Macrobid for Bladder Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

• sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

"Please, please, please don't use this drug! Was put on it for a bladder infection that I didn't even know I had and have been nothing but miserable. When I first started taking it, 100 mg twice a day, I noticed that I had severe nausea, even though I took it with food. Then body pains and head pains came. My head would feel so heavy that I could barely hold it up, and my ears felt as if they were full of fluid. Then came the vision problems and trouble balancing and basically walking. I had to take time off work because I have been having a mental breakdown because of this drug. I am constantly crying or in full-on panic attacks. I feel like any day could be my last. Please don't take this pill, it's not worth it! I'm praying this won't be forever."

• Fre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2017

"I was prescribed Macrobid for a UTI. Within 12 hours of my first dose, I had extreme body and muscle pain from my ankles to my shoulders. I am 100% aware that many people can take Macrobid and be fine, I'm just relieved to read that some other people went through what I did for the simple fact that I thought I was dying! The morning after I started taking the meds, even my lungs felt bruised. I was too weak to hardly even walk. I returned to the doctor and totally thought they would hospitalize me. He wrote me a new script and sent me home. My mother and husband took turns taking care of me until I stopped vomiting and writhing in pain, which in total took days. I couldn't eat and even couldn't take care of my small children for two days."

• swi...
• November 26, 2015

"Be aware. I was prescribed this med both for recurrent UTIs and prophylactic use. After using it for years, I suffered full-body toxicity and now have been completely disabled by this medicine. I presented to the ER on several occasions, with burning in my hands and feet, and to my doctor. Nobody made the connection. I kept using the medicine. I am now disabled with severe body-wide neuropathy that appears to be permanent. It is a living hell. Beware using this drug long-term. It has ruined my life. I am homebound with severe body-wide neuropathic pain and am in 'pain management' with no relief."

• Wha...
• July 30, 2014

"I was prescribed Macrobid for a bladder infection on a Friday. I took the first dose that evening after dinner. I woke up Saturday morning feeling fine, took another dose, and it went downhill from there. We went out for breakfast, and the fun began: nausea, chills, etc. I had to go home and get in bed for the remainder of the day. I had a fever of 101.3. I had a terrible headache, joint pain, etc. On Sunday, I was so freaked out that my husband took me to an urgent care clinic. I was told that it wasn't the Macrobid, but that my bladder infection had become systemic. Baloney. I would wake up and feel fine, take the medication with milk, and whammo! Down for the count. I am now on day five and finally went to work today. I totally felt hungover."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 23, 2019

"No problems whatsoever. I'm on day 3, and most of my pain is gone. It didn't work as quickly for me as it did for others here, but I must have a bad bladder infection. Eat with the pill. Take it in a timely fashion. Remember that every symptom is not a result of the antibiotic."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 17, 2013

"I was peeing like crazy, approximately every 10 minutes. I decided to see my doctor, she prescribed Macrobid, and within a day I could already notice results! I do feel a little queasy after taking this pill, but more food always helps. This is the best thing ever! I now don't have to worry if my coworkers would notice my frequent trips to the washroom, and I don't hurt anymore."

• Gee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2019

"Worst antibiotic I've ever taken. I went to a walk-in clinic as I had back pain. They did a urine sample and said that I appear to have a low-level UTI (even though I had no other symptoms), and I was prescribed Macrobid 100 mg 2 x a day for 3 days. I noticed one day in that my skin felt a little tingly but thought I was just being weird. By the end of the second day, I got this horrible joint pain (knees, bottom, and elbows) that was so heavy and uncomfortable that I didn't take my final pill (I read about others' side effects that they experienced). One day off them and my joints seem to be a bit better, but it's like when one symptom subsides, another arises. When I stand, it's like I can feel the blood rush to my feet and my skin in my abdomen area becomes itchy! I will NEVER take this again, and I hope that these side effects go away soon. Not impressed."

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2009

"I have been on Macrobid for a urinary tract infection for 4 days and still do not have relief. I have called my doctor, and he has now prescribed me a sulfa drug. I have used the sulfa drug in the past, and it works quickly. I am miserable on the Macrobid, exhausted, irritable, weepy, nauseous, and have a headache."

