Monday, July 29, 2013

Alka Seltzer to Cure Urinary Tract Infections



This is one of those ideas that I'm sure we've all seen on pinterest, it's combined with a lot of other pretty bad ideas so I figured I would focus on them one at a time and explain why this is a really bad idea.  I can not stress enough that this is a bad and potentially dangerous idea. I hate dragging myself into the doctor's office and paying co-pays and prescription fees and the whole 9-yards over something like an UTI, and I'm all for home remedies for things like your basic cold or flu or second degree burns (my oven is out to get me I swear).  But certain conditions are nothing to play around with, and UTIs are one of them.

The idea behind this is that Alka Seltzer is alkaline in nature, so it will help balance out the pH of your urine, eliminating the infection. But it also contains aspirin or other pain relievers, so whether it actually helps with the infection or not, what it definitely does is help with the symptoms. So in a day or 2 of taking it you may feel better, but the infection may persist. This can be extremely dangerous because UTIs that are left untreated can move into your kidneys, causing kidney infections which are far more painful and difficult to treat and can lead to kidney failure.

Some doctors say alkaline can help with UTIs, whereas others say more acidic things (such as cranberry juice) can help. But the truth is that the pain relieving properties of Alka-Seltzer is going to mask any pain or discomfort that the UTI is causing, so it's going to be a lot harder to gauge if you're cured, or just no longer in pain. If you really want to give it a try before you can get into your doctor's, dissolving some baking soda in water would give you the same pH level changes as Alka-Seltzer would. The thing to remember is that it isn't just one strain of bacteria that causes UTIs, it's a dozen different kinds. One strain my respond better to acid, another to base. On top of that, your own personal pH level may even affect what works and doesn't, if it's going to work at all.

If you're looking for a home remedy, You can always try unsweetened pure cranberry juice, and up your water intake. There have been studies done on cranberry juice and though the studies are mixed, it does hold some weight to actually working, unlike Alka-Seltzer. Though if it lasts more than a few days, I can't stress enough the importance of seeing a doctor for UTIs. The longer you let it go the more likely it is going to move into your kidneys, and that is something no one wants to mess with.

38 comments:

  1. Anonymous1/1/14

    Alka Seltzer Gold is an aspirin free version and it absolutely rids me of a UTI right at the onset. Given, a UTI that has gone untreated for too long may not respond. I don't know how or why it works, but it does. It takes one hour maximum to work, and then I take a second dosage after 4 hours for good measure. No pain, zero blood in urine, infection cleared.

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    1. Agreed, ive been using it for years and im ok. You just have to tackle the ecoli on your bladder walls with the ph of alka seltzer enough before the ecoli grows/replicates. Thats why it is best to take it on onset. Its easier to get all of the ecoli.

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    2. Anonymous15/5/15

      I agree, I use the alka seltzer gold and it works for me. I take it onset. I can find the Gold at CVS.

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    3. I used to get UTIs all the time and always went to the doctor or EM for medication. However, after learning about drinking an Alka Seltzer together with eating a handful of dried cranberries(it was tough but I got them down- I hated the pain of the UTI more than the taste) I was amazed at how quickly and effectively it work and I have not a UTI now for years! I will not hesitate to get out the Alka Seltzer and Craisins should I even begin to feel a UTI coming on - I can guarantee that it works!

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  2. Anonymous25/1/14

    According to a website on the Internet, regular Alka Seltzer interacts with some blood pressure medications - increases your blood pressure because the aspirin diminishes the meds effect and Alka Seltzer has a lot of sodium. Haven't found anything about the Alka Seltzer Gold in this respect. Does anyone know?

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  3. Anonymous3/2/14

    The sodium bicarbonate in the alka-seltzer is what makes it effective in treating UTI's, so even the Alka-Seltzer Gold is highly effective. It has worked for me several times now. I'd rather trust Alka-Seltzer than to take antibiotics any day! I also double up with some D-Mannose too.

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  4. Anonymous16/2/14

    I haven't tried alka-seltzer, but I take a spoonful of baking soda dissolved in water and it often helps avoid the infection, I have interstitial cystitis (meaning my bladder is very sensitive) and I simply couldn't take antibiotics evry single time I get a UTI... besides, they often don't work or bring on other complications. D-mannose helps too. I tried baking soda because here in Canada we don't have any pain meds for UTI like Cystex or AZO (I buy them when I go down for a visit) but we have one called Cystoplus which is basically sodium citrate that you dissolve in water, and it costs a fortune. If sodium bicarbonate will give me the same effect for 1$ a box, why spend the extra money?

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  5. Anonymous16/2/14

    And by the way, cranberry is mostly useful for prevention, not very useful for treatment.

