Table of contents:
- What Drug Nitrofurantoin?
- What is Nitrofurantoin for?
- How to use Nitrofurantoin?
- How is Nitrofurantoin stored?
- Nitrofurantoin dosage
- What is the Nitrofurantoin dosage for adults?
- What is the dosage of Nitrofurantoin for children?
- In what dosage is Nitrofurantoin available?
- Nitrofurantoin side effects
- What side effects can be experienced due to Nitrofurantoin?
- Nitrofurantoin Drug Warnings and Cautions
- What should be known before using Nitrofurantoin?
- Is Nitrofurantoin safe for pregnant and lactating women?
- Nitrofurantoin Drug Interactions
- What medicines may interact with Nitrofurantoin?
- Can food or alcohol interact with Nitrofurantoin?
- What health conditions may interact with Nitrofurantoin?
- Nitrofurantoin overdose
- What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
- What should I do if I miss a dose?
What Drug Nitrofurantoin?
What is Nitrofurantoin for?
Nitrofurantion is a drug used to treat or prevent certain urinary tract infections.
Nitrofurantion is an antibiotic that works by stopping bacterial growth. This medicine will not work for viral infections (eg, cold, flu). The unnecessary or excessive use of any antibiotics can cause their effectiveness to decrease.
Nitrofurantoin should not be used in children younger than one month because of the risk of developing certain blood problems (hemolytic anemia).
How to use Nitrofurantoin?
Take this medication with food or milk, as directed by your doctor. This medication is usually used four times a day to treat infections or once at bedtime every day to prevent infection. Swallow the whole drug. Avoid using antacids containing magnesium tricilicate while using this medicine. These antacids can bind to nitrofurantoin and prevent its full absorption.
The dosage and duration of treatment are based on your medical condition and response to treatment. For children, dosage is also based on body weight.
Antibiotics work best when the amount of medicine in your body is at a constant level. Therefore, take this medicine regularly.
When using this medication to prevent infection, use it exactly as directed by your doctor. Do not skip doses or stop taking them without your doctor's approval. Tell your doctor if you notice any signs of a new urinary tract infection (for example, painful urination).
If you are using this medication to treat an infection, continue to take this medication until the prescribed amount is used up, even if symptoms have disappeared after a few days. Stopping treatment too early allows the bacteria to continue growing, which can result in the infection coming back. Tell your doctor if your condition does not improve or gets worse.
Follow the rules given by your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment. If you have any questions, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
How is Nitrofurantoin stored?
This medication is best stored at room temperature, away from direct light and damp places. Don't keep it in the bathroom. Don't freeze it. Other brands of this drug may have different storage rules. Observe the storage instructions on the product package or ask your pharmacist. Keep all medicines away from children and pets.
Do not flush medicines down the toilet or down the drain unless instructed to do so. Discard this product when it has expired or when it is no longer needed. Consult your pharmacist or local waste disposal company about how to safely dispose of your product.
Nitrofurantoin dosage
The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting treatment.
What is the Nitrofurantoin dosage for adults?
Usual Adult Dose for Cystitis
Regular dose: 50 to 100 mg orally 4 times a day for 1 week or at least 3 days after the onset of urine sterility.
Dual dose: 100 mg orally twice a day for 7 days.
Usual Adult Dose for Prophylactic Cystitis
Regular dose: 50 to 100 mg orally once a day at bedtime.
What is the dosage of Nitrofurantoin for children?
Usual children's dosage for cystitis
Regular dosage:
1 month or older: 5-7 mg / kg / day (up to 400 mg / day) orally in 4 divided doses.
Double dose:
Over 12 years of age: 100 mg orally twice a day for 7 days.
Usual children's dosage for prophylactic cystitis
Regular dosage:
1 month or older: 1-2 mg / kg / day (up to 100 mg / day) orally in 1 to 2 divided doses.
In what dosage is Nitrofurantoin available?
Capsules, Oral: 25 mg, 75 mg.
Nitrofurantoin side effects
What side effects can be experienced due to Nitrofurantoin?
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: nausea, vomiting, sweating, hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat, or feel like you might pass out.
