Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin) Drug Information: Description, User Reviews, Drug Side Effects, Interactions

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May 26, 2012

Macrobid

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI In Adults) »

Urinary tract infection (UTI) facts

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the urethra, bladder, ureters, or the kidneys, which comprise the urinary tract.
E. coli bacteria cause the majority of UTIs, but many other bacteria, fungi, and parasites may also cause UTIs.
Females have a higher risk for UTIs than most males, probably because of their anatomy; other risk factors for UTIs include any condition that may impede urine flow (e.g., enlarged prostate, congenital urinary tract abnormalities, and inflammation). Patients with catheters or those who undergo urinary surgery and men with enlarged prostates are at higher risk for UTIs.
Symptoms and signs of UTI vary somewhat depending on sex, age, and the area of the urinary tract that is infected; some unique symptoms develop depending on the infecting agent.
UTIs are diagnosed usually by isolating and identifying the urinary pathogen from the patient; there a...

Read the Urinary Tract Infection (UTI In Adults) article »

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Macrobid®
(nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals) Capsules

To reduce the development of drug-resistant bacteria and maintain the effectiveness of Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) and other antibacterial drugs, Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) should be used only to treat or prevent infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by bacteria.

DRUG DESCRIPTION

Nitrofurantoin is an antibacterial agent specific for urinary tract infections. The Macrobid® brand of nitrofurantoin is a hard gelatin capsule shell containing the equivalent of 100 mg of nitrofurantoin in the form of 25 mg of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals and 75 mg of nitrofurantoin monohydrate.

The chemical name of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals is 1-[[[5-nitro-2-furanyl]methylene]amino]-2,4-imidazolidinedione. The chemical structure is the following:

Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystals Structural Formula Illustration

Molecular Weight: 238.16

The chemical name of nitrofurantoin monohydrate is 1-[[[5-nitro-2-furanyl]methylene]amino]-2,4-imidazolidinedione monohydrate. The chemical structure is the following:

Nitrofurantoin Monohydrate Structural Formula Illustration

Molecular Weight: 256.17

Inactive Ingredients: Each capsule contains carbomer 934P, corn starch, compressible sugar, D&C Yellow No. 10, edible gray ink, FD&C Blue No. 1, FD&C Red No. 40, gelatin, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, talc, and titanium dioxide.

What are the possible side effects of nitrofurantoin (Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
shortness of breath, running out of breath easily;
fever, chills, cough, chest pain;
nausea, stomach pain, low fever, loss of appetite, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the...

Read All Potential Side Effects and See Pictures of Macrobid »

What are the precautions when taking nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)?

Before taking nitrofurantoin, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies. This product may contain inactive ingredients, which can cause allergic reactions or other problems. Talk to your pharmacist for more details.

This medication should not be used if you have certain medical conditions. Before using this medicine, consult your doctor or pharmacist if you have: kidney disease (e.g., little or no urine output), a certain genetic condition (G-6-PD deficiency), a history of liver problems due to nitrofurantoin use in the past.

Before using this medication, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of: liver disease, lung disease, numbness/tingling of the arms/legs, vitamin B deficiency, mineral...

Read All Potential Precautions of Macrobid »

Last reviewed on RxList: 12/2/2010
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.