Best Alcohol to Drink With UTI? Can You Drink Alcohol With a UTI?

Although alcohol does not directly cause UTIs, it might increase your risk of developing one and worsen your symptoms. In certain cases, drinking alcohol might even mimic the signs of a UTI, giving you the impression that you have an infection when you don’t. With that said, there are still some alcoholic beverages that a person with UTI can drink.


What Is the Best Alcohol to Drink With UTI?

What alcohol can you drink with a UTI? Most healthcare professionals recommend avoiding alcohol while undergoing UTI or Urinary Tract Infection, and antibiotics treatments. While a patient is undergoing UTI treatment, it is likely that drinking plenty of water will be advised to help flush out the infection. Drinking alcohol with a UTI may worsen and prolong UTI infections and their symptoms.

Can Alcohol Cause UTI?

Although alcohol does not directly cause UTIs, it might increase your risk of developing one and worsen your symptoms. In certain cases, drinking alcohol might even mimic the signs of a UTI, giving you the impression that you have an infection when you don’t.

Most Common Non-Alcohol Remedy for UTI

Drinking unsweetened cranberry juice is one of the most well-known natural treatments for UTIs. You can also take cranberry fruit in a powdered form in a dietary supplement or capsule. The cranberry fruit works by assisting to prevent bacteria from attaching to the urinary tract.

What is UTI?

UTIs are frequent illnesses that develop when bacteria enter the urethra and infect the urinary tract. These bacteria are frequently from the skin or rectum. Although infections can affect different regions of the urinary tract, a bladder infection (cystitis) is the most prevalent.

Another type of UTI is a kidney infection, often known as pyelonephritis. They are less frequent than bladder infections, but they are more severe.

Factors that can increase the risk of UTI:

  • A previous UTI
  • Sexual activity
  • Alterations in the vaginal flora, or the bacteria that inhabit the vagina
  • Pregnancy
  • Age (older individuals and young children are more likely to have UTIs)
  • Urinary tract structural issues, such as an enlarged prostate
  • Poor hygiene

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UTI and Alcohol Statistics

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common, with a lifetime incidence of up to 40% in adults. In 2019, more than 405 million individuals had UTIs globally, and nearly 236,786 people died of UTIs.


40%

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common, with a lifetime incidence of up to 40% in adults.

Source: NIH

405 million

In 2019, more than 405 million individuals had UTIs globally.

Source: NIH

236,786

Nearly 236,786 people died of UTIs.

Source: NIH


Alcohol and UTI

Searching for the best alcohol for UTI? Drinking alcohol while suffering from a disease is usually not recommended, so alcohol should be avoided. But depending on the type of alcohol, mild alcohol intake may help deal with UTI.

Cystitis is the medical term for pain in the bladder. The most frequent cause of cystitis, though there are other potential causes as well, is UTI. Cystitis will certainly cause you to experience symptoms. Some signs of cystitis include:

  • Incontinence in the pelvis
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Frequent urges to urinate
  • Having the immediate desire to urinate
  • Urine color or odor that is unusual

However, there is a distinction between a UTI and an uncomfortable bladder. You could experience bladder discomfort for reasons other than an infection. Having a UTI frequently causes discomfort or pain in the bladder. Alcohol is one substance that can irritate the bladder lining and make it uncomfortable.

Therefore, having a UTI is not usually the cause of a hurting bladder after consuming alcohol. Alcohol could be irritating your bladder, which would explain your symptoms. In any case, consult a physician if you suspect a UTI. A UTI can develop into a more serious infection if left untreated. Searching for the best alcohol to drink with UTI? To learn more, read ahead.

UTI alcohol shouldn't be taken together because alcohol can worsen side effects. UTI after drinking alcohol is unlikely, except when some symptoms are already present.
UTI alcohol shouldn’t be taken together because alcohol can worsen side effects. UTI after drinking alcohol is unlikely, except when some symptoms are already present.
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UTI Symptoms After Drinking Alcohol

Most UTIs are challenging since UTIs don’t usually have obvious signs. These are frequently disregarded or confused with other diseases. Older adults are especially prone to this. Additionally, although females are more prone to contract this disease than males, it can still affect either gender. Searching for the best alcohol to drink with UTI? Read ahead to learn more.

