Nitrofurantoin

Drug Class:	Commonly Known As:	Category:
Antibiotic		Adult, Children

Nitrofurantoin - What is it for

Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic commonly used to treat infections of the urinary tract caused by certain bacteria.

Nitrofurantoin - Side Effects, Precautions, and Contraindications

What side effects can Nitrofurantoin cause?

The common side effects of this medication include:

Nausea or vomiting, stomach pain
Loss of appetite
Constipation or diarrhoea

Nitrofurantoin may also cause your urine to turn dark yellow or brown in colour.

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following:

Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
Difficulty in breathing
Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Other rare but serious side effects include:

Difficulty breathing, fever, chills, chest pain and cough
Serious skin rash that looks red, swollen, blistered or peeling
Very sensitive to touch, sharp pain, numbness or having a tingling feeling in your feet or hands
Signs of liver injury, which may include dark coloured urine, light coloured stools, severe nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain or yellowing of skin or eyes.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

Before taking Nitrofurantoin , what precautions must I follow?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
You have Glucose-6-Phosphate-Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
You have liver or kidney problems

What food or medicine must I avoid when I take Nitrofurantoin ?

This medication can affect the levels of other medications in your body. Do let your doctor know if you are taking other medications, including over-the-counter medications, vitamins and herbal products, before starting on this antibiotic.

Inform your doctor if you are taking magnesium trisilicate, a medication used for gastric discomfort.

Nitrofurantoin - Dosage and How to Use

How should Nitrofurantoin be used?

Take this medication with or after food.
You should complete each course of antibiotics even if you feel better as incomplete treatment might cause the infection to return or cause antibiotic resistance. When antibiotic resistance happens, the antibiotic will not be able to control the growth or kill the bacteria anymore.

What should I do if I miss a dose?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. Then take your next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed dose.