Hiprex, a urinary antiseptic, is used by specialists to treat chronic UTI.
Hiprex is an older medication, prescribed and used in the treatment of lower urinary tract infections for nearly 100 years.
Methenamine Hippurate or Hiprex acts as an antibacterial agent against a wide range of bacteria, covering both gram-positive and gram-negative organisms.
- Hiprex is often prescribed alongside antibiotics or on its own.
- If an infection has significantly improved and antibiotics are no longer required on a daily basis, Hiprex is often prescribed as an ongoing treatment to prevent infections reoccurring.
- Hiprex can be taken during pregnancy under clinician management.
What is in Hiprex?
Urinary antiseptic not an antibiotic
Because Hiprex is not an antibiotic but a urinary antiseptic, it can be available for purchase over the counter in some countries without a prescription. This means there is little risk of pathogenic bacteria developing resistance.
The active ingredient is methenamine hippurate with each tablet containing 1 gram. It has antibacterial activity because the methenamine component is broken down to formaldehyde and ammonia in acid urine. By converting to bactericidal formaldehyde it prevents bacterial growth by destroying the proteins and replication abilities within a bacterium
Hippuric acid, the other component, has some antibacterial activity and also acts to keep the urine acidic.
The key to the effectiveness of Hiprex is maintaining concentrated, acid urine so that the main ingredients are activated. If the urine is too dilute and alkaline with a urinary PH of over 6.0, Hiprex will be ineffective.
Some people find that taking Hiprex with vitamin C can help to maintain an acid urine balance but this is by personal choice and is not essential to the activation of Hiprex.
So what is the evidence for Hiprex?
A Cochrane review of Hiprex and it’s effectiveness for those with recurrent UTI was carried out in 2012. It included thirteen studies incorporating 2032 participants.
Overall, the quality amongst the studies was mixed but analysis suggested that Hiprex:
- May have some benefit in patients without renal tract abnormalities but not in patients with known renal tract abnormalities.
- For short‐term treatment (one week or less) there was a significant reduction in symptomatic UTI in those without renal tract abnormalities.
- Had low side effects.
But the authors concluded that more extensive randomised control trials were needed to clarify its long term usage and effectiveness of Hiprex.
More evidence for Hiprex when treating recurrent & chronic UTI
How is Hiprex taken?
Available in tablet form the recommended dose for adults is one tablet twice a day. For children aged 6 – 12 years the recommended dose is half a tablet (500mg) twice a day. It should not be given to children under the age of six.
Some patients report gastric issues with its use. Taking Hiprex with food or placing the tablet in a size 000 gelatin capsule may help with the digestion of Hiprex.
Do not take Hiprex at the same time as urinary alkalisers such bicarbonate of soda or cystitis sachets sold in supermarkets or pharmacies. These make the urine alkaline but prevent Hiprex from working properly. Acidic urine is a key agent to activating the medication’s ingredients.
D Mannose, which is often used to treat e-coli infections can be used whilst taking Hiprex but be aware that the mannose will be less effective because it works best in more alkaline urine.
Start with a small dose and work up slowly to the full prescribed dose to test tolerance.
Are there any issues with Hiprex?
Before starting Hiprex, you should always discuss its usage with a physician as there are drug interactions. We list below medical conditions that may prevent its usage.
Hiprex is best described as a marmite drug. From some it is well-tolerated and patients experience good results. For others it causes problems with burning causing bladder pain (due to the need to acidify the urine) and increased frequency. Some find that even after using it for several weeks, these side effects have not declined.
If you are using Hiprex and experience significant side effects, you should always contact your specialist or GP for advice on its continuation.
Studies have suggested that in patients with indwelling catheters, adequate urine concentration doesn’t develop and thus the conversion to formaldehyde is not achieved making methenamine ineffective. (i)
Do not use Hiprex if:
- You are allergic to methenamine hippurate or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
- You are taking antibiotic medicines called sulphonamides. These can damage your kidneys when taken at the same time as Hiprex
- You are severely dehydrated (this can be issue in the older generation)
- You have serious problems with your kidneys (renal impairment)
- You have problems with your liver
- You have gout
- You have a condition called metabolic acidosis (a chemical imbalance in the blood).
Find out about other treatments for chronic UTI.
References:
(i) Lo TS, Hammer KDP, Zegarra M, Cho WCS. Methenamine: a forgotten drug for preventing recurrent urinary tract infection in a multidrug resistance era. Expert Review of Anti-Infective Therapy. 2015; 12(5):549-554.