Data Extraction For The Systematic Review Of Efficacy And Toxicity
All article abstracts and/or main texts were reviewed independently by A. H. and E. V. against the inclusion and exclusion criteria for the review’s primary and secondary outcomes of nitrofurantoin efficacy and toxicity, respectively. Both authors then independently conducted data abstraction of the final sample, examining and recording the trial characteristics and outcomes using a pre-designed data abstraction form for information pertaining to trial demographics, intervention, comparator, methodology, outcomes and overall quality. Both reviewers’ results were then crosschecked for reliability. Disagreements were resolved between the two reviewers by discussion and consensus among all authors.
Side Effects Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Along with its needed effects, nitrofurantoin may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking nitrofurantoin:
More common
- wheezing or tightness in the chest
- yellow eyes or skin
Urinary Tract Infection Antibiotic Macrobid
1. Beta-Lactams
The antibiotics that belong to the beta-lactam group are very similar to penicillins and cephalosporins in their chemical composition. In fact, they also share some chemical features with other recently introduced antibiotics as well. Hence, they are a popular choice for treating urinary tract infection. Another beta lactam antibiotic is pivmecillinam that is very similar to mecillinam. This antibiotic is very commonly used in European countries for the treatment of UTI.
2. Penicillin
A very popular antibiotic belonging to the penicillin group is Amoxicillin. This antibiotic is widely used in the treatment of bacterial skin infections such as acne. However, amoxicillin was also prescribed for the treatment of UTI until a few years ago. The standard procedure of treating UTI was taking amoxicillin for 10 days. But now the E. coli have become resistant to the medication and in almost 25% cases the antibiotic doesnt work.
Another form of penicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate or Augmentin is being used these days for treating urinary tract infection in adults as well as in children. Augmentin is generally given for treating bacterial infections that have do not respond to other antibiotic treatments. However, this medication only works if the urinary tract infection is the result of rapid multiplication of Gram-positive bacteria such as those belonging to the Enterococcus and S. saprophyticus classes.
3. Cephalosporins
Don’t Miss: Complete Natural Products Urinary Tract Complete
How To Use Macrobid
Take this medication by mouth with food as directed by your doctor, usually twice daily . Swallow the medication whole for best results.
Do not use magnesium trisilicate-containing antacids while taking this medication. These antacids can bind with nitrofurantoin, preventing its full absorption into your system.
For the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.
Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may allow bacteria to continue to grow, which may result in a return of the infection.
Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.
Which Drugs Interact With Nitrofurantoin
- High doses of probenecid or sulfinpyrazone can partially block the kidneys’ elimination of nitrofurantoin. This can increase the blood concentrations of nitrofurantoin and the risk of toxicity from nitrofurantoin.
- Concomitant administration of a magnesium trisilicate antacid may decrease the absorption of nitrofurantoin, reducing the effectiveness of nitrofurantoin.
- Nitrofurantoin may reduce the activity of live tuberculosisvaccine and live typhoid vaccine. In laboratory tests, nitrofurantoin reduced the effect of quinolone antibiotics, for example, norfloxacin . Therefore, nitrofurantoin should not be combined with quinolone antibiotics.
Don’t Miss: Bulking Agents For Urinary Incontinence
Nitrofurantoin Is As Effective As Other Long
The antibiotic nitrofurantoin works as well as other long-term antibiotics for preventing recurrent urinary tract infections in women. However gastrointestinal side effects were more common in people on nitrofurantoin. The potential for inducing less antibiotic resistance compared to trimethoprim is a potential advantage of nitrofurantoin but this wasnt a specified outcome for this review.
This review of 12 trials, with 1,063 women, compared nitrofurantoin with other antibiotics such as trimethoprim, or oestrogen cream. It was hoped that this older antibiotic could be a first-line strategy when long-term use is indicated for people with recurrent urinary tract infections.
Trimethoprim is likely to remain the drug of choice, reserving nitrofurantoin for cases where it is ineffective or not tolerated.
Some caution should be used in the interpretation of the results as only one of the trials was done in the past ten years, so new data in this area would be useful.
Also Check: Acupuncture Points For Urinary Incontinence
How To Take Macrobid
Use Macrobid exactly as directed on the label, or as prescribed by your doctor. Do not use in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.
Take nitrofurantoin with food, even if you take it at bedtime.
Shake the oral suspension before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device .
You may need to keep taking nitrofurantoin for up to 7 days after lab tests show that the infection has cleared. Follow your doctors instructions.
Use this medicine for the full prescribed length of time, even if your symptoms quickly improve. Skipping doses can increase your risk of infection that is resistant to medication. Nitrofurantoin will not treat a viral infection such as the flu or a common cold.
This medicine can affect the results of certain medical tests. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using nitrofurantoin.
