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First aid for cystitis in women and men
Last reviewed: 04.07.2025

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Cystitis is a rather painful condition associated with acute or chronic damage to the urinary tract. First aid for cystitis is almost always provided, since the patient is bothered by sharp severe pain, burning, the condition is rapidly deteriorating. After providing first aid, it is possible to relieve the pain, stop the attack, after which it is possible to continue the planned therapy. Everyone needs to know how to help a person with cystitis.
What to do at the first signs of cystitis?
More and more often, patients ask: "What to do at the first signs of cystitis?" The question is quite natural, since you need to act quickly and accurately. So, the first thing to do when the first signs of cystitis appear is to relieve the pain, relieve the attack of spasm, burning. After that, you can begin to eliminate the consequences of an acute attack. It is necessary to give the patient antispasmodic, painkillers. Such drugs as no-shpa, 5-NOC, baralgin help well with acute attacks of pain. With severe pain, you can use diclofenac (injections). With moderate attacks, urolesan (a herbal remedy) helps. It is dripped onto a piece of refined sugar 5-25 drops (depending on the stage of the disease, the severity of the pain syndrome). As an emergency aid, monural, furagin, cyston are prescribed, which quickly relieve inflammation and pain. [ 1 ]
After the patient feels better, it is necessary to give him plenty of fluids (tea, warm water). It is important to ensure rest and call an ambulance. In case of an attack of cystitis, it is necessary to call an ambulance, even if you managed to stop the attack yourself, and your health has significantly improved. This is due to the fact that medications can mask the main symptoms of the pathology, temporarily stop the pain process. But they do not eliminate the cause, and do not affect the pathological process. This means that over time, a relapse of the attack may occur, which will be much more severe than the previous one. In addition, it should be taken into account that the body can develop resistance to the drugs used, so the next time they will be ineffective. Also, if the pathological process has not been cured, the inflammatory process becomes chronic. The chronic form is difficult to treat, requires the use of enhanced drugs, and is characterized by a more severe recurrent course with frequent exacerbations.
Should you call an ambulance if you have cystitis?
Patients suffering from cystitis are usually able to quickly stop the main attack of cystitis on their own. After the acute attack has passed, the condition has improved somewhat, a natural question arises: "Should I call an ambulance?" In case of cystitis, it is always recommended to call an ambulance, even if the attack was eliminated and the patient felt relief. It is important to understand that cystitis is a serious disease of the urinary tract, which requires not only emergency care and stopping the main attack, but also comprehensive qualified treatment. Emergency doctors will provide all necessary assistance to ensure maximum safety for the patient, prevent relapses, prevent the disease from becoming chronic, prevent progression of the disease or development of complications.
It is necessary to proceed from the fact that the removal of an acute attack is not a reason to refuse to continue treatment. You can only relieve symptoms for a short time and eliminate severe pain on your own. After that, you need to be examined by qualified medical personnel. The ambulance team will decide on the need for further hospitalization, or on continuing treatment with the attending physician on an outpatient basis. In any case, only a doctor, and in the near future after the attack, will be able to correctly assess the severity of the pathological process, its consequences, and will be able to competently plan the tactics of further treatment. Therefore, even if it seems that your health has become normal, you should never refuse to call an ambulance. The patient must firmly know this rule and use it as an axiom for each new attack, regardless of its severity and the circumstances of its occurrence.
What to do with cystitis?
Every patient who has a history of such a disease as cystitis must know what to do with cystitis. Family members and relatives should also be able to provide first aid. So, the first thing to do is to take a painkiller, an antispasmodic, which will help stop the inflammatory process, eliminate an attack of pain, and relieve spasm. Such drugs as baralgin, noshpa, analgin, diphenhydramine are well suited. After this, you must call an ambulance. It is important to understand that many drugs can simply relieve an attack, but this is not enough. Complex treatment is needed, aimed at eliminating pathological changes in the urinary system. It is also important to prevent the progression of the disease.
With cystitis, along with the inflammatory process, an infectious process also develops, most often of bacterial etiology. The infection migrates upward along the ascending pathways and can easily penetrate the kidneys, which will lead to the development of a renal inflammatory process. Such complications of cystitis as pyelitis, pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis are dangerous. In addition, in the absence of further treatment, attacks can become chronic and recurrent, and it will be much more difficult to get rid of them. It is noteworthy that long-term use of drugs leads to the body's resistance to the effects of drugs, so the next time, the drugs may be ineffective.