• TSI...
• July 12, 2013

"65 years old, never had a urinary tract infection before, (now I know what they are!) probably had it for months, related symptoms to nurse friend, she said to call the doctor, sounds like a UTI. Doctor gave Macrobid prescription, 20 hours later after the first couple of capsules, had 99% relief. Continued taking for two weeks and didn't have side effects, as far as I could determine. I won't wait months before calling the physician next time."

• Mrs...
• March 21, 2014

"This medication cleared my urinary tract infection symptoms within 24 hours, but left me feeling super sleepy and dizzy! I guess it's a small price to pay for relief. I'm glad I have a few days off work, though, because I would not be able to work like this."

• LDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2019

"I was prescribed Macrobid after phoning my GP with symptoms of cystitis. I sent a sample in for testing and was given a 7-day course. I hadn’t been given this drug before, but as I am 7 weeks pregnant, the options are more limited. My cystitis symptoms did clear up quickly on Macrobid, but I would never take this medication again due to the horrible side effects! I was extremely nauseous constantly, physically sick, lost my appetite, had no energy, and had aching pains in my lower back, abdomen, and thighs. I also suffered with constipation and severe bloating. I understand that drugs have side effects, but I found them worse than the actual water infection, and we all know how awful they can be, so that says it all! I’ve never reacted to an antibiotic before and will be asking for an alternative if I have another water infection."

• Ale...
• August 8, 2016

"I got a pretty bad bladder infection and got prescribed this medicine. I didn't bother to check reviews, as my infection was so bad that all I wanted to do was be able to pee. I'm on day 3. Symptoms barely better. On top of that, I now have bad pain in my lower back, a swollen stomach that hurts really bad, gas, constipation, and worst of all, I can barely stay awake. I'm exhausted. I have zero energy, and I've been bedridden since the first dose. My joints hurt, my shoulders hurt, I am dizzy and nauseous. And I take the dose with a decent meal to prevent stomach upset, but it doesn't work. The worst part is that I keep having bouts of diarrhea, but nothing comes out. I don't know if the medicine is worse than the disease, but I'm miserable."

• Sai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2019

"I hated using Macrobid. It gave me ugly stomach cramps and headaches. I’m 26 weeks pregnant, and it was either take this or Bactrim. I was not about to take Bactrim. My UTI is gone, but I had to deal with a week of upper abdominal pain, headaches, and just an overwhelming sense of feeling like absolute garbage. Thankfully, none of it went to my baby girl. That’s the only positive of this medicine, it goes straight to your urinary system."

• HPG...
• October 8, 2015

"I've been suffering from UTIs off and on for the last year. During this time, I was prescribed a sulfate antibiotic, which I discovered I was allergic to within hours. I developed hives and blisters all over my face and body. So, Cipro was prescribed every time for the UTIs that subsequently followed. It seemed it took about 5 days for the symptoms to go away, but I never felt fully cured because even though the urgency and burning went away, I was having a hard time holding my urine if I had a close to full or full bladder. Then, I would have about 2 weeks of feeling okay, only to have the UTI start all over again. I was at my wits' end. I was prescribed Macro, I felt relief in 2 hours with absolutely no side effects. I hope this is finally the end!"

• Anonymous
• January 3, 2016

"I had a stubborn UTI that was unresponsive to Cipro and starting to show signs of a kidney infection. This drug was a miracle worker. Within 48 hours, I finally felt relief after a long, horrible wait of dealing with intense bladder pressure. I ate heavy meals with each pill, did not experience nausea or other GI issues. I was, however, tired ALL 7 days of this pill. I slept so much, I mean seriously, this pill knocked me out. So that is frustrating, but will take fatigue any day over GI symptoms, and at the point I started taking this drug, I was willing to try anything to get rid of this infection. I was SO miserable. I just finished my last pill and noticed a dry cough with shortness of breath, so that's why I gave it an 8."