If you use this medicine long-term, you may need frequent medical tests.
Store at room temperature away from moisture, heat, and light. Do not freeze the liquid medicine, and keep the bottle tightly closed when not in use. Throw away any nitrofurantoin liquid that has not been used within 30 days.
Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.
Also Check: Tea Tree Oil Urinary Tract Infection
Skip Citrusy Or Caffeinated Sodas Irritate The Bladder
Sodas in general have been found to irritate the bladder in people with chronic bladder inflammation, and they could aggravate symptoms in someone with a bladder infection. Citrus-flavored sodas and caffeinated sodas are the culprits when it comes to worsening urinary tract infection symptoms. So, when you’re struggling to overcome a bladder infection, stick to water or cranberry juice as your drink of choice.
How Often Are Utis Resistant
The majority of urinary tract infections are now resistant to one or more antibiotics. The drug ampicillin, once a common treatment, has been largely abandoned because most U.T.I.s are now resistant to it.
The most important question isnt whether an infection is resistant to any drug, but whether it is resistant to the drugs that are commonly used to treat your particular infection.
When experts in the field think about resistant U.T.I.s, they say that resistance depends on the bug and the drug. What that means is that they try to figure out which particular germs are resistant to specific medications.
Recommended Reading: How To Avoid Urinary Incontinence
What Are Reasons I Shouldnt Take Nitrofurantoin
Certain conditions increase your risk of developing complications from nitrofurantoin. Nitrofurantoin should not be used if you:
- Are more than 38 weeks pregnant
- Have an allergy to nitrofurantoin
- Have experienced liver problems from nitrofurantoin in the past
- Have significant kidney problems or trouble passing urine
- Are breastfeeding
Nitrofurantoin should not be used in infants less than 1-month-old as it can cause serious blood problems.
Getting The Most From Your Treatment
- Most people improve within a few days of starting treatment. If your symptoms do not improve despite taking nitrofurantoin, go back to see your doctor, as you may need an alternative antibiotic. This is because some bacteria are resistant to some types of antibiotics.
- Nitrofurantoin can turn your urine a yellow/brown colour. This is harmless.
- If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with nitrofurantoin. Some antacids can interfere with nitrofurantoin and stop it from working properly.
- If you are taking the contraceptive ‘pill’ at the same time as this antibiotic, the effectiveness of the ‘pill’ can be reduced if you have a bout of sickness or diarrhoea which lasts for more than 24 hours. If this should happen, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about what additional contraceptive precautions to use over the following few days. There is no need to use additional precautions for any bouts of sickness or diarrhoea which last for less than 24 hours.
- If you are due to have any medical or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking nitrofurantoin. This is because it can affect the results of some diagnostic tests.
- Nitrofurantoin can stop the oral typhoid vaccine from working. If you are due to have any vaccinations while you are taking nitrofurantoin, please make sure the person treating you knows that you are taking it.
Don’t Miss: Royal Canin Urinary So Wet Food
What Did It Find
- The analysis of 12 trials found no difference in successful cure of urinary tract infections in adult women with recurrent urinary tract infections between nitrofurantoin and any of the other treatments when results were combined . The alternative antibiotics were norfloxacin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, methamine hippurate and cefaclor, and the hormonal treatment estriol, an oestrogen vaginal cream.
- There was no significant difference between treatments when trials were grouped according to the comparison treatment, for example when the three studies that compared nitrofurantoin with trimethoprim were analysed.
- There was an increased risk of having an adverse event, mainly involving gastrointestinal symptoms, when being treated with nitrofurantoin compared to other treatment .
- There were not enough participants to accurately assess the likelihood of more severe side effects and insufficient data to report differences between relapse versus reinfection in the comparison groups.
What Are Side Effects Of Other Antibiotics
Side effects of other antibiotics vary with each type of drug. A few of the most common side effects may include:
Information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible side effects, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. Check with your doctor or pharmacist to make sure these drugs do not cause any harm when you take them along with other medicines. Never stop taking your medication and never change your dose or frequency without consulting your doctor.
Also Check: How Does Urinary Tract Infection Affect The Body
How Long Will I Take It For
If youre taking nitrofurantoin to:
- treat a urinary tract infection, then you usually need to take it for 3 to 7 days
- stop urinary tract infections coming back, you may need to take it for several months
- prevent an infection before having surgery, youll usually need take it on the day of the operation and for the next 3 days
Dosage For Prevention Of Urinary Tract Infections
Adult dosage
- Macrodantin and its generic form: 50100 mg at bedtime.
- Macrobid and its generic form: These drugs are not used for the prevention of urinary tract infections.
Child dosage
- Macrodantin and its generic form: 1 mg/kg of body weight once per day or divided into two doses per day.
