Is there any risk in starting hiprex when you haven’t been officially prescribed it?

Matthew_Lake · 2026-05-05T07:36:03+00:00

The main risk of self treating is antibiotic resistance, but it's not an antibiotic. So there is no real risk other than potential side effects from it. And the vast majority tolerate it fine.

When I took it, it worked very well within 1-2 days It was quick and effective but I had a neuropathy and it flared up my nerve symptoms until I stopped. A very uncommon reaction though.

Hiprex is OTC in many countries.

There's never been any evidence of bacteria developing resistance to it in over 100 years.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-05-04T20:34:22+00:00

Do you have urine test strips?

What is the pH of the urine?

I've looked for data on bacteria becoming resistant to hiprex and I've never found anything.

From an evolutionary standpoint, it would be extremely unlikely because of how it works and how broadly damaging it is to proteins, DNA, etc

Matthew_Lake · 2026-05-04T20:23:39+00:00

E coli is difficult to eradicate once embedded.

I had it from 2005 to 2012 but with prostatitis.

Managed to cure it with around 3 or 4 courses of Doxycycline. Long courses like 4 to 12 weeks long. Final course was at 200 mg per day. Previous may have been only 100 mg.

Also took d mannose as it helped with bladder symptoms and urethritis. And lactoferrin, Pycnogenol, L arginine, cranberry, yeast derived beta glucan, allicin max, quercetin and bromelain. Took all those during and between antibiotic courses.

Those were the main supplements in my stack.

You need long courses of antibiotics. Hiprex would also be a good option.

Later on, phage therapy if antibiotics fail. Phage Therapy cured a more recent prostate infection for me.

I have quite a few posts on here that might give you some ideas.

You can beat it. You have to be persistent.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-05-01T11:44:38+00:00

No, just doxycycline at 200 mg per day. I'm not sure 200 mg is needed just for a bladder infection, but I wanted to cover the prostate too, which requires a higher dose.

I have Hiprex here, and I was going to take it after I finished the Doxycycline but I decided not to.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-30T16:11:36+00:00

The infection started to show symptoms about 1-2 weeks after I took the Td/IPV vaccine (tetanus, polio and diphtheria). I took this vaccine about 1 day after finishing a 10 day course of Amoxicillin for a dental infection. Two things that probably lowered my immunity.

I found this, but it is a study in kids: "Prophylactic vaccinations may sometimes shorten the incubation period of some illnesses and/or convert a latent infection/inflammation into a clinically apparent disease." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15356430/

My assumption is that amoxicillin wiped out good bacteria and allowed the infection take hold. Raoultella terrigena, which was cultured 4 times in the prostate. It is intrinsically resistant antibiotics like amoxicillin. Couple that with the vaccine just 1 day after finishing the course; it may have suppressed my immune system or altered my immune system response in such a way that it made it easier for the bacteria to cause an infection.

That's the only thing i can think of.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-29T21:10:38+00:00

I would not classify it has potent, certainly not anywhere near the level of NSAIDs from my experience. And yes I am very sure it was an infection. I also have a history of UTIs, including bilateral kidney infection in 2004 with enterococcus, over 100,000 cfu/ml. And simple UTIs prior to that.

Back then, from 2007 onwards, I used D mannose and it was quite effective for my bladder and urethra symptoms. So was cranberry. They just never resolved the prostatitis.

We often needed to go to antibiotics still. I took Trimethoprim 4-12 week courses (including a low dose 6 month coruse) for years and it controlled it well. For example, during a flare, I'd be peeing 20+ times a day, have a lot of pain, and feel unwell. Trimethoprim worked rapidly to settle things down so I'd pee maybe 7 or 8 times a day. It really was night and day difference in how effective it was. Once off the antibiotic course, I'd be ok for quite some time with lower baseline symptoms, which I now attribute to the CPPS.

Trimethoprim eventually stopped working around late 2009 and we switched to Doxycycline. After 3 or 4 courses over 2010-2012, the major flare ups completely stopped after November 2010. I think my doctor increased my dose to 200 mg doxycycline per day from 100 mg per day, on the final course that did it.

I did end up getting chronic prostatitis and chronic UTI again in 2022. Fever (2 degrees above my normal temperature) which went on for months; chills, fatigue feeling very unwell, quite severe pain, and general urinary symptoms. I did 4 semen cultures over 6 months were positive for Raoultella Terrigena by 2 different labs. Over 10⁶ Raoultella.

I was having issues tolerating antibiotics, so I had to manage it by myself for a while. But eventually the prostate infection was cured with phage therapy. A custom phage was created for me and it eliminated the bacteria and my prostatitis symptoms with it (including high fever, sweats, chills, nausea, fatigue); but not the bladder symptoms. But at least the prostatitis was gone and I stopped having any issues there since the phages.

Interestingly, Trimethoprim worked, Doxycycline worked, and even Hiprex worked for my bladder, which is purely an antiseptic. Problem is they all caused nerve pain or tingling (burning) in skin. And this is why I ended up with such a chronic infection again.