Therefore, after the attack has been relieved, an ambulance is called. The doctor conducts an examination, administers the necessary medications to relieve inflammation and prevent infection. After this, the tactics of further treatment are decided. The doctor may suggest hospitalization for further inpatient treatment (in severe cases, risk of complications, need for detailed diagnostics). In simpler cases, outpatient treatment in a polyclinic may be sufficient.
In any case, antibacterial therapy will be required. It is preferable to use complex therapy, which will include antibiotics, antifungal agents. Depending on the severity of the pathological process, the characteristics of the course of the disease, the composition of complex therapy can include either probiotics aimed at restoring the normal microflora of the urinary tract, or immunomodulatory agents aimed at normalizing local immunity and the system of non-specific resistance.
In any case, the treatment regimen should be selected exclusively by a doctor, since the dosage, method of treatment, duration, and even the choice of drug depend on the main pathogen that causes the inflammatory-infectious process, on the etiology and specifics of pathogenesis. Therefore, the most rational is the appointment of antibacterial therapy after conducting an analysis of the sensitivity of the pathogen to antibiotics. The question is that this analysis takes time (at least 5-7 days, depending on the time of cultivation of microflora). The time reserve is often limited, therapy is needed urgently. Therefore, the choice is made on broad-spectrum antibiotics that affect a wide range of microorganisms. After receiving the tests, the treatment regimen can be adjusted. Self-medication should not be done under any circumstances. This can be fraught with serious complications and adverse effects. [ 2 ]
What to do if blood appears during cystitis?
The appearance of blood during cystitis is an extremely unfavorable sign. It indicates a severe inflammatory-infectious process, in which blood vessels are damaged. Vascular stenosis, hemodynamic disorders, hematuria, and even open bleeding are also noted. The question immediately arises: what to do if blood appears during cystitis? The first thing to do is not to panic and assess the actual state of blood loss. Whether we are talking about bleeding or a regular bruise, blood staining. In case of bleeding, the blood acquires a scarlet hue, flows out in a small stream, and when combined with urine, it diverges, forming a darker spot in the center. Usually, there is a lot of blood during bleeding - from 1-1 milliliters to several hundred milliliters. In case of bleeding, drink a hemostatic agent: aminocaproic acid, dicynone, burnet, and other remedies. And immediately call an ambulance.
If you have a regular bruise, not bleeding, you do not need to take hemostatic agents, but you need to call an ambulance as soon as possible. In this case, it is better to wait for the advice of a qualified doctor and strictly follow his further recommendations. Usually, the cause of such a bruise is damage to blood vessels, impaired vascular tone and permeability, impaired hemodynamics, microcirculation, impaired state of the nonspecific resistance system, and clearance of mucous membranes. This requires special treatment, which the doctor will select based on the anamnesis, examination results, and laboratory tests.
First aid for cystitis in women
The danger of cystitis in women is that they have a sharply increased probability of developing complications from the reproductive system. Cystitis is an inflammatory and infectious process in the urinary organs. Due to the anatomical proximity to the female reproductive system, the infection often spreads to adjacent organs, and the vagina, uterus, and ovaries are involved in the pathological process. This leads to the development of corresponding gynecological diseases. It is also noteworthy that the infectious and inflammatory process spreads quite rapidly along the ascending path - from the urethra to the kidneys and renal tubules. This leads to the development of renal complications, such as pyelitis, pyelonephritis, nephritis, glomerulonephritis, and other kidney damage. Unlike men, the probability of developing complications in the kidneys in women is much higher, which is due to the anatomical features of the female body: the urinary tract in women is much shorter, there is a direct connection between the entire urinary system and the kidneys. In addition, the infectious process is maintained by vaginal discharge and the entry of vaginal microflora into the urinary organs.
