Brand
name : Macrodantin
Pronounced: Mack-row-DAN-tin
Generic name: Nitrofurantoin
Other brand name: Macrobid
Why is Macrodantin prescribed?
Nitrofurantoin, an antibacterial drug, is prescribed for the treatment
of urinary tract infections caused by certain strains of bacteria.
Most important fact about Macrodantin
Breathing disorders have occurred in people taking nitrofurantoin.
The drug can cause inflammation of the lungs marked by coughing, difficulty
breathing, and wheezing. It has also been known to cause pulmonary
fibrosis (an abnormal increase in fibrous tissue of the lungs). This
condition can develop gradually without symptoms and can be fatal.
An allergic reaction to Macrodantin is also possible and may occur
without warning. Symptoms include a feeling of ill health and a persistent
cough. However, all these reactions occur rarely and generally in those
receiving nitrofurantoin therapy for 6 months or longer.
Sudden and severe lung reactions are characterized by fever, chills,
cough, chest pain, and difficulty breathing. These acute reactions
usually occur within the first week of treatment and subside when therapy
with nitrofurantoin is stopped.
Your doctor should monitor your condition closely, especially if you
are receiving long-term treatment with Macrodantin.
How should you take Macrodantin?
To improve absorption of the drug, nitrofurantoin should be taken
with food.
Your doctor will only prescribe Macrodantin to treat a bacterial infection.
Macrodantin will not cure a viral infection such as the common cold.
It's important to take all of your medication as instructed by your
doctor, even if you're feeling better in a few days. Skipping doses
or not finishing the complete dosage of Macrodantin may decrease the
drug's effectiveness and increase the chances of bacterial resistance
to Macrodantin and similar antibiotics.
This medication works best if your urine is acidic. Ask your doctor
whether you should be taking special measures to assure its acidity.
Nitrofurantoin may turn the urine brown.
If you miss a dose...
Take the forgotten dose as soon as you remember, then space out the
rest of the day's doses at equal intervals.
Storage instructions...
Store at room temperature. Protect from light and keep the container
tightly closed.
Macrodantin side effects
Side effects cannot be anticipated. If any develop or change in intensity,
inform your doctor as soon as possible. Only your doctor can determine
if it is safe for you to continue taking nitrofurantoin.
* Side effects may include:
Lack or loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting
Why should Macrodantin not be prescribed?
If you are sensitive to or have ever had an allergic reaction to nitrofurantoin
or other drugs of this type, such as Furoxone, you should not take
Macrodantin. Make sure that your doctor is aware of any drug reactions
that you have experienced.
Unless you are directed to do so by your doctor, do not take this
medication if you have poor kidneys, producing little or no urine.
Nitrofurantoin should not be taken at term of pregnancy or during
labor and delivery; it should not be given to infants under 1 month
of age.
Special warnings about Macrodantin
Tell your doctor if you have any unusual symptoms while you are taking
Macrodantin.
Fatalities have been reported from hepatitis (liver disease) during
treatment with nitrofurantoin. Long-lasting, active hepatitis can develop
without symptoms; therefore, if you are receiving long-term treatment
with Macrodantin, your doctor should test your liver function periodically.
Fatalities from peripheral neuropathy--a disease of the nerves--have
also been reported in people taking nitrofurantoin. Conditions such
as a kidney disorder, anemia, diabetes mellitus, a debilitating disease,
or a vitamin B deficiency make peripheral neuropathy more likely. If
you develop symptoms such as muscle weakness or lack of sensation,
check with your doctor immediately.
If you experience diarrhea, tell your doctor. It may be a sign of
serious intestinal inflammation.
Hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells) has occurred in
people taking nitrofurantoin.
Continued or prolonged use of Macrodantin may result in growth of
bacteria that do not respond to it. This can cause a renewed infection,
so it is important that your doctor monitor your condition on a regular
basis.
Possible food and drug interactions when taking Macrodantin
If nitrofurantoin is taken with certain other drugs, the effects of
either could be increased, decreased, or altered. It is especially
important to check with your doctor before combining nitrofurantoin
with the following:
Magnesium trisilicate (Gaviscon Antacid Tablets)
The gout drugs probenecid and sulfinpyrazone and other drugs that increase
the amount of uric acid in the urine
Special information if you are pregnant or breastfeeding
The safety of nitrofurantoin during pregnancy and breastfeeding has
not been established. Nitrofurantoin does appear in human breast milk.
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding or you plan to become pregnant
or breastfeed, inform your doctor immediately.
Recommended dosage for Macrodantin
Treatment with nitrofurantoin should be continued for 1 week or for
at least 3 days after obtaining a urine specimen free of infection.
If your infection has not cleared up, your doctor should re-evaluate
your case.
ADULTS
Overdosage
An overdose of nitrofurantoin does not cause any specific symptoms
other than vomiting. If vomiting does not occur soon after an excessive
dose, it should be induced.