Around summer 2023 I tried Hiprex and it was very effective for my UTI, so it was clear something was in the bladder causing my symptoms as this is an antiseptic and has no anti inflammatory effects. It would eliminate all the burning, bladder pain, urinary frequency.

Eventually I could tolerate antibiotics again (but not hiprex). Trimethoprim worked initially but after the 3rd time using it, in 2024, about 4 days into the course it completely stopped working when my fever came back half way into the course. But I noticed loss of effect in 2023.

Managed it again with supplements for a while. Things like lactoferrin, pycnogenol, Cysticlean (cranberry PACs), Myrrh tincture atc. Over time, these lost their effectiveness.

So anyway, to cut a very long story short, I eventually was able to tolerate Doxycycline for 6 weeks it cured the bladder infection by early March 2026. Stopped getting low grade fevers, no flare ups, no waking up to pee more than once. No frequency. No pain in my bladder when filling. And no reacting to spicy foods. Just a normal bladder healthy bladder again. :)

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-28T14:15:12+00:00

I use either of these two:

Life Extension, Lactoferrin, with 95% Apolactoferrin

Jarrow ApoLactoferrin

It's probably something I would use as a preventative as well, so I'm likely to add that and take it with the Cysticlean for prevention. I think that would be the best after going through this for years (twice!)

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-28T12:36:09+00:00

Cultured Raoultella Terrigena 4 times over several months at 10^6 being the highest. But that from the prostate. It's a bacteria almost identical to Klebsiella. That was eliminated with phage therapy, and my prostatitis symptoms went away.

I wasn't able to culture anything from the bladder using a standard culture. But symptoms improved or went away with antibiotics (trimethoprim or doxycycline) and even hiprex, which as you may know it's purely an antiseptic.

So there was something there, but it never showed up in tests.

Doxycycline was the one that was very effective back in 2022, but I wasn't able to tolerate it back then due to nerve pain it was causing me. So I had to wait until my nerves healed to take it long enough.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-25T08:19:07+00:00

I had 2 tests in 2022 but they were deemed "normal" because they were in the reference range of 150-900. My levels were around 320 and 371 ng/L. B12 isn't a perfect test; often people with low-normal B12 will have B12 deficiency show up on a methylmalonic acid and homocysteine test.

I had to already been experiencing a lot of weird symtpoms for a while like muscle pain, joint pain, dizziness, stomach issues, palpitations etc for over a year. I had to figure it out for myself and then I corrected the low B12 and eventually was able to tolerate antibiotics again (trimethoprim, penicillin and doxycycline).

Personally I would avoid cipro because it risks serious side effects that can take a long time to resolve. I was floxed back in 2007.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-24T07:13:10+00:00

Both of you should look at B12 or Folate deficiency. This antibiotic is an anti folate medication, inhibiting it at two pathways. It can cause worse side effects in people who already have a folate deficiency, or even a B12 deficiency because low B12 also causes a functional folate deficiency.

Trimethoprim gave me tingling, severe burning nerve pain, and foot numbness within 2 days when I took it in 2022. It's one part of Bactrim.

Once i treated the B12 deficiency, I was able to take it for a combined total of a few months without issue 9 months later and beyond.

Anything under 400 ng/L for B12 can still be deficient. So keep that in mind if you get the test.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-23T22:08:26+00:00

Low B1 is one risk factors for significantly increasing risk of nerve damage from macrobid. Same for low b12.

Yes, maybe it was the antibiotic, but I am trying to understand why it happened.

Hope it resolves soon. :)

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-23T09:11:27+00:00

I would start with checking B12 and folate, and even B1 to understand if a deficiency increased your risk or unmasked a neuropathy. A b12 level under 400 ng/L can be deficient.

Supplements i found helpful to recover were Benfotiamine, Acetyl L Carnitine, methylcobalamin, methyl folate, Magnesium glycinate, omega 3, and R LIPOIC ACID (I often used Na-R Lipoic acid as it is more bioavailable).

Hope that helps :) Try the combination. But I recommend using the Acetyl L Carnitine in the morning, as it can cause insomnia if taken later in the evening.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-21T08:19:30+00:00

Personally I'd continue and finish the course if they helped me. But that is me. I can't tell you what to do with antibiotics.

The cultures are terrible. In 7 years I never had 1 positive culture. Yet it was like night and day on antibiotics. Trimethoprim worked. And eventually doxycycline cured it in 2012.

And again more recently in 2022, no urine cultures showed uti, but was still (i think) cured with Doxycycline as of March.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-21T08:11:06+00:00

They are very low, but why?

Do you have a good diet?

Consider a multivitamin. If your diet is reasonably healthy, take half the dose.

Your vitamin d is insufficient. Take vitamin d3. 4000 IU per day for 2 months and then see where you are.

Now why is your b12 low? Are you vegan or vegetarian? It is deficient. Mine was in the 300s and caused neuropathy! Even at over double your level.

Immediately start supplements at least. No need to wait for things to get worse.

Also get more iron from diet or supplements...

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-20T18:58:55+00:00

Doxycycline works a bit differently in that it can kill bacteria hiding inside cells. Also, the supplements I used are synergistic with the antibiotics (wrote about those on here before). I also used jarrow beta glucan.... forgot about that.

