The Best UTI Medicine for Pain Relief and Prevention You Can Get Over the Counter

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) can be quite painful and they’re incredibly common. A 2019 study reports that some 50 to 60 percent of women will get a UTI in their lifetime, and, often, a second one within six months of the first infection.¹

Caused by abnormal bacteria within the urinary tract, some UTIs can resolve on their own, says Staci Tanouye, MD, FACOG, an OBGYN based in Jacksonville, Florida. But most UTI symptoms will only get worse without a round of antibiotics. However, in the 24 to 48 hours that it takes for those antibiotics to fully kick in, you’ll most likely still be facing serious pain and burning when peeing, cramps, and urgency (i.e., feeling like you have to pee constantly). 

The good news is that over-the-counter (OTC) UTI medicines can help relieve your symptoms while your prescription is working on the infection,—and some can even reduce the chances of a recurrent UTI. 

To determine which OTC UTI medicines are safe and effective, we spoke to top OB-GYNs and reviewed the leading research on the topic. Then, a doctor from our Medical Expert Board reviewed this story for medical and scientific accuracy.

When to See a Healthcare Provider for a UTI

First things first… We already told you this, but it’s important, so we’re going to repeat it: OTC UTI medicine can help treat the pain associated with UTIs, but the only medicine that will cure an infection is doctor-prescribed antibiotics.

Untreated UTIs can progress to become more serious infections and even cause infections in the kidneys or sepsis, points out Suzanne Fenske, MD, FACOG, OBGYN, integrative medicine specialist, and founder of TārāMD practice in New York City.

If you’re having mild urinary discomfort and don’t want to shell out for a doctor’s visit or prescription, you can take one of the OTC pain relievers mentioned below and see if the discomfort gets better. But if pain, frequency, or urgency gets worse, or you see blood in your urine, feel nauseous, or develop flu-like symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor ASAP, Dr. Tanouye advises.

Types of Over-the-Counter UTI Medicine 

Over-the-counter UTI medicine is broken up into two main categories: 

• Pain relievers: Your typical NSAID (aspirin, ibuprofen) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, Paracetamol) can help, but a special kind of pain reliever, phenazopyridine, works better for urinary pain because as you pee, you excrete the medication and it numbs the urinary tract and bladder on contact.
• Preventative: Research shows the two most effective ingredients for regular UTI prevention are D-mannose and cranberry extract.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Uristat Ultra UTI Relief Pak
• Best for Fastest Relief: AZO Urinary Pain Relief Maximum Strength Tablets
• Best for Prevention: Happy V D-Mannose + Cranberry
• Best Probiotic: Jarrow Formulas Fem-Dophilus

The Editor’s Take

I struggled with UTIs when I was in my early 20s. Unfortunately, many of these pain relief and probiotics options weren’t available yet. This is a market that’s exploded over the past few decades.

When I had similar symptoms in my late 30s, AZO Urinary Pain Relief Maximum Strength was a godsend. However, I also went to the doctor to be checked out and discovered I didn’t have an infection. It turns out I had bladder prolapse. The lesson I learned is that UTI symptoms can be something else, especially if you’ve had kids.

Plus, doctor-prescribed antibiotics are the only medication that cures UTIs, so always make an appointment with your healthcare provider. In the meantime, says Dr. Tanouye, you can take these OTC options to manage the pain and symptoms.

—Nicole Cherie Jones, Commerce Editor

Our Top Picks

Best Overall:

Uristat Ultra UTI Relief Pak at Amazon $10

Jump to Review

Best for Fastest Relief:

AZO Urinary Pain Relief Maximum Strength Tablets at Amazon $9

Jump to Review

Best for Prevention:

Happy V D-Mannose + Cranberry at Happyv.com

Jump to Review

Best Probiotic:

SALE

 Jarrow Formulas Fem-Dophilus at Amazon $44 $33

Jump to Review

Best Overall

Uristat Ultra UTI Relief Pak

PHOTO: Amazon

$9 at AmazonView on Walmart

Why We Like It

Both our experts agree that phenazopyridine is the one OTC ingredient that helps treat urinary pain, as well as the frequency and urgency of needing to urinate that comes from a UTI. While NSAIDs and acetaminophen can provide pain relief, phenazopyridine is excreted in the urine, so it has a direct numbing effect on the bladder and urinary tract.

