Does D-Mannose help to prevent urinary tract infections (UTIs)?

I would like to add that in order for cranberry supplements to be effective you need brands with I belive 36 PAC'S ac to my urologist. However, if you have kidney stones, cranberry in any form can cause you to get a specific kind of kidney stone (urologist did NOT tell me this) so I stopped taking them and can't find the bottle. I'm pretty sure it was Utiva, which is good for people with chemical sensitivities. Sorry if I got the PAC name or number wrong....going on memory .

You need to take the powdered form, as I learned in this forum. The pills did nothing but make me feel a little sickish.

What specialty, if any, is your Dr?

D-Mannose in POWDERED form has been Life changing for me. I had frequent UTI's caused by e-coli bacteria for many years. I became anti biotic resistant to several antibiotics. It threw me into a deep depression. I have now been UTI free for the last 15 months while on D-Mannose in powdered form. I found that capsule form did not work as it is not concentrated enough. Cranberry juice has done nothing for me. For an acute UTI, I take 1 teaspoon rounded (2000+ mg) every 2-3 hours in 1/2 cup of water, for 5 days. Try to wake up throughout the night to take your dose. Taking higher doses may cause diarrhea. Wait for 45 minutes to an hour. Then, drink plenty of water in order to flush out the bladder and get rid of E-Col. For a Preventive Dose, I take 1 teaspoon, two times a day for long term maintenance. I plan to do this indefinitely. Take D-Mannose as early as possible when you first notice symptoms, before the UTI fully develops. I buy PURE D-MANNOSE or NOW brands on from Amazon. I buy the bulk package as there is cost savings. D-Mannose is a simple sugar that is thought to block e-coli bacteria from sticking to the urinary tract and bladder walls. I only wish that I had discovered D-Mannose years ago. I discovered it while researching bladder infections on line where I found interesting studies by DR. OREOLUWA OGUNYEMI, MD.
The problem with D-Mannose in capsule form is that many people think they are getting 2000 mg in one capsule, when in reality they are likely getting 500 gms in one capsule. You need 2000 mgs to treat an active UTI. Manufacturers of D-Mannose in capsule form have been getting away with this misinterpretation for too long. If you look at most bottles of D-Mannose in capsule form, it will say 1000 mgs or 2000 mgs on the bottle. However, look closely at the directions and note that one capsule is likely 500 mgs and that to get 1000 mgs you need to take 2 capsules. To get 2000 mgs, you need to take 4 capsules. Please, be careful and read the directions on the bottle.
I truly wish you the best in conquering this hideous affliction

Interesting about incontinence being a part of the bladder pain. That's happening with me too, but my urine never shows any infection.

SO happy to have found this. Up until one month ago, I have had 2-3 UTIs in my life yet now living out this nightmare you are all describing. Just returned from a trip to SE Asia where began my newly recurring UTIs. Needless to say it was extremely challenging getting treatment with the language barrier, being on a small island in Thailand. When mine started I had severe bloating and nausea with some pelvic burning. I thought I had contracted a stomach bacteria of some sort and took the antibiotic my doc sent me with, should an occasion like this arise. Then my DIL (who is in her last year of NP clinicals) said UTI can present that way. It seemed to clear up only to resurface a few days later and then again once home. Each time I was treated with more antibiotics. Though the urinalysis didn't always show bacteria I sure had all the same symptoms, along with uncontrollable shaking from the pain. Each time the antibiotic eventually takes care of it. My DIL has turned me on to D Mannose. I am just at the beginning of this journey- waiting to get in with urologist. My Mayo PCP believes it is the thinning of the vaginal walls, etc due to menopause (I was post-menopausal by 41, now 59. Had ovaries out 10 years ago). He is thinking the answer is vaginal Estradiol, which I have begun as of last week. In some ways it appears to have the medical community scratching their heads, though I am very thankful for the Mayo team. I am grateful for the encouragement found here- It has done a number on my emotional well-being for certain.

Estradiol in suppository form has helped me stop 3 consecutive UTI's. And also taking a probiotic. The decline in estrogen post menopause makes you more susceptible to UTI's ac to both my urologist and gynecologist. And for some reason the Probiotic is protective...maybe bc it also helps prevent the E Coli from establishing a stronghold in your gut???

I no longer need D-Mannose every day but do use short term it when I feel like my urine is starting to get cloudy again. If you are diabetic, you should talk to your endocrinologist b4 starting d-Mannose because it's a sugar. And avoid acidic food and drinks when taking -Mannose. Pub Med is helpful to look at clinical research results when evaluating supplement alternatives to antibiotics.

I’m so happy you found d mannose, it’s a lifesaver for me. I am 80 years old. After two years of bi monthly UTIs, I had a nurse turn me onto it at a CVS clinic. Then I also heard about methenamine, a sort of antibiotic or bacteria cleansing drug that works to remove bacteria from your bladder. Somehow, it’s not as likely to get you relying on it as if you are using the typical antibiotic for this disease. I was on a long trip and returned after a month in Europe with a UTI after having begun this routine, but I had no symptoms. Usually mine are a very strange severe aching inside, my very lower abdomen and pelvic area because I have a spastic bladder. Consequently with no symptoms except for tiredness turning into confusion and a leather G a friend grab me and took me to the ER where I stayed for two weeks on IV antibiotics. Sepsis! Yeah, it’s about 35% mortality rate so you don’t want to this. I suggest always having a bottle of antibiotics with you that work for you when you travel out of country, although you can point to different areas on your body and without speaking, the language easily get prescriptions unless you are quite far from a town,. I take one d-mannose both morning and night. It is not the usual sugar so really should not bother a diabetic in my opinion, but double check anyway. It taste sweet, but does not act like a sugar in your bladder, it simply coatsthe wall of the bladder so the bacteria have a barrier to fight through to get to a nesting spot. I have used estradial but prefer the vaginal suppository twice weekly. Using both it’s an option for severe cases. Good luck, this is a tough one for women —and for men surprisingly, as we age.

Does anyone know if powdered D-Mannose acts like other sugars in our glucose counts? Is it OK to take if we are watching our sweets?