What generic UTI antibiotics are available?
Common generic antibiotics for UTIs in the UK include nitrofurantoin, trimethoprim, amoxicillin, cefalexin, and fosfomycin—all widely available and inexpensive.
Detailed Medical Explanation
NICE guidance lists first‑line antibiotics including nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim, with alternatives like amoxicillin, cefalexin and fosfomycin depending on contraindications and local resistance (nice.org.uk, nhs.uk). These medications are all available in generic formulations and prescribed on the NHS.
Clinical Context
Nitrofurantoin and trimethoprim are the most commonly prescribed first-line treatments. Others may be used if there are allergies, pregnancy or known resistance patterns.
Evidence-Based Approaches
NICE NG109 recommends prescribing based on local antimicrobial sensitivity data. Nitrofurantoin typically has much lower resistance rates (~3%) compared to trimethoprim (~30%) (nice.org.uk).