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    1. Anonymous17/12/14

      I have always treated mine with cranberry juice, never taken antibiotics for it. (Of course you should take antibiotics if you let it get out of hand, obviously, or it could end up killing you) You have to pretty much devote your day to drinking as much as you can (has to be 100% cranberry or close to it, no juice cocktail crap, that will make it worse), along with twice the amount of water you normally should take in. The cranberry will prevent the bacteria from sticking to your urinary tract walls. .. So you you basically need to do this for long enough for your immune system to catch up, usually a day, unless it was not caught at the onset. But yes, it is very good to regularly drink cranberry juice for prevention also

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  6. It also contains 1000mg of citric acid and yes it is effective if used at first sign if symptoms I have been using it for years

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  7. Anonymous8/8/14

    Alka Seltzer WORKS. That's all there is to it. It flushes the infection and relieves the pain all in about an hour. I've used it multiple times when I had an onset of symptoms.

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  8. Anonymous17/9/14

    not true!!! Ive been using it for years. I'll drink 3 glassed throughout the day. works every time Saves me a $150 doctor office visit bill every time.

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  9. Anonymous16/2/15

    Alka seltzer works every single time and it kills the pain in just one hour. I use Alka seltzer gold.

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  10. It is important if you have a Urinary tract infection that you drink a lot of water. I have learned that it helps out a lot. There are a lot of different bacteria that you can get from it. I really hope that everyone learns to drink a lot of fluids. http://www.waynebglaziermd.com/

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  11. Anonymous30/4/15

    I've used Alka Seltzer for the past 24 years. It works everytime.

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  12. Anonymous15/6/15

    If you're able to use the at home UTI Test Strips in conjunction w/the Alka Seltzer I don't see why it's a bad idea... I've also heard that baking soda diluted in water works.

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  13. This obviously works for a lot of people... Including myself. Not really a bad idea unless your infection is severe already.

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  14. Anonymous17/2/16

    I'm on Day 2 of self-treating my UTI. Have been using D-mannose capsules (have had great success in the past). I woke up feeling a lot better than yesterday, but then it started getting worse again. Today I drank lemon water which made it worse. And I just drank Alka-Seltzer (not Gold) 30 seconds ago. I understand that the pain reliever will mask my symptoms, but I am in pain and am looking forward to some relief. Will let you know if Alka-Seltzer helps. -JK

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    1. Anonymous18/2/16

      It is now Day 3 of self-treating my UTI. I added Alka-Seltzer and baking soda water to my regimen of D-mannose capsules yesterday and I can say that it worked. The burning pain and urgency decreased significantly once I started the baking soda and/or Alka Seltzer. I'll be plop-plop fizz-whizzing Alka Seltzer tablets at the first sign of a UTI from now on. I still believe D-mannose is key.
      -JK

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  15. Aspirin is actually antibacterial and combative against urinary tract bacteria.

    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20067876

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  16. Great article ...Thanks for your great information, the contents are quiet interesting. I will be waiting for your next post. new roots liver

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  17. Thanks for great share all about Treating Urinary Tract Infections. I love your posts:
    http://www.ladysoma.com/cranberry-uti-treating.html

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous6/8/16

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous23/9/16

      why dont you tell us what you did exatly instead of promoting stuff for this `Doctor`

      Delete
  19. So natural share and post and i appreciate your share: cranberry for UTI cure

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  20. This elements are very essential for health

    AZO alternatives for a UTI

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  21. How much baking soda do you need to put in a glass of water ?

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  22. Anonymous1/9/17

    I read drinking apple cider vinegar helps uti. True?

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    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
  25. Well the lady saying don't pin that must work for the pharmaceutical companies. Being a type 1 diabetic for 40+ years I have been plagued with both bladder infections and yeast infections my whole life and from a work email of helpful hints I picked this hint up and I am eternally grateful. If I went to the doc every time I had a UTI I'd be there constantly. Mind you it only works if you do it at first signs. I tried it at the full onset and no I had to go in. But everytime I get put on an antibiotic within 2 days of stopping the antibiotics I start feeling it coming and pronto start the alkaseltzer. Same as with a yeast infection and the yogurt covered tampons and freezing my apartment and going commando. Yes there are things that household hints dont heal and there are things that poor ppl just cannot afford. So us poor persons learned to doctor ourselves and alkaseltzer works and is cheaper than a script.

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  26. Am pela, thanks to Dr Osaze who cured me of fallopian tube blockage and fibroid with his herbal tuber cleanser. My marriage was on the verge of collapsing, because I was unable to bear a child for my husband. Until I came across Dr osaze's recommendation on line, and I contacted him. And he administered his herbs on me. I now have a child I can call my own. In case you want to contact him for a similar problem, or all other issues, you can reach him through his email:
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    ReplyDelete
  27. Who would have believed herbal medicine could cure FIBROID? I suffered fibroid for a long time and getting pregnant was a problem, I had pelvic pain, heavy menstrual bleeding even hospital could not help. Until I read about doctor Uduehi online, I contacted him for help and behold I was cured. I have gone for test severally at the hospital and was proved negative which means I am free from fibroid and I am also pregnant at the moment. You too can be cured if having such problem. His contact: uduehiherbalcare@gmail.com phone/WhatsaPP: +2347084878384

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thanks for sharing safe remedies to treat UTI like cranberry juice, water and natural supplements for UTI. This is the best way to get relief from UTI symptoms.

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  29. Totally looks like a worst idea no body should be trying.
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