Uristat is one of the leading phenazopyridine brands, and each of the pain-relieving tablets in the Ultra UTI Relief Pak have 99.5 mg of the active ingredient. While you can score the same active ingredient from other trustworthy brands, we chose the Uristat Ultra Relief Pak as the best overall option because it’s affordable, easy to find at most drug stores, and it comes with not just pain reliever tablets, but also an at-home UTI test strip if you want reassurance before forking over to see a doctor and have labs run. These test strips are certainly not as reliable as a lab diagnostic and may deliver a false negative, but a positive OTC test may be the ticket you need to go to the doctor and get an antibiotic prescription, if you haven’t already.

Uristat’s tablets also contain cranberry extract which doesn’t provide relief from symptoms, but Dr. Tanouye says there is some evidence to support cranberry supplementation for preventing recurrent UTIs.

It’s Worth Noting 

• The ingredients will cause your urine to appear bright orange or red. While it can stain your clothing, don’t be alarmed—this is totally normal!
• At the recommended dosage of two tablets three times a day, you’re not supposed to use this pain reliever for more than two days without consulting your doctor. If you’ve also started a course of antibiotics, pain usually starts to improve after 24 to 48 hours, according to Dr. Tanouye, but if you haven’t started antibiotics, this will only offer very temporary relief. 
• Also keep in mind, if you haven’t seen your doctor yet, the at-home UTI test strip included in this kit may deliver a false negative. If your urinary discomfort doesn’t get better after 2 days, see your doctor.

Product Details:

• Form: Tablets
• Active Ingredients: Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride
• Dosage: 2 tablets, three times a day for 2 days
• Best For: Pain relief

Best for Fastest Relief

AZO Urinary Pain Relief Maximum Strength Tablets

PHOTO: Amazon

$9 at AmazonView on CVS$13 at Walgreens

Why We Like It

AZO is the leading brand for phenazopyridine pain relievers, and if you’re looking for fast-acting pain relief, its Maximum Strength Tablets have 99.5 mg of the pain-reliever in every tablet and kicks in within 20 minutes, so you’re able to score that relief from pain, burning, and urgency fast.

As we mentioned before, phenazopyridine offers more localized pain relief compared to NSAIDs or acetaminophen since it numbs your bladder and urinary tract. In addition to its speedy relief and brand trustworthiness, AZO Urinary Pain Relief Maximum Strength Tablets are affordable and can be found at most every drugstore.

It’s Worth Noting 

• AZO should only be taken for up to two days (at the recommended dosage of two tablets, three times per day). That means it works best alongside an antibiotic, which should offer you more permanent relief from your infection after 24 to 48 hours.
• Like the Uristat, this product will also tint your urine bright orange or red, due to the phenazopyridine. Again, it can be shocking, but don’t stress. It’s normal.
• Don’t leave these tablets loose in your purse, as they can turn the interior bright red if they get crushed.

Product Details:

• Form: Tablets 
• Active Ingredients: Phenazopyridine Hydrochloride
• Dosage: 2 tablets, three times a day for 2 days
• Best For: Pain relief

Best for Prevention

Happy V D-Mannose + Cranberry

PHOTO: Happy V

View on Happyv.com

Why We Like It

If you’re prone to recurrent UTIs, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics for you to take daily or after sex. But Dr. Fenske says D-mannose—a simple sugar found naturally in fruits—is actually as effective as prophylactic antibiotics in UTI prevention. According to a 2022 study analysis in Nutrition Journal D-mannose, when excreted in urine, may help prevent UTI-causing bacteria (E. Coli) from attaching to the lining of your bladder. Dr. Tanouye adds that a cranberry supplement can be beneficial here too, and indeed, recent research still supports the long-held belief that cranberry extract can help reduce the risk of UTIs in girls and women.

For UTI prevention—and natural prevention, at that—we love Happy V’s D-Mannose + Cranberry capsules. Every two capsules contain 500 mg full-spectrum cranberry blend, 500 mg of high-quality D-mannose, and 90 mg of vitamin C (for an immune boost). This supplement is specifically designed to be taken regularly if you experience chronic UTIs and is free of any major allergens or artificial ingredients. In addition to their quality formula, we love that Happy V offers a discounted recurring subscription to keep prevention low-effort

It’s Worth Noting 

• There are other conditions that share symptoms with UTIs, such as urinary irritation, so it’s important to confirm with your doctor what you’re actually experiencing is a recurrent UTI, Dr. Tanouye points out.
• Also, the Happy V D-Mannose + Cranberry supplements aren’t the cheapest on the market. However, we feel the quality of their formula makes the $1.30 per two-capsule serving worth the slightly higher price.