Although it doesn’t directly cause UTIs, drinking may raise your risk of getting one and worsen your symptoms. In some situations, consuming alcohol may even match the symptoms of a UTI, leading you to believe that you are infected when you are not. In addition, avoid drinking when taking UTI medications.

Knowing the signs of UTIs is crucial if you think you could be suffering from one. Typically, the symptoms will appear in the following ways:

  • Turbid urine
  • Urine that has blood in it
  • Urine that stinks intensely
  • Pain in the pelvis, particularly in women
  • A burning feeling when urinating
  • Having only a little pee flow when urinating
  • Abnormally colored urine: bright pink, brown, or red
  • A persistent urge to urinate even after using the restroom

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Drinking alcohol with a UTI can worsen signs and symptoms, so avoiding drinking altogether is best.
Does alcohol make a UTI worse? While drinking alcohol with a UTI can worsen signs and symptoms, the best alcohol to drink with UTI can help when taken in moderation.

Can Alcohol Cause UTI Symptoms?

Does alcohol cause UTIs? And can drinking alcohol cause UTI? Although alcohol cannot directly cause a UTI, abusing alcohol can increase your chance of developing one for various reasons.

Can you get a UTI from drinking too much alcohol? Bacteria that irritate and cause bladder inflammation are the main cause of all UTIs. Because alcohol cannot grow bacteria in your bladder, it cannot be the direct cause of a UTI. Alcohol use is related to other behaviors, including sexual activity, which can bring bacteria closer to your bladder and result in UTI. According to some studies, there is a connection between alcohol usage and some women’s UTIs due to the association between the two behaviors.

Even if you do not have a UTI, alcohol usage can cause bladder pain. Due to how acidic alcohol is, pain is experienced. The acid can then irritate the lining of your bladder. Mixing up the discomfort from drinking alcohol on your bladder with the pain you can experience from a urinary tract infection is simple. Some studies suggest that reducing acidic drinks like alcohol may enhance your urinary health.

Alcohol might affect your immune system as well. Numerous immune system cells and chemical signals are affected by alcohol. If your immune system is weakened, your body has a harder time fighting an infection, like a UTI. According to research, drinking alcohol increases your chance of getting infections.

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Can You Drink Alcohol with a UTI?

Some people wonder, “Can I drink alcohol with a UTI?” the answer is that if you have a UTI, you are likely taking medication to eliminate the bacteria in your bladder. Alcohol and antibiotics should not be combined. Meanwhile, depending on the type of alcohol and in cases where you’re not taking antibiotics, a mild or moderate intake of alcohol can help with UTI.

Can you drink alcohol on UTI antibiotics? It is generally not recommended as it may cause many side effects. Antibiotics such as Bactrim (sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim) are among the most often prescribed antibiotics for urinary tract infections. Unwanted adverse effects from using Bactrim with alcohol include:

  • Nausea and diarrhea
  • Headache
  • Flushing
  • Rapid heart rate
  • Having difficulty breathing

When getting treatment, UTI antibiotics and alcohol should generally be avoided. Alcohol should be avoided if Bactrim is given to treat a UTI. Additionally, you should avoid alcohol for three full days after finishing your Bactrim treatment. You can prevent the above side effects by delaying drinking alcohol for a few days to allow Bactrim to leave your system.

Top UTI and Alcohol FAQs

  1. Can drinking alcohol cause a UTI?

    Although alcohol cannot directly cause a UTI, abusing alcohol can increase your chance of developing one for various reasons.

  2. How long after a UTI can you drink alcohol?

    After a full recovery from UTI, it is best not to drink alcohol within 3 days to prevent a relapse.

Can You Use Alcohol as Treatment for UTI?

Drinking does not directly cause UTIs. However, drinking alcohol regularly can promote the growth of UTIs for various reasons. Long-term alcohol consumption can cause dehydration. Avoiding alcohol when we have a UTI will help us stay hydrated and allow the symptoms to disappear. So what is the best alcohol to drink with UTI? Read more to find out.

Regardless of a UTI, drinking alcohol can cause bladder pain. Alcohol’s high acidity causes the bladder to become irritated, which causes this pain.

