Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection User Reviews (Page 4)

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2015

Nitrofurantoin "This is the second time I have been prescribed this drug, and it has done nothing but prolong my pain. There has to be something better than this for UTIs, it was not a shock for me to see all of the low reviews on it."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, achy pain in back, fatigue, chills, sweating, headache, cough. I just finished my last dose of Macrobid, and I believe it cleared up my UTI, but these side effects are not worth it. The abdominal pain I have been having is so bad that it has woken me up from my sleep three nights in a row. I have the chills, and because of the abdominal pain, it is hard to eat. I also have terrible headaches that worsen with certain movements or lights. This pill is awful, and I wish I would've known about these symptoms before starting."

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2019

"Absolutely had no issues taking this antibiotic. I think it depends on the person, and we are all individuals who all react differently to different things. So many of these reviews have been negative, so I hope I can add some positivity to help those people who have been prescribed it the opportunity to try it themselves."

• Ang...
• June 9, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "Works great, little side effects. I will get a little stomach upset if I don't take it with food, which you should do. I am not sure why the reviews are bad unless you are allergic. My UTI symptoms start to disappear with one pill. Fast relief."

• Kik...
• August 16, 2020

Nitrofurantoin "I read so many reviews before taking Macrobid because that’s just what I do before any medication. I was terrified to take this med after reading, so I clinched after every pill. I was given 100 mg to be taken twice daily for 7 days, but on the 4th day, I felt beating on my kidneys, almost like someone had a drum set in there. Since I know that 4 days of treatment is what some people are actually prescribed, I instantly stopped taking them. The worst side effect I had was headaches and fatigue, and the kidney thing."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "Lower back pain gone after 1st day of this medicine. Nausea is horrible - taking Phenergan to offset nausea. I'm lethargic and resting. This stuff must be strong - but I'd take bed rest and nausea over a knife in my back anyway! I'm on 2X daily with food for 5 days. I'm on day 3."

• Ull...
• February 7, 2020

"I got a prescription of nitrofurantoin in November 2019 for a simple UTI. Had no other symptom other than burning pee and soreness in the right kidney. One hour after I took the first pill, I became so ill that I could not move. I ended up in bed with a severe headache, shivering with a high fever, and my feet felt like they were burning up. My daughter wanted to take me to the emergency, but I was too sick to move. Also, I could hardly breathe. It was getting worse with each dose. Total loss of appetite... I lost 7 lbs. When I stopped taking the drug after four days, I improved slightly and was able to get to the hospital. There, the doctor explained that I had a very rare reaction to a common drug and that I was lucky that I discontinued taking it when I did. He said that it had not permanently damaged my lungs. I expected to gradually get better, but my feet are still burning and now they are also numb and tingling. Still hard to breathe. I am actually a mess ever since this ordeal."

• Tan...
• August 24, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I used to get bladder infections all the time, but this time was by far the worst I've ever experienced. I managed to get myself into a walk-in, and they prescribed me Macrobid. The first pill I took, along with cranberry juice, made me feel 80% better. By the third day taking Macrobid, I felt 100% better. Definitely take it with a meal, though, I took it with something small because I was in a rush, and I felt very weak and nauseous."

• Bec...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I've taken Macrobid in the past, but I never noticed any side effects. This time, I felt very ill about two days into a seven-day regimen. I had no idea what was wrong with me. My tongue felt numb, I got very lightheaded, and I felt like my life was draining out of me. I thought maybe I was developing a kidney infection, but I only had a low-grade fever. I called my doctor, but she told me to only come in if my fever went over 100.5. I decided to see if Macrobid could have caused these symptoms, and I stumbled across these reviews. Wow! What an eye-opener! I'm glad to know that it was the medicine and not some life-threatening illness. I'm glad the UTI is better, but it was scary when I thought I was about to die, lol."

• Jai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "Macrobid definitely works. I had a terrible bladder infection that I noticed began to clear up within a few days of taking this antibiotic. In my personal experience, though, I had terrible side effects: nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, and hot and cold sweats. Although the week felt so hard to get through, please don’t be scared to try the medication. If you’re worried about side effects, make sure you are staying very hydrated and taking it with food. I would recommend having some Gravol ready as well, just in case. Good luck."

