Cystitis Treatment

[jadyn]

I have a male friend who has been plagued by persistent uti infections and is getting tired of treatment with nitrofurantoin and/or trimethoprim. He asked his GP if it would be safe to take sodium citrate treatment intended for women with cystitis. The GP has told him to give it a try. He subsequently bought a pack of 6 sachets of CanesOasis Cystitis treatment with each sachet containing 4g of sodium citrate plus cranberry flavouring, sugar and sodium.
He was about to take a sachet when he noticed the pack said they were not to be used by men or children. The GP told him over the phone via a further phone call that there was no reason that he knew of for this warning. Would anyone have any suggestions as to why he should not take them please?

[Buenchico]

Many products are only licensed for use by people of certain age groups or of specific genders. The instructions that come with such products often reflect the relevant licensing conditions. However doctors are allowed to prescribe unlicensed products and it should be perfectly safe to use anything prescribed (or simply suggested) in such a way.

For example, the leaflet that comes with women's HRT patches makes it very clear (probably unsurprisingly!) that they're not for use by men. However, despite being male, I'm using them right now as a result of having them prescribed for me by a consultant at Ipswich Hospital. (It's part of a trial for the treatment of prostate cancer).

Doctors know when it's safe to break the rules and when it isn't. For example, a teaching colleague of mine was taking Piriton anti-histamine tablets to treat his hay fever. He told his GP that the 'not to be exceeded' dose of just one tablet at night didn't really seem to be enough to ease his symptoms and that, if he was perfectly honest, he found the instruction to avoid mixing the tablets with alcohol somewhat irritating. The GP simply said "Blow what it says on the packet and just do what I do, which is to take four tablets every night with a very large whisky" ;-)

Trust your doctor. They don't kill that many people really ;-)

[Sqad]

No suggestions whatsoever.

[Sqad]

I assume that your friend has seen a Consultant Urologist?

[jadyn]

Thank you Buenchico.

Yes Sqad, he has seen a consultant urologist but hasn't yet had the chance to speak to him about it - his next appointment is in June. He has a long term catheter fitted due to a restricted urethral diameter as a result of prostate cancer.

[Mailin20]

Your friend is sick he go to the hospital not you ask here questions
You is not a doctor anymore so you don’t ask yourself what answers

[Sqad]

Thank you for a helpful reply.
Repeated infections are a common price to pay for an indwelling catheter, I'm afraid.

My reply 18.24 remains appropriate.

[anneasquith]

Is his catheter changed regularly ?

[Prudie]

Over the counter sodium citrate hardly ever works for women, never mind men.

[jadyn]

Anneasquith, yes indeed, every 12 weeks from the date of the "installation" of the last catheter.
He cannot self-catheterise due to the pain during
re-catheterisation due to the restricted diameter of the urethra. This hasn't impressed the catheter nurses at the local hospital who would seem to only want to speak to him over the phone. They now want the community nurses to change the catheter but the community nurses have declined due to possible "complications" that may arise.
His wife is adamant that she doesn't want to hurt him in the same way she saw when she watched an urologist insert the first catheter.
He's at the end of his tether over this and the desperate sensation to pass urine around half a dozen times per day due to the catheter changing position in his bladder during changes in posture.

[Sqad]

What complications?
He is in greater danger from recurrent infections and Uraemia than passing the catheter.

Ridiculous state of affairs, which should be resolved by a competent District Nurse.