Nitrofurantoin

What is this medication for?

Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic commonly used in the treatment of urinary tract infections caused by certain bacteria that are sensitive to this medication.

How should I take or use this medication?

• Take this medication with or after food.
• You should complete each course of antibiotics even if you feel better as incomplete treatment might cause the infection to return or cause antibiotic resistance. When antibiotic resistance happens, the antibiotic will not be able to control the growth or kill the bacteria anymore.

What should I do if I forget to take or use this medication?

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember if it is not close to the next dose. Otherwise, you should skip the missed dose and take the next dose at the usual time. Do not take two doses together to make up for the missed dose.

What precautions should I take when taking or using this medication?

Inform your healthcare professional if:

• You are allergic to this medication or any of the other ingredients of this medication
• You have Glucose-6-Phosphate-Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (a genetic disorder)
• You are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding
• You are taking any other medications, including supplements, traditional medications and herbal remedies
• You have liver or kidney problems

What are some common side effects of this medication? ​

The common side effects of this medication include:

• Nausea or vomiting, stomach pain
• Loss of appetite
• Constipation or diarrhoea

Nitrofurantoin may also cause your urine to turn dark yellow or brown in colour. This change in urine colour usually goes away after 1 to 2 days from the last dose of this medication.

Inform your healthcare professional if these side effects do not go away and become bothersome to you.

What are some rare but serious side-effects that I need to seek medical advice immediately? 

The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following: 

• Swollen face/eyes/lips/tongue
• Difficulty breathing
• Itchy skin rashes over your whole body

Other rare but serious side effects include:

• Difficulty breathing, fever, chills, chest pain and cough
• Serious skin rash that looks red, swollen, blistered or peeling
• Very sensitive to touch, sharp pain, numbness or having a tingling feeling in your feet or hands
• Signs of liver injury, which may include dark-coloured urine, light-coloured stools, severe nausea and vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pain or yellowing of skin or eyes.

If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medication and see your healthcare professional immediately.

What food or medication should I avoid when I take or use this medication?

This medication can affect the levels of other medications in your body. Do let your doctor know if you are taking other medications, including over-the-counter medications, health supplements and herbal products, before starting on this antibiotic.

Inform your doctor if you are taking magnesium trisilicate or other magnesium-containing antacids, which are medications used for gastric discomfort.

How should I store this medication?

Store in a cool and dry place, away from direct sunlight. Keep this medication away from children.

How do I throw away this medication safely? ​

Pack the medication into a bag and bring it back to the pharmacy where you received the medication from.