• Jul...
• July 18, 2015

Nitrofurantoin "After taking 2 pills, I suddenly experienced chills and a fever of 101, and a severe throbbing headache. I called the doctor, spoke to the nurse, she advised continuing taking it. My gut told me not to. Later in the evening, I developed tingly fingers. I called my doctor, and he said to stop taking it, I may be having a serum reaction. It's been over 24 hours since I have taken Macrobid, and I still have a terrible throbbing headache, upper back ache, and a low-grade fever. This medication is poison!!! I can't believe it hasn't been banned! Will pass the word to everyone never to take this horrible drug!"

• LPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I cannot overstate how much I despise this medication. It may be effective in getting rid of bladder infections, but I never got that far. I used this medication twice (I gave it a second go, thinking my previous experience might've been an anomaly). Wrong. Within 2 days, each time, I had severe flu-like symptoms. They included: chills, mild fever, muscle aches all over, sharp pains in my stomach, severe nausea, vomiting, pounding headache, and extreme fatigue. I was told to take with a meal and drink lots of water. I felt like I was drinking 2 gallons a day...until I couldn't drink or eat anything without throwing it up. I stopped taking it the second time, after 3 pills, and it took 2 full days (and lots of Tylenol) for my symptoms to subside."

• als...
• November 11, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I have been prescribed Macrobid 3 times in the span of a year for UTIs. The first and second time I took Macrobid, I had no side effects at all. The third time I took it, I had a 101 fever within hours of the second dose, shallow breathing and cough, and diarrhea. My fingers were tingling too. I immediately stopped taking it, and it's been not quite 2 days yet, but the fever is going away. I'm going to have to look into natural remedies for UTIs now. I admit that I thought everyone else on here was 'crazy' writing about their side effects when I had none...until it happened to me. Just because you didn't have any the first time doesn't mean you won't next time, like I did."

• wan...
• August 31, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I usually get 2 UTIs per year. I started a week ago noticing a smell to my urine and some cramping, but no pain while urinating. A few days after that, the familiar sting appeared when I would stop the flow of urine. I knew right away what was happening, so I went straight to get a culture done, and they put me on Macrobid. I started it on a Saturday morning and was able to sleep peacefully and uninterrupted by that night. It is 5 days later, and I don't feel 100%, but close to it. I have not had any negative side effects from the drug at all. The first few days, my bowel movements looked a funny color, but so far nothing as terrible as others seem to have experienced. In the past, I have also taken Cipro, and that seems to work about the same."

• ljc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2013

Nitrofurantoin "I got a bladder infection and was prescribed Macrobid. Within a day of taking it, I was so sick. My body ached all over, and I had a difficult time walking. My eyesight and balance were way off. I thought I picked up a virus at the pharmacy or doctor's office. Then I started having a hard time breathing, and I was hallucinating. That went on for 3 1/2 days until the 6th day when I broke out into hives from my neck down. Then I realized it was a reaction to the antibiotic. I took a ride in an ambulance to the ER, and for the next 3 days, I had to have steroids shot into my butt, and I'm taking oral steroids also. It's been 8 days since the ER, and my lungs still hurt, and I can't take a deep breath even with the steroid inhaler. My eyes are shot also."

• Suf...
• April 23, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "I was prescribed this medication after having symptoms for 1-2 days. I am not a pill taker. I was in between insurance, so I had to go see a minute clinic provider. I was told the drug was highly effective and asked if I wanted to try it. I knew Cipro worked in the past, but the prescriber seemed adamant that this med would take care of my symptoms. To no avail, I've had a horrible smell in my urine, a bout of leakage, and now on day 4, my bladder and urinary tract burn and literally feel sore and swollen. This medicine is complete crap! I would have been healed by now had I been given the medication I requested in the first place! Now I am out 200 bucks and feel horrible and wondering if I have to go through this all over again in 2 days..."

• Anonymous
• August 1, 2010

Nitrofurantoin "My mother, grandmother, and I all get frequent urinary tract infections. I felt a terrible one coming and took Macrobid. The discomfort was almost immediately gone. I took it with 2 pieces of toast and had no side effects whatsoever, and I am the type of person that usually does."

• Jor...
• April 17, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "This medication was prescribed to me for a bladder infection. After I took the second dose, I woke in the middle of the night with the worst headache I've ever had in my whole life! I literally thought I might have to go in to see the doctor. After it subsided, I read all the reviews I could about this medication and its side effects. It seemed as though it was starting to work for my bladder infection, but the terrible side effects were not worth it. I called my doctor, and they prescribed Cipro instead. It took care of my infection with no side effects."