Therefore, first aid for cystitis in women comes down to stopping the spasm and pain syndrome, and immediately stopping the infectious process. It is necessary, along with analgesics, painkillers and antispasmodics, to drink an antibiotic. It is recommended to drink plenty of fluids, which will ensure the rinsing of the urinary tract and accelerate the removal of bacterial microflora and bacterial endotoxins to the outside, respectively, reduce the risk of developing complications of bacterial etiology. First of all, the drugs of choice when providing emergency care are monural, furagin, or cyston. Subsequently, depending on the data of the antibiogram showing the sensitivity of the bacterial microflora to the prescribed drug, drugs such as penicillin, erythromycin, tetracycline, oleandomycin, chloramphenicol in normal doses are prescribed. The drug is prescribed by a doctor. Further self-medication can be dangerous for both the urinary system and the reproductive system. Self-medication is especially dangerous for pregnant women, since the wrong choice of drug can negatively affect the development of the fetus. Not treating the infectious process is also not a solution, since the spread of the infectious and inflammatory process can cause intrauterine infection of the fetus, amniotic fluid. It can also cause miscarriage, premature birth. [ 3 ]
First aid for cystitis in a child
When the first signs of cystitis appear in a child, you need to immediately call an ambulance. Self-medication can be fraught with serious consequences and complications. In children, the infectious and inflammatory process spreads extremely quickly, characterized by a tendency to kidney damage. In addition, children, especially boys, often have complications in the reproductive system, which manifest themselves only in adulthood in the form of sexual dysfunction, infertility. It should also be taken into account that the younger the child, the more severe the pathology, the higher the risk of complications, generalization of infection and inflammation, up to bacteremia and sepsis. You need to call an ambulance immediately, follow all the doctor's recommendations. Hospitalization is often required. First aid for cystitis in a child before the ambulance arrives may consist of stopping acute pain syndrome, relieving spasm. For this, the child is given painkillers, antispasmodics, in accordance with the instructions. It is necessary to take into account the child's age, and calculate the dosage based on age and body weight. The following medications can be given to the child as first aid: analgin, baralgin, urolesan, no-shpa. It is important to ensure plenty of fluids and complete rest.
First aid for cystitis at home
At home, first aid is provided for cystitis, aimed at relieving an attack. The goal is to relieve pain, relieve spasm. Further assistance must be provided by a doctor, since improper treatment can cause serious complications. The most dangerous are complications in the kidneys, which can even lead to disability. If a person is treated at home, then the most useful thing he can do is to strictly follow all the doctor's recommendations, not violate the treatment regimen, take medications on time, observing the dosage, regimen, duration of treatment prescribed by the doctor. In no case should you stop treatment, even if your health has significantly improved, and there are no more signs of cystitis. As a rule, a person immediately feels better, because external manifestations, symptoms of the disease disappear, spasms and superficial damage go away. However, deep inflammatory, and especially infectious processes still continue, and require long-term treatment.
When providing first aid for cystitis at home, you need to relieve the pain attack as quickly as possible. For this, painkillers and analgesics are used. Then you must call an ambulance, and then the doctor will provide further assistance, depending on the severity of the pathological process, the patient's condition. After providing first aid, further treatment must be carried out. The basis of treatment is antibacterial therapy, which eliminates not only the bacterial process, but also stops inflammation, restores damaged tissue, and prevents complications. In mild forms, sulfonamide drugs are mainly used, such as biseptol, urosulfan (2 g / day), etazol (5-10 mil 10% solution), sulfadimezine (2 g / day). It is advisable to prescribe combination therapy, which includes antibiotics and sulfonamides.
First aid for acute cystitis
In acute cystitis, first aid depends on the leading symptom. Thus, most often the patient is bothered by acute pain, therefore painkillers are prescribed as first aid. If a person has a severe spasm, it is advisable to combine painkillers and antispasmodics. Antibacterial agents are also prescribed for cystitis, since it is important to stop the inflammatory process and prevent the development of infectious complications. Antibiotics such as penicillin, erythromycin, and biseptol have a good therapeutic effect. Uroseptics are prescribed - urolesan, baralgin. Nitrofuran compounds are widely used: furagin (500 ml of 0.1% solution), furazolidone (0.1 g), nitroxoline (0.4-0.6 g / day). The duration of the course of treatment is 10 days.
In acute cystitis, nalidixic acid (negram) is prescribed. It is indicated for the prevention of pyelonephritis, nephritis, glomerulonephritis, and is used in severe cystitis, chronic pathology, and recurrent disease. This drug is especially effective in treating cystitis caused by gram-negative microflora. It is prescribed as a tablet 4 times a day, the course of treatment is 5-7 days. If there are no visible results, 5-NOC is prescribed. The course of treatment is 10-12 days. This remedy is especially effective in treating protracted cystitis.