Product Details:

• Form: Capsules 
• Active Ingredients: D-mannose, cranberry extract
• Dosage: 2 capsules per day, taken indefinitely
• Best For: Prevention

Best Probiotic

Jarrow Formulas Fem-Dophilus

PHOTO: Jarrow

$33 at AmazonView on Jarrow.com$34 at IHerb

Why We Like It

While the research is highly mixed on efficacy, some studies suggest certain strains of probiotics can help prevent recurrent UTIs. 

Jarrow Formulas Fem-Dophilus is formulated with GR-1 and RC-14, two probiotic strains that some studies show may help prevent UTIs and that are also considered safe to take for the majority of the population.

This formula is one of the top-rated probiotics for customer satisfaction by Consumer Lab, and claims to offer five billion viable cells in every capsule

It’s Worth Noting 

• Both Dr. Fenske and Dr. Tanouye say there isn’t enough solid evidence showing a significant benefit in taking a probiotic daily to prevent UTIs. Meanwhile, D-mannose and cranberry extract have much more scientific support behind them, so if you’re going to take one preventative measure, it should be something like the Happy V D-Mannose + Cranberry.
• That being said, probiotics are generally considered a safe and healthy addition to a daily supplement routine. The exception: Probiotics may not be healthy for anyone who is immunocompromised, elderly, or with certain medical conditions, so talk to your doctor before you start on a probiotic for UTI prevention.

Product Details:

• Form: Capsules
• Active Ingredients: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GR-1, Limosilactobacillus reuteri RC-14
• Dosage: 1 capsule per day, every day
• Best For: Prevention

Our Review Process

When considering the best over-the-counter UTI medicines, we first spoke with two expert gynecologists on what non-prescription ingredients have been shown to be effective in treating or preventing UTIs, and what the everyday reader needs to keep in mind about OTC options.

With their medical insight, we combed through the leading peer-reviewed studies on the ingredients both doctors flagged and coalesced all this research into the highest-quality, highest-rated products you can buy without a prescription. For each product, we also compared their benefits to their cost and competitors, ultimately determining their overall value.

Our Experts 

• Staci Tanouye, MD, FACOG, who trained in gynecology at the Mayo Clinic before eventually moving into a private gynecology practice in Jacksonville, Florida
• Suzanne Fenske, MD, FACOG, double board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and board certified in Integrative Medicine, founder of a private gynecology practice in New York City, TārāMD 

What to Know About Over-the-Counter UTI Medicine

• Active Ingredients: The best UTI pain relievers have phenazopyridine as the active ingredient, which works to numb the bladder and urinary tract and, in turn, soothe localized pain from a UTI. NSAIDs and acetaminophen are viable pain-relieving options but are not specific to bladder pain. For preventative medicine, both our experts agree D-Mannose and cranberry extract have the most clinical data to support their benefits. Probiotics and methenamine (an anti-infective) may help, but studies show they might be no better than a placebo.
• Dosage and Frequency: The dosage and frequency of UTI medicine depends on its active ingredients and intended use. Most pain relievers with phenazopyridine as the active ingredient can be taken at two capsules, three times a day, but shouldn’t be used for more than two days. Meanwhile, many natural prevention capsules, such as D-mannose or cranberry extract, can be taken in smaller amounts every day, safely. Read the instructions on the box thoroughly to determine the dosage and frequency.
• Symptom Relief: The only real symptom that over-the-counter UTI medicine can help with is urinary tract pain and irritation when urinating, and this is through pain relievers like phenazopyridine.
• Side Effects: The side effects of OTC UTI medicine depends on the medicine at hand. For example, many pain relievers with phenazopyridine have the side effect of turning your urine a bright orange or red color.

Who We Are

Rachael Schultz has been a health and product journalist for over 10 years. She specializes in sorting research and expert opinions from untrustworthy sources, as well as in distilling complex medical language into actionable insights for the everyday person.