• Sar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2019

"I strongly dislike the motives of Big Pharma, and I think antibiotics are the devil because they destroy your gut microbiome. When you have a bladder infection that could progress to one's kidneys, you take them with a metaphorical grain of salt. I took the first dose at 7:23 PM. I peed at around 7:50 PM with pain. I had the urge to pee again at 9:29 PM and had no pain at all! I thought I felt tingling around 8:10 PM like I could feel the fight between the infection and the drug. I feel a little foggy in the head. My bowels are definitely loose because I have wet farts, and that is from someone who is always constipated. So, I pity the fool who poops every day and takes this medication. I also experienced vaginal leakage (mucus)."

• Anonymous
• July 11, 2011

"It cleared up my urinary tract infection symptoms within 24 hours, however, my doctor prescribed it to me for 2 weeks. Today was the end of the first week, and I've experienced a slight shortness of breath and a bit of weight on my lungs, almost like one feels with bronchitis. I feel as though I must breathe deeply in order to fully expand my lungs, and sometimes it causes me to have a dry cough. I think I'll stop taking it before things get worse."

• miz...
• October 17, 2015

"This works fine for me. I'm allergic to most of the antibiotics out there, but not this one, thankfully. I get UTIs frequently because I always have to be cultured, sometimes that waiting period helps the thing really get going. Normally, it's a 10-day course. I do not get headaches or any of the side effects others have had. Everybody's body is different, the only way you'll know how you will react is to take it yourself."

• sou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2016

"I am always prescribed Macrobid for UTIs, and it has always worked for me. It does cause some side effects, but for me, it is usually just fatigue for a few hours after taking it and a bit of diarrhea near the end, once the infection is gone, but I am still finishing up the meds. I know some people get more severe side effects, but I have always been lucky on this drug."

• Kat...
• August 5, 2014

"I took Macrobid for two days. By day three I was nauseous, dizzy, and had diarrhea. I felt weak and dizzy and almost passed out. My doctor told me to stop the medication. It turned out that my culture was normal, and I didn't need antibiotics! I am now without the meds, and I feel like I have a virus!"

• Ale...
• August 31, 2019

"I had taken Macrobid before years ago and remember feeling very sick. I recently had such a bad infection I was desperate. Within the first dose, I was feeling so much better. I am now on dose 3 and have not had any side effects at all!"

• cal...
• July 25, 2014

"I took this for bladder infection, and I got so sick. My body felt weak, my stomach was upset, and overall I felt like I had a bad case of the flu. My doctor said it was a side effect and gave me a different antibiotic."

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2024

"Over the last decade, I've had about 10 UTIs treated successfully with this drug. I was really happy with it and usually experienced very few side effects. But just a few days ago, I took my first dose, and one hour later, experienced a scary allergic reaction. It started with the palms of my hands slowly becoming itchy. Then the bottoms of my feet itched. Then the itchiness became unbearable, and I was scratching frantically. My hands were red and felt as itchy as the worst mosquito bite you've ever had. Shortly after that, I noticed a rash on my neck and chest, and I felt a pain, like heartburn, inside my chest. I quickly took two antihistamines and told my husband to watch me for further signs and be ready to call an ambulance. Fortunately, the antihistamines kicked in after about an hour, and my reaction slowly subsided. Please just be aware that even if you have taken this drug successfully in the past, you can develop an allergic reaction to it at any point."

• Cyn...
• August 14, 2017

"I started taking the medication, the first day was okay. The second day, I don't know what happened, but I started getting a fever, then chills, it got worse. I couldn't eat, my body hurt so bad, tossing and turning. Not to mention that I lost ALL appetite to eat, and that was yesterday! I'm awake now with still a killer headache, can't sleep. My stomach hurts, and I'm heading to the doctor because the medication just isn't for me if it's making me feel worse than when I had the bladder infection."

• Jcb...
• June 23, 2016

"Recurring infection and two courses of different medications prior to Macrobid. It started working in 24 hours but did have a headache and a visual episode, plus a dizzy spell over the course of five days. Relief of the infection outweighs side effects."