Bladder irritation from alcohol is similar to when we have a UTI so we will have that feeling identical to UTI symptoms. However, some studies showed that reduced intake of acidic beverages such as alcohol could reduce UTI symptoms and improve urinary tract health. Examples of these are red wine and beer, which can have health benefits for people suffering from UTIs.

Red Wine

There are several health advantages to drinking red wine, which is well-liked worldwide. Most water, carbohydrates, organic acids, minerals, alcohol, polyphenols, and fragrances are found in red wine. Red wine has more antioxidants than white wine since these compounds are mostly found in grape skin.

Antioxidants are crucial for treating UTIs because they boost immunity, which helps to treat UTIs more effectively and lessen their symptoms. Red wine is crucial and beneficial for diabetes. Is red wine the best alcohol to drink with UTI? Moderate wine drinking has been scientifically shown to help prevent both the development of diabetes and its complications. Given that diabetes is one of the major risk factors for having UTIs, this is crucial in the case of UTIs. This would indicate that moderate red wine drinking has important health advantages for UTIs.

Beer

Many essential vitamins and minerals for human health can be found in beer. As much as 93% of beer is made up of water.

The water that makes up the majority of beer is crucial for treating UTIs because it continuously washes out the bacteria that cause UTIs, stops them from growing and remaining in the urinary system, and otherwise helps UTIs. Additionally, alcohol might increase the excretion of calcium, the main factor in kidney stones. One of the risk factors for UTIs is kidney stones.

Is beer the best alcohol to drink with UTI? It is arguable, but also Beer is a diuretic, so it has a beneficial effect on UTIs; however, if consumed in large quantities, frequent urination will have a very bad impact on UTIs. Since beer is also a diuretic, it helps treat UTIs. However, excessive drinking can make UTIs worse by causing frequent urination.

What is the Best Alcohol to Drink with UTI?

The drink with the largest proportion of alcohol in its composition would be the worst for a UTI.
It is widely understood that alcohol should only be consumed in moderation. For women, that translates to an average of one drink per day and up to two for men. This would mean that 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits constitute one drink. Alcohol consumption that is mild to moderate can lower the chance of developing diabetes, ischemic stroke, and heart disease.

It could be said that whiskey and vodka are the worst options when it comes to UTIs because they irritate the bladder a lot, while red wine and beer are good for UTIs and have significant benefits for UTIs and can be argued that these two are the best alcohol to drink with UTI.

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Most Popular “Best Alcohol to Drink With UTI” Questions Answered

Can alcohol cause a UTI? And can you get a UTI from drinking alcohol?

Alcohol UTI can occur if you have symptoms, then you drink anyway. This may result in some or most of the symptoms worsening.

Is alcohol bad for UTIs? And does alcohol make UTI worse?

Although antibiotics clear many UTIs, drinking alcohol with a UTI can worsen symptoms and may prolong your infection.

Can I get a UTI from alcohol? Or can alcohol give you a UTI?

While alcohol does not directly cause UTIs, it can raise your risk of getting a UTI and worsen your symptoms.

Can drinking too much alcohol cause UTI? and can you get a UTI from alcohol?

While drinking isn’t directly related to UTI, it is still recommended to avoid alcohol since it can cause many complications, especially when taken excessively.

Does alcohol show up in urine test for UTI?

Alcohol can be detected in urine for about 24 hours after your last drink. For greater quantities of alcohol, it can be seen for 72 hours or longer.

Can a UTI cause a positive alcohol test?

No, UTI doesn’t cause an alcohol test to become positive.

Can you drink alcohol with UTI? Can alcohol cause UTI in males?

Alcohol and UTIs are not directly related, but they can still increase your risk of worsening side effects. This is true for both males and females.

What is the best alcohol to drink with UTI?

When done in moderation, the best alcohol to drink with UTI is red wine or beer. However, as alcohol diminishes the beneficial effects of antibiotics, drinking should be avoided during treatment.

Search UTI & Alcohol Rehab / Detox & Mental Health Topics & Resources

UTI and Alcoholism Treatment

While it can be red wine and beer are the lesser alcohol-rich beverages to drink with a UTI, it is still important to consume them in moderation, or else it will result in the opposite effect. If you think a loved one is abusing alcohol, you should research the substances and their associated addiction to understand better what your loved one needs.  Next, you must plan an intervention to provide your loved ones with options to battle the effects of alcohol addiction in a safe and supportive environment. During this intervention, offer compassion and support instead of judgment. Lastly, show your support throughout the entire treatment process.