As a rule, with acute cystitis, the body temperature rises sharply. If the temperature rises above 38 degrees, it is necessary to give antipyretic drugs as a first aid measure. Then antibacterial therapy is connected, and antipyretic drugs are taken as needed. Antibacterial therapy is carried out until the body temperature is normalized. Also, antibacterial therapy cannot be stopped until the normal picture of urinary sediment is restored, and bacteremia (bacteriuria) disappears completely. [ 4 ]
First aid for cystitis, medications, tablets
In case of cystitis, the patient needs first aid: they give medicines, tablets. Sometimes they give injections. First aid should be provided before the ambulance arrives to ease the patient's condition. Usually, the list of means necessary for providing emergency aid is limited to a minimum set of drugs that allow you to quickly relieve pain and inflammation, eliminate spasms, and relax the patient. Further treatment is carried out by a doctor, an ambulance team. The main means of first aid are: 5-NOC, urolesan, urosept, analgin, baralgin, no-shpa, spazmalgon. These are the most well-known and frequently used means. Often, they are in the first aid kit of a patient who has had an attack.
But the list of drugs and tablets that can be used to provide first aid for cystitis is not limited to the drugs listed. Therefore, it is necessary to consider other drugs.
To relieve the main symptoms of cystitis, dichlorothiazide (hypothiazide) is used - 50-200 mg. This drug has a diuretic and hypotensive effect. It is recommended to combine it with potassium preparations, furosemide (40-160 mg). Preparations of rauwolfia, alpha-methylgdofu, isobarin are prescribed at 0.025 g. Dibazol is administered at 2 ml of 0.5% solution. To relieve the inflammatory process, the patient can be given suprastin: for a mild form - 1 tablet, for a severe attack - 2 tablets. Suprasin acts as an antihistamine aimed at reducing histamine. During an acute attack of cystitis, an inflammatory process develops, which is accompanied by an active release of histamine into the blood. The destruction of histamine relieves inflammation and alleviates the patient's condition. Ketonal and ketoferol (1 tablet) are used as a strong pain reliever during a severe attack.
What to do if Monural does not help with cystitis?
Many patients take monural for cystitis. This is a fairly effective remedy that helps to quickly relieve an attack, pain, eliminate inflammation and the infectious process. Many rely on monural so much that there are no other remedies in the medicine cabinet. And in vain. After all, few people ask themselves the question, what to do if monural did not help with cystitis? Such cases do happen. This may be due to the fact that with a recurrent course of the disease, with frequent attacks, the patient constantly takes this drug. The body's sensitivity to it gradually decreases, addiction develops. Therefore, in order to avoid addiction, you need to alternate drugs. It is not recommended to be treated twice in a row with the same drug. If monural is ineffective, you can try furagin, cyston as an alternative.
What to do if furagin does not help with cystitis?
Furagin is often used for attacks of cystitis. It usually works quickly and well. But what to do if furagin does not help with cystitis? Do not worry about this. This happens. You just need to change the drug. Of course, it is better to consult with your doctor, since only the doctor can accurately select a drug, taking into account the characteristics of the current disease, the patient's condition. But in any case, even without knowing the anamnesis, the patient can be recommended the following drugs as an alternative: furosemide (lasix) in a dosage of 40-80 to 600 mg per day. Hypotensive drugs are used, for example, dopegit, the daily dosage of which is 0.75 - 1 gram. For progressive cystitis, azathioprine is prescribed in an amount of 100-150 mg per day, curantil in an amount of 300-500 mg per day. Calcium preparations are indicated, for example, calcium chloride orally 5-10% solution 1 tablespoon 4 times a day. Also an alternative is cyston, which is taken according to the instructions.
What to do if Cyston does not help with cystitis?
Cystone is considered one of the most effective remedies against cystitis. Now let's consider what to do if Cystone does not help with cystitis. Such cases also happen. This happens if the patient is often treated with this drug. Addiction occurs, its effectiveness decreases. But there are also cases when the drug is prescribed for the first time, and it does not help. These are individual characteristics of the body. In any case, if there is no effect within 2-3 days, treatment should be stopped and an alternative should be sought. The closest alternative to Cystone is Monural, Furagin. These drugs are taken according to the instructions. However, before you start taking any medications, you need to consult a doctor.
First aid for pain in cystitis
In case of pain with cystitis, first aid is needed. It should be provided as quickly as possible. First of all, the patient should be given any painkiller. This depends on the individual characteristics of the body. In case of severe pathology, such strong drugs as ketanol, ketolorac are given. In case of moderate pathology, baralgin, analgin, diclofenac, no-shpa are enough. These drugs quickly relieve pain. After this, you need to call an ambulance. Before its arrival, the patient should be provided with rest and plenty of fluids. Further assistance will be provided by a doctor.
What to do if you have pain due to cystitis?
