro rx was also 500 mg once a day for 5 days. Hope this helps.  And yes, if it is a kidney infection, the Cipro will work.

Answer 2

The pain can continue for a week if you have a kidney infection.  Your doctor should have done some other testing,  Glucose in your blood can be from diabetes.  You really need to follow up on that.  Since you have pain in your back, I would say you had a kidney infection.  I have had many, and yes, they make you sick.  I was treated with something other than Cipro, usually cipro is used for a bladder infection.  My doctor gave me pain medication and something for the nausea, too.  If I were you I would do a follow up now....

Answer 3

I would give the antibiotics a couple more days and if you don't feel any improvement, call your doctor. Glucose in your urine should be checked into further, its usually not associated with a UTI.

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water to flush out the infection.