In addition, prolonged drug use can have severe physical and psychological effects on you, so it is essential to seek treatment as soon as possible. Inpatient drug rehab offers intensive care that can help you promptly get through the early stages of alcohol withdrawal. 

UTI and Alcohol Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated alcohol detox withdrawal but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete the alcohol detox.

Cravings are very common during drug detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can give medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient Alcohol Addiction Rehab

There isn’t one treatment approach or style that will suit everyone. Treatment should speak to the needs of the individual. Inpatient rehab and addiction treatment aren’t just about drug use. the goal is to help the patient stop using alcohol and other substances, but drug rehab should also focus on the whole person’s needs.

Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. When someone or their family is considering different treatment facilities, they should account for the complexity of addiction and the needs of the individual. The objective of attending an inpatient rehab center for addiction treatment is to stop using the drug and re-learn how to live a productive life without it.

Following a full medical detox, most people benefit from inpatient rehab. Inpatient drug rehab can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Patients stay overnight in the rehab facility and participate in intensive treatment programs and therapy. Once someone completes rehab, their addiction treatment team will create an aftercare plan, which may include continuing therapy and participation in a 12-step program like Narcotics Anonymous.

Psychotherapy

Many rehab programs will also have early morning classes or programs. Group sessions occur during inpatient rehab, as do individual therapy sessions. Family therapy may be part of inpatient rehab when it’s feasible. Alternative forms of therapy may be introduced during inpatient rehab, like a holistic therapy program, yoga for addiction recovery, or an addiction treatment massage therapy.

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
  • Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
  • Solution-focused therapy is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Dual Diagnosis Treatment

Drug abuse and mental health disorders often co-occur. Traumatic experiences can often result in mental health disorders and substance abuse. Dual-diagnosis rehabilitation treats both of these issues together. The best approach for the treatment of dual diagnosis is an integrated system. This strategy treats both the substance abuse problem and the mental disorder simultaneously. Regardless of which diagnosis (mental health or substance abuse problem) came first, long-term recovery will depend mainly on the treatment for both diseases done by the same team or provider.

Medication Assisted Treatments (MAT)

Medication-Assisted Treatments (MAT) for substance use and mental health disorders are commonly used in conjunction with one another. This includes the use of medications and other medical procedures. During your rehab, the staff from your treatment facility will help you identify what caused your addiction and teach you skills that will help you change your behavior patterns and challenge the negative thoughts that led to your addiction. Sometimes, the pressures and problems in your life lead you to rely on substances to help you forget about them momentarily.

Please, do not try to detox on your own. The detox process can be painful and difficult without medical assistance. However, getting through the detox process is crucial for continued treatment. We Level Up provide proper care with round-the-clock medical staff to assist your recovery through our alcohol addiction treatment program medically. So, reclaim your life, and call us to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our counselors know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.

Alcohol Rehab Near Me

Alcohol addiction is a condition that can cause major health problems, such as an overdose. We Level Up NJ rehab treatment & detox center can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from this with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition and clarify issues like alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please understand that each call is private and confidential.

Drinking alcohol with UTI? It is best to stop and get treated as soon as possible in one of our treatment centers at We Level Up NJ!
Are you drinking alcohol with UTI? It is best to stop and get treated as soon as possible in one of our treatment centers at We Level Up NJ!
Sources
  1. U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Cystitis – noninfectious.” Reviewed January 23, 2018. Accessed April 14, 2019.
  2. University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Disulfiram-like reactions.” Updated April 14, 2019. Accessed April 14, 2019.
  3. Vincent CR, et al. “Symptoms and risk factors associated wit[…]pective cohort study.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, published in March 2013. Accessed April 14, 2019.
  4. Dipak Sarkar. “Alcohol and the Immune System.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, published in 2015. Accessed April 14, 2019.
  5. Janis M. Miller, et al. “Does instruction to eliminate coffee, te[…] A Prospective Trial.” U.S. National Library of Medicine, published in January 1, 2017. Accessed April 14, 2019.
  6. NIH – Urinary Tract Infections