Macrobid and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Sad...
• February 25, 2021

For Urinary Tract Infection "NEVER TAKE THIS DRUG!! After taking my second dose, I developed VIOLENT vomiting, diarrhea, severe body aches, extremely high heart rate, low oxygen levels, and shortness of breath. Fever, chills, an inability to move with severe fatigue. It’s now 42 hours after my last dose and I am better. We are in a pandemic and having all these symptoms sure did scare me. I do NOT EVER recommend this drug to ANYONE! Horrible! I’m obviously not the only one. I wish I had read the reviews before I took this Med!"

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 26, 2020

For Prevention of Bladder infection "Was put on Macrobid when my yearly physical lab showed a slightly higher WBC in urine. After 2 doses, I began with chills and fever. I had three days of 104 temp, nausea, and vomiting, even water would not stay down. As a senior adult living alone, I feared the need for IV and hospital treatment but would not go due to Covid. I called my doctor back and was told to go get tested for Covid. They offered no other reason for my ills. I did my own research and took myself off of the drug. 24 hours later, no chills, fever is normal, no vomiting. This was like poisoning my body. Never again! My daughters had similar experiences also. Be aware if taking this drug. I do not think it should be on the market."

• Ast...
• September 24, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Macrobid was the worst antibiotic I've ever taken. I have never had a UTI, and when I saw my doctor, she prescribed Macrobid 2x daily for 7 days. I have taken plenty of antibiotics in my lifetime and have never had any significant side effects. Within 4 hours of taking Macrobid, I had terrible diarrhea for about 2 hours. After that, I was nauseous to the point of vomiting (and I never vomit). No medication has ever made me this sick before. I had chills, weakness, diarrhea, and vomiting all within the first 12 hours. However, I know you're not supposed to stop taking medications, so I took my second dose, and the symptoms proceeded to the point of not sleeping at all overnight. I stopped taking it the next day, and my symptoms resolved completely. I went back to my doctor and got a different antibiotic that I had no problems with."

• Deb...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 14, 2017

For Prevention of Bladder infection "I have had recurring UTIs for 5 decades. I've been on Macrobid for a couple of years. I've found it does help prevent the kidney and bladder infections with few side effects. The side effects I do have are: darkened urine, diarrhea occasionally, nausea and dry heaves occasionally, dizziness occasionally, and peripheral neuropathy on occasion. Now, I know you would think that these side effects would deter someone from taking this drug, but for me, those side effects are better than having bladder and kidney infections for 6 months at a time. For me, Macrobid is the lesser of the two evils. Living with the infections is worse than these few issues."

• MN2...
• July 21, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "It worked really well to clear up my urinary tract infection, and within a day I had no symptoms; however, I was so tired while I was taking this! I also would get a feeling of nausea quite often and occasionally would make me vomit. I took it on a full stomach, but still got the feelings of nausea and fatigue."

• JLM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "As other people have said, this is also my first time leaving a review for any prescribed medicine. I went to my UK doctor as I was having flare-up symptoms of a UTI. I was prescribed Macrobid (6 capsules to be taken over 3 days). I am pretty annoyed I didn't read these reviews before I took the first dose because I probably wouldn't have bothered, or I would have stopped taking it immediately and not continued thinking I just had a flu-type bug! I haven't had the dizziness other people have described, but that is probably because I haven't left my bed for 3 days! I have had vomiting, headache, the worst aches and pains in my back and legs, and generally feeling like I am dying! I am so angry about it as I have had to cancel some seriously important meetings, thinking it was just an unfortunate illness, and now I think it's this poison. Not happy!"

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

For Bladder Infection "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."

