Description and Brand Names
US Brand Name
- Furadantin
- Macrodantin
Canadian Brand Name
- Novo-Furan Suspension
Descriptions
Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract infections. This medicine is an antibiotic. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Suspension
- Capsule
Description and Brand Names
US Brand Name
- Furadantin
- Macrodantin
Canadian Brand Name
- Novo-Furan Suspension
Descriptions
Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract infections. This medicine is an antibiotic. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Suspension
- Capsule
Precautions
It is very important that your doctor check your or your child’s progress while you are using this medicine. This will allow your doctor to see if the medicine is working properly and to decide if you should continue to use it. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
If your or your child’s symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.
Using this medicine can harm your unborn baby. Tell your doctor right away if you think you have become pregnant.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Call your doctor right away if you or your child have a rash, itching, hives, hoarseness, trouble breathing or swallowing, or any swelling of your hands, face, mouth, or throat after you take this medicine.
This medicine may cause lung problems (eg, pneumonitis, pulmonary fibrosis). Check with your doctor right away if you have chest pain, chills, cough, fever, general feeling of discomfort or illness, thickening of bronchial secretions, or trouble breathing.
Diabetic patients that use urine sugar tests should be careful when using this medicine. Nitrofurantoin may cause false test results with some urine sugar tests. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
Check with your doctor right away if you or your child have pain or tenderness in the upper stomach, pale stools, dark urine, loss of appetite, nausea, unusual tiredness or weakness, or yellow eyes or skin. These could be symptoms of a serious liver problem.
Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.
This medicine may cause hemolytic anemia. Check with your doctor right away if you have back, leg, or stomach pain, bleeding gums, chills, dark urine, fatigue, fever, general body swelling, headache, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, nosebleeds, pale skin, sore throat, trouble breathing, or yellowing of the eyes or skin.
Nitrofurantoin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. It may occur 2 months or more after you or your child stop taking this medicine. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.
This medicine may cause the urine to become a rust-yellow to brown color. This side effect does not require medical attention.
Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests (eg, urine glucose tests) may be affected by this medicine.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine 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:
More common
- Changes in facial skin color
- chest pain
- chills
- cough
- fever
- general feeling of discomfort or illness
- hives, itching, skin rash
- hoarseness
- joint or muscle pain
- sudden trouble swallowing or breathing
- swelling of the face, mouth, hands, or feet
- trouble breathing
Less common
- Black, tarry stools
- blood in the urine or stools
- burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
- dizziness
- drowsiness
- headache
- pinpoint red spots on the skin
- sore throat
- unsteadiness or awkwardness
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet
Rare
- Blindness
- blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin
- blue-yellow color blindness
- bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds
- blurred vision or loss of vision, with or without eye pain
- bulging soft spot on the head of an infant
- change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
- chest tightness
- confusion
- cracks in the skin
- dark urine
- decreased vision
- diarrhea
- diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
- eye pain
- general tiredness and weakness
- light-colored stools
- loss of appetite
- loss of heat from the body
- mental depression
- mood or mental changes
- nausea or vomiting
- pale skin
- pale stools
- red skin lesions, often with a purple center
- red, irritated eyes
- red, swollen skin
- red, thickened, or scaly skin
- skin rash
- sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
- stomach pain
- swollen or painful glands
- tenderness of salivary glands
- unpleasant breath odor
- upper right abdominal pain
- visual changes
- vomiting of blood
- yellow eyes or skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Diarrhea
- gas
Incidence not known
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
- lack or loss of strength
- loss of hair, temporary
- sensation of spinning
- uncontrolled eye movements
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
