Bacterial Prostatitis Treatment
Medically reviewed by Dr. Paul Song M.D
Article at a Glance
- Antibiotics are usually necessary for treating bacterial prostatitis.
- Other medications and supplements are often helpful as well.
- It is important to ask your doctor about the risks and side effects of medications.
Bacterial prostatitis treatment usually involves the use of antibiotics to kill bacteria and stop the infection. Patients who have acute bacterial prostatitis require antibiotics, and very serious cases may even require hospitalization and treatment with an IV infusion. Patients with chronic bacterial prostatitis may need to take many weeks of antibiotics, with recurrence of symptoms being common.
Antibiotics are not the only medications and treatments used to treat bacterial prostatitis. There are several other medications, treatments, and natural supplements that a physician may prescribe or recommend depending on the patient’s prostatitis symptoms and diagnosis including:
- Anti-depressives for neuropathic pain as well as assisting with the patient’s mental health;
- Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) commonly given to reduce inflammation and pain;
- Alpha blockers and 5 alpha reductase inhibitors to help with urinary symptoms;
- Anticholinergic agents (including antimuscarinics) to help with symptoms of an overactive bladder and urge incontinence;
- Antifungals to help with symptoms caused by an underlying fungal infection (perhaps due to long-term antibiotic use)
- Muscle relaxants to help with muscle spasms; and/or
- Gabapentinoids for nerve-related pain.
- Supplements to help boost immunity and support the body’s natural response to inflammation and infection. Probiotics can help the body recover from the gastrointestinal effects of taking antibiotics.
Questioning Bacterial Prostatitis Treatment
Any time you are prescribed medication, you should always do research and ask questions. Ask about possible side effects and drug interactions before you start taking the medication because some of these commonly prescribed prostatitis drugs can have some long-term side effects, especially Cipro and some other antibiotics. Some of the drugs for urinary symptoms cause sexual health problems. This is not a complete list for all of the medications you may be prescribed, but they are some of the more common medications for bacterial prostatitis treatment. Read on for more details about drugs for bacterial prostatitis treatment.