Low dose opiates and UTI?

[Snake_Eyes]

I have done some searching and even read through the urinary retention mega thread but didn't really get my question answered. I have been doing hydrocodone for a few months (5-6 times) now at low doses 10-15mg. I'll do it once a week for 2 weeks and then take a week off, I also use weed when I do this.

A little over 3 weeks I took my usual 10/325 but instead of cutting another half I substituted a 5/325 percocet instead. The next day I found myself needing to pee (and going) quite frequently. Over the course of the week it started to sting and I was getting a burning sensation in my penis. I went to the doctor and it turned out I had a UTI. I got put on antibiotics and I stayed off the opiates during this time...I just took my last one today.

I have read that people who were on opiates have gotten UTI and other similar issues but these people were on high doses of oxy, fent, etc and were taking them everyday. Would my casual low dose use cause my UTI or do you think it was just coincidence that I got it the day after my night of usage? I just find it kind of hard to believe that I would get it for no more than I use while others are consuming 10-20 times more on a daily basis without issue. I just can't think of any other way I would of gotten it.

 

[allegator]

Pure coincidence or at the very most a possible extremely slight compounding effect. I.e. you might not have gotten the uti if you had happened to urinate at a certain time but didn't because of the opioids, however this would be no different than the chance you would have peed but didn't do to a long car ride.

Likely completely unrelated.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

Good to know, thanks.

 

[Violenza666]

I thought I got a UTI once because of urinary retention due to high and constant opiate use.

 

[flippinhippies]

^this. Sometimes I reaally have to go, but cannot regardless of what I do
Are you male or female? Guys dont get utis as much from what my doc tells me.

 

[Sepher]

Are you male or female? Guys dont get utis as much from what my doc tells me.

^This also. ((( I'm guessing male! ))) Have sex the wrong way or rather too powerfully and a girlie can develop a UTI at the drop of a hat. Regardless of sex ((( i.e. Physical aspect of gender. ))) a UTI can / will develop in 24 hours so the timing in this case is suspect for sure, but that's not to say it's not pure coincidence.

Not worth worrying about unless it becomes patterned and repeated. Fixing it is a piece of the proverbial yellow streaky stuff in any event in the vast majority of cases.

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I'm a male and not sexually active.

 

[Pjkt2501]

If it goes away I wouldn't stress it too much. Now, if it keeps coming back for more... yeah stress that.

 

[itsok]

I dont think it is related. except taking painkillers would mask the pain of the UTI. usually UTIs are painful, and if u mask the pain u might not seek the antibiotics u need to feel better. good luck

 

[Snake_Eyes]

I still use opioids once a month and kratom and/or tramadol a couple days a week. I still occasionally get a stinging feeling when I pee that can last for a few days but I haven't had the intense burning sensation like I did before.

BTW welcome to bluelight!

 

[skittlesxo]

hmmm never heard of this before but maybe is making sense to me. i just got over my first uti like 2 weeks ago and i was using low dosages oxycontin.

when i was using heavy though i never got any infections.

weird?

 

[Fernis15]

Opioids themselves are not directly related to an increased risk of urinary tract infections. If you are familiar with *how* opiates and opioids achieve their effects, you probably know this. However, those that are on chronic opioid therapy and are trying to maximize the effect of the drug per dose (e.g., use of potentiators--who wouldn't want the greatest yield per milligram, right?) tend to consume substances that *do* increase the risk of not only urinary tract infections, but also *do* increase (or decrease) the pH of urine excreted (a lower pH than the norm--more acidic--will feel like it burns when excreted) which may lead some to think they've developed an UTI, when in reality the urine is just more acidic.

Note: If you have pre-diabetes or type II diabetes, you are at much greater risk for developing UTI’s. Also, a diet high in simple sugars (read: candy, sugar, coca-cola, pepsi, juices)—especially in tandem with medication, smoking, or alcohol raises your risk astronomically.

Also manifested (by changes in diet, use of potentiators, and so on) are abnormal concentrations of urine contents (e.g., increased glucose--"sugary" urine is absolutely known to increase UTI frequency, or risk) and excretion of urine that contains microorganisms, bacterial or otherwise. Naturally, increased sugar content and a lack of sterility combined with a 98.6 degree Farenheit environment in the bladder promote bacterial growth and reproduction.

Also, the more often that you "pass water", the better, given these facts; urine should always be clear (not cloudy), and the less yellow it is, the more hydrated you are, which translates to a lighter workload (because toxic filtrates are watered down, regardless of an overall greater quantity of fluid being passed) for your excretory system--kidneys, ureter, bladder, and urethra ("start" to "finish", in order of urine and urea exposure, respectively). While potentiators are useful, they do tax the "filtration" and "detoxification" systems substantially--of course, this is how they achieve their opioid-boosting effects. Unfortunately, comprehensive application of potentiators and maintaining a healthy excretory system are, at least to some degree, mutually exclusive.

Lastly, and this is for males specifically of course, try to avoid contact of the tip of your male organ (the aperture) to any unclean, or ideally to *any* non-sterile surfaces especially when using public restrooms (omg gas stations like Shell—at least in Atlanta!) or any situation in which contact might occur.

Lastly lastly...I've been on chronic therapy for just over five years now and without a UTI. However, consuming varying combinations of other OTC medications especially in addition to soda or grapefruit have caused an unpleasant, but tolerable, burning sensation. If it's painful, I'm almost always already aware that I'm dehydrated, thirsty, and that I should have moved my lazy ass to get a liter or two of filtered water two or so hours before!

Lastly, lastly, lastly...take home message: Drink plenty of cool water while on meds, and ffs watch out where you bump your joy-stick.

-Cisco