- Macrobid and its generic form: These drugs are not used for the prevention of urinary tract infection.
Child dosage
- Macrodantin and its generic form: These drugs should not be used in children younger than 1 month.
- Macrobid and its generic form: These drugs are not used for the prevention of urinary tract infections.
Senior dosage
The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different treatment schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs affect each person differently, we cannot guarantee that this list includes all possible dosages. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your doctor or pharmacist about dosages that are right for you.
This drug comes with serious risks if you dont take it as prescribed.
Read Also: Can A Urinary Tract Infection Cause Diarrhea
Antibiotics Used For Complicated Utis
Before getting into how to best treat a complicated UTI, its important to understand which UTIs are considered complicated. Here are some guidelines:
- Urinary tract abnormalities are present
- The patient is a child
- A comorbidity is present that increases risk of infection or treatment resistance, such as poorly controlled diabetes
- Youre a man, since most UTIs in men are considered complicated
Kidney infections are often treated as a complicated UTI as well, notes the Merck Manual.
If a UTI is complicated, a different course of antibiotics may be required. And the initial dose of antibiotics may be started intravenously in the hospital. After that, antibiotics are given orally at home. In addition, follow-up urine cultures are generally recommended within 10 to 14 days after treatment. Not all of the antibiotics approved for uncomplicated UTIs are appropriate for the complicated version. Some that are considered appropriate, include:
Drugs You Should Not Use With Nitrofurantoin
Do not take these drugs with nitrofurantoin. Examples of these drugs include:
- Antacids such as Gaviscon that contain magnesium trisilicate: These drugs can make nitrofurantoin less effective.
- Probenecid and sulfinpyrazone: Taking these drugs while youre taking nitrofurantoin may cause harmful levels of nitrofurantoin to build up in your blood. High levels of this drug in your body raise your risk of side effects, while reduced levels in your urine can make the drug less effective.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.
Nitrofurantoin oral capsule comes with several warnings.
Read Also: Best Food For Feline Urinary Tract Health
Also Check: How To Treat Urinary Urgency
Are There Any Complications From A Kidney Infection
Most people who develop a kidney infection make a full recovery if treatment is given promptly. Possible complications which occur in a small number of cases include:
- Sometimes germs from a kidney infection get into the bloodstream, particularly if treatment is delayed. This may cause blood poisoning . This can be serious or even life-threatening.
- In pregnant women who develop pyelonephritis occasionally, it may result in the baby being born early or with a lower birth weight.
- A kidney abscess can develop. This is a collection of pus that forms within the kidney.
- The infection can sometimes cause some permanent damage to kidney tissues.
These complications are uncommon but may be more likely if:
- You become severely ill with the kidney infection.
- You have kidney stones.
- Your immune system is suppressed for example, if you have cancer, if you are taking medication such as steroids or chemotherapy, or if you have AIDS.
- You have poorly controlled diabetes.
- You are an older person .
- You are pregnant.
Emphysematous pyelonephritis is also a rare complication. In this condition the kidney tissues are rapidly destroyed by the infection and the bacteria can release toxic gases which can build up in the kidneys. You become very unwell if you develop this complication. This complication seems mostly to affect people who have poorly controlled diabetes.
Also Check: Constipation And Kidney Stones
Dosage For Treatment Of Urinary Tract Infections
Adult dosage
- Macrodantin and its generic form: 50100 mg four times per day. Length of treatment varies.
- Macrobid and its generic forms: 100 mg every 12 hours for 7 days.
Child dosage
- Macrodantin and its generic form: 57 mg/kg of body weight per day in four divided doses. Length of treatment may vary.
- Macrobid and its generic form: 100 mg every 12 hours for 7 days.
Child dosage
- Macrodantin and its generic form: 57 mg/kg of body weight per day in four divided doses. Length of treatment may vary.
- Macrobid and its generic form: These drugs have not been studied in children younger than 12 years. They should not be used in this age group.
Child dosage
- Macrodantin and its generic form: These drugs should not be used in children younger than 1 month.
- Macrobid and its generic form: These drugs have not been studied in children younger than 12 years. They should not be used in this age group.
Senior dosage
The kidneys of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for a longer time. This raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dosage or a different treatment schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.
Recommended Reading: How Does One Get A Urinary Tract Infection
Can Other Medicines Be Given At The Same Time As Nitrofurantoin
- You can give your child medicines that contain paracetamol or ibuprofen, unless your doctor has told you not to.
- Nitrofurantoin should not be taken with some medicines. Tell your doctor or pharmacist about any other medicines your child is taking before giving Nitrofurantoin.
- Check with your doctor or pharmacist before giving any other medicines to your child. This includes herbal and complementary medicines.
You May Like: Why Do Opiates Cause Urinary Retention