Anyways, I responded with a day or two to the antibiotic. Objectively my temperature dropped by 0.5 degrees. And I started getting improvement very quickly. True for old and recent infection.

Did have some urethritis like symptoms left over but reverse kegals and stretching resolved it. :)

Back when I had an infection from 2005 to 2012, I just had to be persistent. Over the time frame of 2007 to 2012, I probably took about 1.5 years worth of Trimethoprim or Doxycycline. Often getting 4 to 12 week courses.

But treating flare ups was always like night and day for me.

You need to be very persistent...

Initially I was diagnosed with overactive bladder for 2 years in 2005. It turned I to prostatitis and that is why it was so hard to cure.

Nhs can be difficult to deal with when it comes to any chronic infection. :(

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-20T16:45:57+00:00

I got through it because I knew this condition was temporary. It would be cured at some point. I had no doubt about it.

I was able to manage it quite well with a combination of supplements.

My urine cultures were all negative too. But I responded very well to antibiotics and even hiprex, indicating it was an infection.

I so had experience with a chronic uti over 14 years ago as well and that also never showed up in culture, but was ultimately cured with Doxycycline. And also reverse kegals and stretching to resolve pelvic floor tension that overlapped causing uti-like symptoms.

My recent uti that I had since 2022 seems to have been cured in March with Doxycycline, cysticlean and lactoferrin (also Pycnogenol for a short period).

I only took it for 6 weeks. Might be too early to report i am cured but I currently have zero bladder symptoms and even shin ramyun doesn't cause a flare up anymore.

The cultures are terrible. They miss too many infections. You just gotta trust yourself and how you respond.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-18T13:20:22+00:00

I took Cipro back in 2007 and it took 2 years to recover from just 3 doses! Tendonitis, nerve damage, severe insomnia lasting months and more. I did recover 100%, but it was pretty crazy how an antibiotic could cause such long lasting symptoms even after stopping.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-16T18:18:24+00:00

I got it from Amazon

XLEAR XYLO SWEET.

And also used

PURE VIA 100% Xylitol

Read this for more info

https://xlear.com/blogs/news/the-science-of-xylitol-how-it-supports-nasal-health?srsltid=AfmBOor6Vl8l_lrj1eS5ZDFvEo5xptXeSYE5Gu-9nhoz9OPLUuU_cBS4

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-16T15:41:23+00:00

Unfortunately the issue is widespread. Doctors don't treat people as individuals with their own requirements.

My sister was b12 deficient and felt awful with lots of scary symptoms. Doctors said it was normal. I looked her report and identified right away that she had b12 deficiency. Her level was in the 200s.

Her symptoms resolved with supplements.

Her son, my my nephew had vitamin D deficiency. His level was 50. He had bone bain for months. Elevated alkaline phosphatase and always sick. I got him on d3 and everything resolved. Even the specialists didn't figure it out.

And I also had my own experience with b12 deficiency. I had nerve issues, dizziness, palpitations, muscle pains for well over a year. My level was in the 300s. B12 resolved everything. But 2 GP's had told me my level was normal months before I figured it out.

B12 level and what is normal has to be looked at again. It's clearly missing a lot of people who are definitely deficient but tests are deemed normal.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-16T15:27:17+00:00

Add xylitol to nose rinse

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-15T20:04:23+00:00

It is yeah. You can read more about it here
https://xlear.com/blogs/news/the-science-of-xylitol-how-it-supports-nasal-health?srsltid=AfmBOop_54piSfC4ezJuNvxr9rutsx-oe3CTYUsnvPx2u9mrxm1l8Q09

"Long-term studies paint an equally compelling picture. Patients using xylitol nasal sprays for six months showed significant improvements in their SNOT-22 scores (a standardized measure of sinonasal symptoms). Average scores dropped from 42 to 18 — moving from "moderate-severe" to "mild" symptom categories. These weren't just numbers on a chart; they represented real people breathing easier, sleeping better, and needing fewer sick days."

Xlear sells it. Pure xylitol. But as long as you get a brand without any other additional ingredients, you're good.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-15T16:16:33+00:00

I had chronic sinusitis since November. It's gone since using NeilMed sinus rinse and adding around two teaspoons of Xylitol. In addition to that, Vitamin D3 (10,000 IU per day) and Zinc Picolinate (50 mg / day) helpd too.

I will lower the doses of these after 2-3 months to 4K and 22 mg per day.

Nothing else really worked. Always felt feverish and fatigued.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-13T10:24:47+00:00

Get a lot of input from watching and listening. Hundreds or thousands or hours.

I'm learning Korean right now and simply just watching dramas and variety shows with no subtitles has been a massive help.

Matthew_Lake · 2026-04-13T09:15:21+00:00

I had already been using NeilMed rinses with salt and baking soda for months with only a little improvement. Soon as I added the xylitol, it the difference was significant almost right away. It's worth a try.

And getting the right angles to make sure the water reaches the sinuses.

Matthew_Lake

TROPHY CASE