Stop using Nitrofurantoin and call your doctor if you have any of the following serious side effects:
- diarrhea that is watery or bloody
- shortness of breath due to running out of breath easily
- sudden chest pain or discomfort, wheezing, dry cough or phlegm
- fever, chills, body aches, unexplained weight loss
- peripheral neuropathy. Numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet
- nausea, upper stomach pain, hives, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes);
- pale skin, easy bruising, confusion or weakness
- uneven skin tone, red spots, or severe blistering, peeling, and a red skin rash
- severe headache, ringing in your ears, dizziness, vision problems, and pain behind your eyes
Less serious side effects may include:
- stomach pain, vomiting
- mild diarrhea
- urine is cloudy or brown in color
- vaginal itching or discharge
Not everyone experiences this side effect. There may be some side effects not listed above. If you have concerns about certain side effects, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Nitrofurantoin Drug Warnings and Cautions
What should be known before using Nitrofurantoin?
Before using Nitrofurantoin,
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to nitrofurantoin, any other medications, or any of the ingredients in nitrofurantoin capsules or syrup. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for a list of the ingredients that make up these drugs
- tell your doctor and pharmacist about the prescription and nonprescription drugs, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are using or will be using. Be sure to mention the following: other anticoagulants such as antacids, antibiotics, benztropine (Cogentin), diphenhydramine (Benadryl), probenecid (Benemid), and trihexyphenidyl (Artane). Your doctor may need to change the dose of your medication or monitor you carefully for side effects
- tell your doctor if you have anemia, kidney disease, lung disease, nerve damage, or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency (hereditary blood disease)
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breastfeeding. If you become pregnant while using nitrofurantoin, call your doctor. Nitrofurantoin should not be used by women in the last month of pregnancy
- talk to your doctor about safe use of this medicine if you are 65 years of age or older. Usually older adults should not use nitrofurantoin because it is not as safe as other medicines that can be used to treat the same condition.
- You should know that this drug may make you drowsy. Do not drive a car or operate machinery until you know how this drug reacts to you
- ask your doctor about the safe use of alcohol while you are using this medication. Alcohol can make the side effects of nitrofurantoin worse
- Avoid unnecessary or prolonged exposure to sunlight and wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Nitrofurantoin can make your skin sensitive to sunlight
Is Nitrofurantoin safe for pregnant and lactating women?
There are no adequate studies regarding the risks of using this drug in pregnant or breastfeeding women. Always consult your doctor to weigh the potential benefits and risks before using this medication. This drug is included in the risk of pregnancy category B according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The following references the pregnancy risk categories according to the FDA:
- A = No risk,
- B = not at risk in several studies,
- C = May be risky,
- D = There is positive evidence of risk,
- X = Contraindicated,
- N = Unknown
Nitrofurantoin passes into breast milk and can be harmful to a nursing baby. You should not breastfeed while you are using this medicine.
Nitrofurantoin Drug Interactions
What medicines may interact with Nitrofurantoin?
Drug interactions can change the performance of your medications or increase the risk of serious side effects. Not all possible drug interactions are listed in this document. Keep a list of all the products you use (including prescription / non-prescription drugs and herbal products) and consult your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start, stop, or change the dose of any medication without your doctor's approval
Can food or alcohol interact with Nitrofurantoin?
Certain drugs should not be used with meals or when eating certain foods because drug interactions can occur. Consuming alcohol or tobacco with certain drugs can also cause interactions to occur. Discuss your use of drugs with food, alcohol, or tobacco with your health care provider.
What health conditions may interact with Nitrofurantoin?
The presence of other health problems in your body may affect the use of this drug. Tell your doctor if you have other health problems, such as:
- anemia
- diabetes mellitus
- mineral imbalance in the blood
- B vitamin deficiency. May increase the chance of side effects
- diarrhea
- liver disease
- lung disease. Use with care. It might make things worse
- glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (an enzyme problem in red blood cells). It may cause hemolytic anemia (destroyed red blood cells) in patients with this condition
- kidney disease (not infection). Use with care. The effect can be increased due to the slow cleansing of the drug from the body
- severe kidney disease
- liver disease and there is a history with this medicine
- problems urinating (for example, unable to urinate or decreased urine output). Should not be used in patients with this condition
Nitrofurantoin overdose
What should I do in an emergency or overdose?
In case of an emergency or overdose, contact the local emergency services provider (112) or immediately to the nearest hospital emergency department.
What should I do if I miss a dose?
If you forget a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, when it is nearing the time of the next dose, skip the missed dose and return to the usual dosing schedule. Don't double the dose.