• Ash...
• November 22, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Okay, I never ever post on review boards, but with all these high-level ratings for this drug, I just had to speak out. This drug is poison, literal poison. I'm only on my second dosage, and it feels like my body is shutting down. Right this moment, I am vomiting every ten minutes, my head hurts constantly, and my body is riddled with chills and shakes. I have followed the doctor's directions to the tee, taking it with food and all of that, and it still has made me feel miserable. Yes, it has healed my UTI almost instantly, but now the rest of my body is suffering and breaking down because of it. Please seek other options before taking this medication. Please, I beg you, this is a very strong, dangerous drug."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This medicine was absolutely horrible for me. I had extreme diarrhea, with nausea and vomiting every time I took it, and I had to take it 2x a day. The abdominal pain it caused, no matter how much food or water I took with it, was the sharpest pain I’ve ever felt, like 7/10 on the pain scale. I lost weight and was severely dehydrated."

• chr...
• July 23, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "I am 11 wks pregnant, and after my first OB/GYN appointment, they called me with results that I had a urinary tract infection. I was shocked because I didn't have any symptoms other than pressure by my bladder, which I was relating to the pregnancy. I was prescribed 100 mg of Macrobid x 3 days, taking 1 capsule every 12 hrs. The first night I took it a couple of hours after dinner and went to sleep. BIG MISTAKE! I woke up vomiting, ate a bagel right away, and took the second pill. I felt nauseated all day, tired, and had a mild headache. The remaining pills I took directly after a full meal and felt a little better. If it wasn't for the medicine only being for 3 days, I don't think I could've taken it any longer. I just kept telling myself that if I don't finish it, a UTI can be much more serious."

• Nic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2024

For Urinary Tract Infection "This was the first and last time. I took the first dose, and 3 hours later, I was in full despair, vomiting nonstop every hour. Gut-wrenching vomiting, mind you. Full body sweats, chills, couldn’t stand. I had to have my mom come stay the night with me because it made me that sick. I have never experienced such awful side effects. Never again."

• Njc...
• June 30, 2014

For Bladder Infection "Took this med after the pharmacist said to take it with a small snack, I agree with those who say a full meal. I also woke up this morning and threw up, not sure what that was. Now I am sleepy and missed a day of work. Antibiotics have not had this effect on me, just hope it gets better. I am also nauseated but trying not to think about it, or I may be visiting the throne."

• car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Took the first 2 Macrobid pills, started running a fever of 101, headache, vomiting, could barely function, felt sicker than I ever have. Worried that the infection had gone to my kidneys. Never been to the ER in my life, but decided to go because I was scared. Tests all came back normal. Sent me home and said to finish my course of Macrobid. Felt better when I got home (about 12 hours since the last pill), was finally able to eat, took the next dose of Macrobid. Shortly thereafter, I was violently ill again. The next day, after close to 24 hours since the last pill, I started feeling better, was able to eat. That’s when it dawned on me: drug side effect. I found sites like this where people had the same experience. The next day, the hospital called to check on me. I told them what I discovered; they said they had never heard of Macrobid causing this reaction. Bottom line, I got sick after taking it and got well after not taking it. My symptoms match the manufacturer’s list of side effects. What else am I supposed to think?"

• Ano...
• October 31, 2015

For Prevention of Bladder infection "I had this tablet prescribed to me to take for three days, twice a day, to prevent bladder infection. The tablet made me go yellow, vomit, lose my appetite, and generally made me feel really bad. I still have a bladder infection, so I wouldn't recommend it."

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

For Bladder Infection "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."

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

For Bladder Infection "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."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "If you have a UTI and your doctor wants to put you on Macrobid, let me tell you all about the side effects I had. The first day I was on it, I had a raging headache to the point I thought I had a brain tumor inside me. Then days two and three, I had the worst nausea and vomiting I’ve ever had. I would have a severe loss of appetite after taking the first dose in the morning. This is where it got weird. This antibiotic was literally burning my labia lips to where my pubic hairs were burning off me. Second, my butt cheeks felt like they were being electrocuted and with the worst stinging needles in my ass cheeks, I thought I had another condition. I stopped taking this after my UTI felt resolved. Now I’m off it, I am still feeling all these effects. Not to mention all I want to do is sleep. The only positive thing about this drug was it made my raging UTI go away."