If you have a burning sensation with cystitis, you need to see a doctor and get examined. This may be a sign of the onset of an inflammatory process. You should never let it go, as it may end in a severe attack. It is better to prevent inflammation in the early stages. You can also try such remedies as monural, furagin, cyston, urolesan. They stop the inflammatory process well, especially in the early stages of its development, do not allow severe inflammation and infection to develop, and prevent complications.
Folk remedies for cystitis as first aid
Folk remedies can be used as first aid for cystitis. Let's look at some of them.
In case of cystitis, herbal treatment is indicated, since herbs allow for long-term, cumulative treatment. The herbs presented below are most often used.
Marsh wild rosemary. It is used as a decoction: about a pinch of grass per glass of hot water (boiling water). Infuse for at least an hour. Drink a tablespoon 2-3 times a day, or as prescribed by a doctor. It is necessary to remember that the remedy is poisonous, take with caution.
Yarrow. It is recommended to use it in the form of an alcohol infusion. It is acceptable to use it in the form of a water decoction. It is often included in various medicinal collections.
Common barberry is produced in a ready-made form in the form of a preparation called berverine bisulfate, a collection according to Zdrenko’s prescription.
Maclea cordata is used in the form of decoctions, infusions, extracts. Stephania smooth is used in the form of decoctions, infusions.
Also often prescribed are marshmallow, calamus, celandine, plantain, Siberian fir, juniper, dandelion, Manchurian aralia, Japanese pagoda tree, water knotweed, snake knotweed, ginseng, cornflower, eleutherococcus, echinacea. These remedies are recommended to be used in the form of alcohol infusions (using alcohol with a concentration of 40%). You can also use water decoctions.
What to do during an exacerbation of cystitis?
In case of recurrent course, chronic cystitis, frequent complications on kidneys, corticosteroid hormones are prescribed. Corticosteroids can also be used if blood appears in urine (hematuria). For example, prednisolone is the drug of choice. It is prescribed starting with a dose of 10-20 mg per day. Quickly (within 5-7 days), the daily dose is brought to 60 mg, treatment is continued for 2-3 weeks, then the dose is gradually reduced. The course of treatment is 5-6 weeks. A total of 1500-2000 mg of prednisolone is required for the course. If the desired effect is not achieved, maintenance doses of prednisolone are prescribed (10-15 mg per day).
In case of exacerbation of cystitis, magnesium sulfate is also used (intravenous administration). Approximately 10 ml of a 25% solution of the drug is administered. In case of severe pain. Which is not relieved by other drugs, narcotic painkillers are given, for example, chloral hydrate. Ganglionic blockers have a positive effect. For example, benzohexonium 10-20 mg (0.5 - 1 ml of a 2% solution intramuscularly). Reserpine, uregit, lasix are also prescribed to prevent further complications.
What should not be done with cystitis?
We often hear patients ask: what should not be done with cystitis? The first thing to pay attention to is that you should not self-medicate. Cystitis is an extremely serious and dangerous disease. It is much more serious than it may seem at first glance. The danger is that cystitis causes an acute infectious and inflammatory process. Accordingly, this process quickly spreads to all urinary tracts - ureters, kidneys - along the ascending pathways. The most dangerous are complications in the kidneys, since the pathological process can progress to necrosis and the development of renal failure. An infection that has entered the kidneys is very difficult to treat, and often leads to disability and death. The second danger is complications in the reproductive system. This is especially dangerous for pregnant women, since intrauterine infection may occur, and even the death of the fetus, or complicated labor. For men, a serious complication from the reproductive system is impotence, infertility.
In case of cystitis, you cannot interrupt the course of treatment or reduce the dosage, even if you feel better. Improved health means that the inflammatory process has decreased, the symptoms have gone away, but it is still far from complete recovery. If you stop treatment, cystitis will become chronic with frequent relapses.
You cannot start or stop antibacterial therapy on your own. If you choose the wrong drug or stop treatment before completing the treatment, this will lead to the development of resistance among the bacterial microflora, and antibiotics will stop working.
You cannot eat spicy foods, fried, fatty, smoked dishes. You cannot eat marinades, pickles, dishes with a lot of spices, herbs. You cannot drink alcohol. The food should be dietary.
Under no circumstances should you become overcooled.
In addition, a patient with a history of cystitis should know as much as possible about his disease. It is also important to remember that first aid for cystitis is required even before the ambulance arrives, so a first aid kit with essential medications should always be on hand.