How to Sleep When You Have Frequent Urination Due to Urinary Tract Infections (UTI)

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) often bring on numerous distressing symptoms, and unfortunately, frequent urination is one of them. It can wake you up in the middle of the night when all you want is rest and recovery! The best way to handle this symptom is to treat the UTI itself. You can also use medications and home remedies to manage the symptoms and support your sleep. If you continue waking up due to frequent urination, consider wearing adult diapers to keep your sheets dry, and consult with a doctor about medications that might help.

Limit fluid intake in the evening. Drinking too much water right before bed can worsen the symptoms of frequent urination at night. If possible, try to cut back on liquids for a few hours after dinner and before sleep, especially beverages that can irritate the bladder, such as alcohol or caffeine.

Note: It is essential to stay hydrated when dealing with a urinary tract infection (UTI), so do not restrict your fluid intake. Make an effort to drink enough water throughout the day.

Avoid foods and drinks that may irritate the bladder. When the urinary tract is inflamed, it is crucial to avoid substances that could worsen the problem. You can manage the symptoms of frequent urination by limiting or eliminating the following, especially right before bedtime:

• Caffeinated beverages and soda
• Alcoholic drinks
• Fruits and juices with high acidity (especially citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruits)
• Tomatoes and tomato-based products
• Spicy foods
• Chocolate

Take a warm sitz bath right before bed to reduce discomfort. Fill a tub with warm water and add unscented Epsom salts if desired. Soak in the bath for about 15-20 minutes before going to sleep. This therapy will help ease pain and relieve discomfort.

• Avoid using products like bath bombs, bubble bath soaps, or scented bath salts. These can aggravate your UTI.

Use a hot water bottle to alleviate nighttime pain. If bladder pain keeps waking you up in the middle of the night, try placing a hot water bottle on your lower abdomen while you sleep. Wrap the bottle in a towel to avoid skin burns.

• While heating pads are a good option for daytime pain relief, they can be dangerous when used while sleeping. Without supervision, electric heating pads can cause burns or even start a fire due to electrical faults.
• Consult with your doctor about using over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Motrin) to help manage pain at night.

See a doctor to treat your urinary tract infection. Medical treatments can quickly alleviate UTI symptoms, including nighttime urgency. If you think you have a UTI, call your doctor or visit the emergency room. They will take a urine sample to diagnose or rule out the infection. You will be prescribed antibiotics or other medications.

• Depending on the type of infection and its severity, you may need to take antibiotics for a week or longer. Usually, you will start feeling better within a few days of taking the antibiotics.
• Do not stop taking antibiotics before completing the full course of treatment, even if you feel better. This could cause the infection to return or worsen.

Consult your doctor about bladder spasm medications. Let your doctor know that the infection causing frequent urination is affecting your sleep. Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve the pain and urgency that disrupt your rest.

• Ask your doctor about pain relievers like phenazopyridine or Azo-Standard, which help reduce bladder spasms, urgency, and discomfort. These medications are effective for most patients, but they may cause side effects and turn your urine red or orange.
• Remember that while these medications can alleviate symptoms, they will not cure the underlying infection.

Try urinating twice to fully empty your bladder before going to bed. A urinary tract infection can cause your bladder to retain urine, resulting in restlessness, frequent bathroom trips, and bedwetting in the night. Just before bed, sit on the toilet and empty your bladder as much as possible. Afterward, stay seated for 30 seconds to a few minutes, then try again.

• When sitting on the toilet, lean forward and place your hands on your thighs or knees. This position can help your bladder empty more completely.

Set a nighttime urination schedule. Set an alarm every 2-4 hours to wake up and urinate. This method prevents your bladder from becoming too full, reducing the risk of bedwetting or waking up suddenly with a strong urge to urinate.

• Try setting the alarm at different times each night. This will prevent your bladder from getting used to waking you at specific times to urinate.

Wear adult diapers at night to prevent bedwetting. If your UTI causes nighttime incontinence, it can be frustrating to wake up and change your sheets. Consider wearing diapers as a precaution to manage the situation more easily.

• Absorbent underwear is another great option. These specially designed undergarments help prevent leaks.
• It’s best to wear breathable cotton underwear.

Consult your doctor about medications for managing incontinence. The doctor may prescribe a medication to help control incontinence symptoms while you are treating a urinary tract infection. Ask your doctor which treatment options are most effective for you.

• Common choices include anticholinergic medications, bladder relaxants like mirabegron, and alpha blockers.
• Inquire about fesoterodine, a medication proven to control nighttime incontinence and improve sleep quality.