• Nin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2015

For Prevention of Bladder infection "Prescribed Macrobid after misdiagnosis. 2nd day, I was yellow, vomiting, dizzy, weak. Hospitalized at hospital emergencies. Took doctors one week to confirm Macrobid was the reason for my liver failure. Almost lost my life."

• 1Gr...
• January 9, 2016

For Bladder Infection "I took Macrobid for two and a half days and felt sick. Plus, I'm scared of anything that poses a risk of side effects that are a mile and a half long. Macrobid made me so sick that I ended up at the ER with swollen lymph nodes, a stiff neck, nausea, a migraine that caused eye pain, vomiting, and chills. I felt poisoned. My sister wanted to stay with us because she was so worried about me. I was sick for three days in bed. Never, ever again. I'm only seeing naturopathic doctors and a Chinese medicine doctor unless it is life or death."

• Eri...
• February 28, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "It made me very sleepy and dizzy. I also got chest pains, and it made my heart race. My urine was also a very bright, almost neon yellow color. I stopped taking it after 2 days, and then I was fine. And I always took it after I ate. The one time I took it on an empty stomach, I vomited and was nauseous for a few hours."

• Zan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 1, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "The Macrobid did work for the UTI, but my, oh my, have I been having a bad time. I have been so, so nauseous since my first dose. I have actually vomited from the nausea. Severe diarrhea as well. It doesn't seem to matter what food I take it with. I can barely eat, I have no appetite and feel horrendous. I have also developed serious neck pain and aches in my arms, which can only be attributed to this drug as nothing else in my life has changed. I won't be taking this medication again, if I can help it. This has been the longest week of my life."

• Anonymous
• January 4, 2012

For Urinary Tract Infection "This is the second time I've been prescribed this medication. I don't recall any side effects (other than the freaky urine color!). But this time, I feel like I'm about to vomit... and it's only been about 4.5 hours since I started this medicine."

• Moa...
• October 19, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I’m 56 years old and have never had a problem with antibiotics. Prescribed Macrobid 2x a day for 10 days as I had my third UTI in five months. UTI symptoms quickly vanished, BUT by day 5 I couldn’t think, had zero appetite, headaches, and a sore throat - assumed virus. Day 8, my face and neck began to swell, sudden SEVERE back pain, fever, teeth chattering, vomiting - saw the doctor, test showed kidney function off/dehydration, though I constantly had fluids. 3 days off - still sore throat, tired, but my head is clear and energy/appetite returning. Another kidney function test next week. PS this is NOT only for people with allergic reactions - never again!"

• BLR...
• October 17, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Attended emergency for statin use-related UTI. Started medication the same day and the next morning vomited. I took the next prescribed dose and 2 hours later could not take a deep breath, had a very tight, heavy chest, and I thought I was having a heart attack. By the time for my next dose, I had a headache, muscle pain which kept moving, felt sweaty and feverish. The next dose created more of the same, with increased labored breathing. I had never felt so weak or nauseated. Sleep was intermittent and weird dreams. I did not continue, called my GP and stopped immediately. I am a 60-year-old woman and this is the most horrible drug I have ever been prescribed."

• Sas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I've had UTIs before that have been treated with Cipro with no side effects. This last infection was pretty bad, and the physician I saw prescribed Macrodantin, which I had never used. The first dose gave me a severe headache, and then the second dose put me almost under. The leg cramps were so severe my husband wanted to take me to the emergency room. They were so painful and came so often until I was scared. I had to call in sick from work because they kept coming, and I threw up and was very fatigued. I drank tonic water and orange juice, which helped the cramps, so I'm calling my physician for Cipro first thing in the morning, and I'll list this medication as an allergy from now on. The side effects were horrible and outweighed the benefits."