• Dei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 7, 2019

"The only side effect I was warned of was a possible discoloration of urine (brown). Several hours after the first dose, I had the worst headache and flu-like symptoms come on suddenly, but by day two, these had subsided. Partway through day 3, I began to feel intense amounts of energy and started feeling really anxious. This quickly developed into a host of symptoms by days 4 and 5: insomnia (waking at 1 am), pounding heart (20 bpm above avg resting), severe coughing episodes, and severe anxiety. Partway through day 5, I made the decision to stop the drug. I was particularly weirded out by the cardiovascular signs since this drug has the potential to cause pulmonary toxicity (potentially permanent damage too). I would consider it due diligence for a doctor to inform a patient about potential serious side effects. Of course, there are far too many idiosyncrasies about this drug for a doc to remember it all... e.g., contraindications include B vitamin deficiency (!?), anemia (!?)."

• Ron...
• December 11, 2020

"I was prescribed this for a UTI. Was prescribed it in a 100 mg capsule for 7 days. I have taken 9 so far and have experienced excellent results with no side effects. I am giving it a top rating of 10/10. I absolutely recommend this drug for a UTI."

• Iha...
• August 1, 2015

Nitrofurantoin "I have had on and off UTIs for about a year now. I am familiar with all kinds of drugs used to treat them. In my experience, Macrobid sucks as an antibiotic. This time I was prescribed it for 10 days. I'm on day 5 and still very uncomfortable. Not to mention I have now started to get a yeast infection from this antibiotic. There goes more money. I don't get any side effects on this at all aside from neon pee. My last experience with Macrobid was much the same. I don't want to be uncomfortable for weeks, this sucks. Never getting it again."

• Aut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2018

Nitrofurantoin "I normally get all the bad side effects you can get with medications, so I was very hesitant to try this. I have been on it for several days now, and the only side effect I have encountered is extreme drowsiness following each dose. I have been able to sleep when I get tired, so this has not been an issue. In fact, it’s been nice after suffering sleep deprivation with intense UTI symptoms. Within 6 hours after taking my first dose, I saw significant improvement in symptoms, and after 2 doses, felt pretty much back to normal. I have had many UTIs in the past, and this is the best med I’ve ever had. I’m truly in love!! If you haven’t tried it, I’d recommend at least giving it a chance!"

• Mom...
• October 20, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I had a pretty terrible UTI for 10 days and counting, the burning was only getting worse. The day I was going to take a trip to the clinic was the day that I woke up with a high fever and aches and pains in both sides of my body. I haven't experienced anything like it. My brother and sister decided to drive me to the emergency in case it was an issue with my kidney. I was prescribed Macrobid 100 mg, take 1 twice a day with a meal. Lots, lots of water. I have never felt so cold and delirious in my life. I have a pounding headache, my body is so achy (neck, chest, everything), my stomach has stabbing pains in all sides and upper abdomen. Most alarming, my breathing is feeling tight, like from when I used to have asthma. The burning is gone, though."

• Ewm...
• September 7, 2018

"Guys. Please don’t believe every single thing you read. If you’re like me and Google everything and worry yourself, I’m sure you’re scared to take this medicine like I was because of the reviews. I didn’t take this medicine until 4 days after I was supposed to, I was scared. Finally, I did because I needed my UTI to go away. When I took it, I had anxiety, and it caused me to feel faint, and my heart was beating fast. But that was my anxiety. I’m sure some of the people on here mistake their anxiety symptoms and think it was from the meds. I calmed down, I was fine. No side effects. I was scared for no reason. Other antibiotics made me feel so bad, and this didn’t. You have to relax and realize a lot of reviews will be bad because people don’t usually write reviews when everything goes fine. Take a probiotic, eat a good meal, and then take it, and you’ll be great. Some people might be allergic, or they didn’t eat, and a small percentage have a bad reaction, so they make a bad review. Trust me, you don’t want your infection to spread."

• Be ...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 24, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "After having six UTIs in about 5 months, my urogyn put me on 100 mg of Macrobid (one every night). After ten solid months of it, I spent 2-1/2 days in the hospital: thought I was having a heart attack! Turned out it was a pulmonary problem. Heavy pressure in the chest, shortness of breath, and tingling around the lips. Going back and researching Macrobid, I found out that indeed, long-term usage can cause pulmonary problems. I do think it works for short-term usage."