Nitrofurantoin
Drug Class and Mechanism of Action of Nitrofurantoin
Nitrofurantoin is urinary tract antibiotic (urinary antiseptic). It acts by killing the susceptible bacteria in the urine works by interfering with various chemical processes in the bacteria.
Therapeutic Uses of Nitrofurantoin
Nitrofurantoin is used in the treatment of UTI (urinary tract infection) caused by bacteria sensitive to it.
Direction of use of Nitrofurantoin
Use Nitrofurantoin as per direction of your doctor. Check the labels of the medicine or take Nitrofurantoin as per following:
- Take Nitrofurantoin along with food (ideally with breakfast or dinner) or with milk to increase absorption of the drug and improve efficacy.
- You should take a full course of Nitrofurantoin to clear the urinary tract infection completely. Take it for the full course even if you feel better after taking it for few days.
- Do not take antacid with magnesium trisilicate, if you are taking Nitrofurantoin. Ask your doctor or other health care provider if you have doubt about which antacids contains magnesium trisilicate.
If You Miss a Dose of Nitrofurantoin
If you miss a dose of Nitrofurantoin, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular schedule but do not take 2 doses of Nitrofurantoin if you miss one.
How to Store Nitrofurantoin
Nitrofurantoin should ideally be stored at 77 degree Fahrenheit (25 degrees C). But it can be stored for a brief period of time at little higher or a little lower temperature without any problem. Do not store it in your bathroom. Store it in a dry, dark and cool room in a properly closed container. Keep Nitrofurantoin out of reach of children.
More Information About Nitrofurantoin
Nitrofurantoin should be used by the patient for whom it is prescribed. It should not be shared with others. If you have any question about Nitrofurantoin, ask your doctor.
Precautions to be Taken While Taking Nitrofurantoin
Do not use Nitrofurantoin if you have any medical problems listed below and consult your doctor immediately:
- If you have allergy to any of the ingredients of Nitrofurantoin.
- If you have any serious kidney problem and there is little or no urine (anuria) formation.
- If the patient is younger than 1 month old.
- If you are a woman and pregnant (especially at term that is 38 to 42 weeks of pregnancy) the onset of labor is about to occur, or during labor and delivery.
Important notes about Nitrofurantoin:
- Nitrofurantoin may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, blurring of vision etc. All these effects may be more severe if alcohol or certain medicines are taken with it. Nitrofurantoin should be used with caution due to all these problems. Do not drive or perform other risky works that need constant monitoring or attention while taking Nitrofurantoin, until you are certain that you do not get these effects with it.
- Nitrofurantoin may cause lung damage that may be permanent and even cause death. The lung damage may be sudden or chronic and may not be recognized immediately and lung damage usually occurs in patients taking Nitrofurantoin for more than 6 months. You should consult your doctor immediately if you find any noticeable change in lung functions like chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing (especially after exercise).
- Mild diarrhea can be there with any antibiotic including Nitrofurantoin. But with Nitrofurantoin a serious form of diarrhea called ‘pseudo membranous colitis’ can occur though rarely. Pseudo membranous colitis may develop during therapy with this medicine or within few months of discontinuation of Nitrofurantoin. Consult your doctor immediately if you get any symptoms like stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools. Do not treat diarrhea yourself without consulting your doctor first.
- Nitrofurantoin only acts against bacteria and can not be used to treat any viral infection.
- If you use Nitrofurantoin repeatedly or for long term it may cause a second infection. Inform your doctor if you develop a second infection and for this you will need to change the antibiotic.
- Nitrofurantoin may cause change of color of urine and you should not worry about change in color of urine as it is a normal thing with Nitrofurantoin.
- Use Nitrofurantoin for a full course and do not stop it in the middle of the course. If you do not complete the full course of treatment with Nitrofurantoin, the infection may not be cleared completely and also bacteria may become less sensitive to Nitrofurantoin or other related antibiotics. This will make treatment of infection harder in the future.
- Nitrofurantoin may give false or wrong results for glucose in urine in diabetic patients. Inform your doctor if you are taking it and ask if you need to change the dose of anti diabetic medicines or you have to change the medicine itself during treatment with Nitrofurantoin.
- During treatment with Nitrofurantoin, lab tests like liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts should be done. These tests may be used for monitoring of therapy or check for side effects. Keep all the lab appointments.
- In elderly persons Nitrofurantoin should be used with caution as they may be more sensitive to its effects as well as side effects like that involve lungs and liver.
- Nitrofurantoin should not be used in neonates of less than 1 month old, as the effectiveness and safety of Nitrofurantoin is not clearly established.
- Pregnancy and lactation (breast feeding): If you are women and pregnant do not use Nitrofurantoin. If you become pregnant while taking Nitrofurantoin you should discuss about the risks and benefits of using it during pregnancy. You must avoid Nitrofurantoin from 38 to 42 weeks of pregnancy. It is secreted in the breast milk and you should not breast feed your baby if you are taking Nitrofurantoin.
Possible Adverse Effects of Nitrofurantoin
Consult your doctor if common and mild side effects of Nitrofurantoin become persistent and/or troublesome for you. The common and mild side effects of Nitrofurantoin are as follows:
- Nausea, headache, vomiting, mild diarrhea, loss of appetite, dizziness, drowsiness, cough, fever, chills, skin rash, tingling or numbness in fingers or toes, upset stomach etc.
If you get any severe side effects of Nitrofurantoin you should consult your doctor immediately. The uncommon and severe side effects of Nitrofurantoin are as follows:
- severe allergic reactions (skin rash, hives, itching, difficulty in breathing, tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue etc.); inflammation of the pancreas (manifested by stomach tenderness, nausea, vomiting, fever, increased pulse etc.); stomach pain or stomach cramps; shortness of breath, especially during exercise; tingling, numbness, or burning of the fingers and toes; severe chest pain; bizarre behavior; bloody stools; severe coughing; general body discomfort; increased pressure in the head; severe diarrhea (pseudo membranous colitis); yellowing of the skin or eyes etc.