MACROBID - Nitrofurantoin

Macrobid Used For

Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin) is an antibiotic that is prescribed for the treatment of urinary tract infections.

Directions for Macrobid Antibiotic

The recommended dose of Macrobid for prevention of urinary tract infection in adults and adolescents is 50 to 100 mg once a day at bedtime. Dose for children 1 month of age and older must be determined by your doctor based on body weight. The recommended dose for treatment of urinary tract infection in adults and adolescents is 50 to 100 mg every 6 hours. For children of 1 month or above ages, dose is based on body weight and should be determined by the doctor. Macrobid is not recommended for use in children up to 1 month of age.

How Macrobid Antibiotic works

Macrobid should be taken with food or milk to decrease stomach upset and to increase the absorption of the drug in the stomach. Macrobid should not be taken by pregnant women who are at term (38-42 weeks gestation), during labor and delivery, or when the onset of labor is imminent as it may interfere with the pregnancy. At the same time, lactating mothers should also not take Macrobid as it passes into break milk and may harm a nursing infant. It is advisable to first talk to your doctor before starting on this medication. Infants below 1 month of age are incapable of eliminating this drug for their bodies properly which could result in serious side effects. Hence this drug is not recommended for them. Medications and antacids containing magnesium may decrease the amount of Macrobid that is absorbed into the body and so should be avoided during a period of 2 hours before and after taking a dose of Macrobid.

Side effects of Macrobid Antibiotic

As with all other medications, Macrobid also has its own side effects which may or may not include any or all of the following: shortness of breath, chest pain, respiratory problems, stomach pain, yellowing of the skin or eyes, unusual fatigue or weakness, numbness, tingling, fever or chills, visual changes or eye pain, diarrhea, rust-colored or brownish urine, headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, and/or incorrect results with some urine sugar tests. It is advisable to seek immediate medical help if any of the above side effects become aggravated or cause undue discomfort.

Other Macrobid Antibiotic Information

Do not crush, chew, or break the sustained release forms of Nitrofurantoin. Swallow them whole. They are specially formulated to slowly release the medication in the body.