Consumer Drug Information

Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules

Generic Name: Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules (NYE-troe-fure-AN-toin)
Brand Name: Examples include Macrobid and Macrodantin

Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules is used for:

Treating and preventing urinary tract infections caused by certain bacteria.

Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules is a urinary tract antibiotic. It works by interfering with various chemical processes in the bacteria, which results in the death of the bacteria.

Do NOT use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules if:

you are allergic to any ingredient in Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules
you have little or no urine formation or you have kidney problems
you are pregnant and at term (38 to 42 weeks pregnant), the onset of labor is about to occur, or during labor and delivery
the patient is younger than 1 month old

Contact your doctor or health care provider right away if any of these apply to you.

Before using Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules:

Some medical conditions may interact with Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
if you have anemia, blood chemical abnormalities, diabetes, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PD) deficiency, lung disease, nerve damage, the blood disease porphyria, or vitamin B deficiency
if you are in a weakened state

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules. Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

Probenecid or sulfinpyrazone because they may decrease Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules's effectiveness
Hydantoins (eg, phenytoin) because their effectiveness may be decreased by Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

How to use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules:

Use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules as directed by your doctor. Check the label on the medicine for exact dosing instructions.

Take medicine by mouth with food, preferably breakfast and dinner, or milk to enhance tolerance and improve absorption of Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules.
Do not take an antacid that has magnesium trisilicate in it while you take Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules. Check with your pharmacist if you are unsure which antacids have magnesium trisilicate in them.
To clear up your infection completely, take Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules for the full course of treatment. Keep taking it even if you feel better in a few days.
If you miss a dose of Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Ask your health care provider any questions you may have about how to use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules.

Important safety information:

Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules may cause drowsiness, dizziness, lightheadedness, or blurred vision. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules may cause severe lung damage that may be permanent or fatal. If lung damage occurs, it may be sudden or chronic and may not be immediately recognized. This usually occurs in patients who are taking the medicine for 6 months or longer. Contact your health care provider immediately if chest pain, coughing, difficulty breathing (especially upon exertion), or noticeable changes in lung function occur. Symptoms usually occur during the first 1 to 2 weeks of therapy.
Mild diarrhea is common with antibiotic use. However, a more serious form of diarrhea (pseudomembranous colitis) may rarely occur. This may develop while you use the antibiotic or within several months after you stop using it. Contact your doctor right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor.
Long-term or repeated use of Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this.
Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules only works against bacteria; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold).
Be sure to use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future.
Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules may discolor the urine. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
Diabetes patients - Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules may cause the results of some tests for urine glucose to be wrong. Ask your doctor before you change your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.
Lab tests, including liver function, kidney function, and complete blood cell counts, may be performed while you use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules. These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
Use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules with caution in the ELDERLY; they may be more sensitive to its effects, especially side effects involving the lungs and liver.
Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules should not be used in CHILDREN younger than 1 month old; safety and effectiveness in these children have not been confirmed.
PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: If you become pregnant, contact your doctor. You will need to discuss the benefits and risks of using Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules while you are pregnant. Do NOT use Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules if you are at term (38 to 42 weeks pregnant), when the onset of labor is about to occur, or during labor and delivery. Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules is found in breast milk. Do not breast-feed while taking Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules.

Possible side effects of Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules:

All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome:

Chills; cough; dizziness; drowsiness; fever; headache; loss of appetite; nausea; rash; tingling or numbness in fingers or toes; upset stomach; vomiting.

Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur:

Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); bizarre behavior; bloody stools; chest pain; coughing; general body discomfort; increased pressure in the head; inflammation of the pancreas (stomach tenderness; nausea; vomiting; fever; increased pulse); tingling, numbness, or burning of the fingers and toes; severe diarrhea; shortness of breath, especially when using energy; stomach pain/cramps; yellowing of the skin or eyes.

This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. You may also report side effects at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

If OVERDOSE is suspected:

Contact 1-800-222-1222 (the American Association of Poison Control Centers), your local poison control center (http://www.aapcc.org), or emergency room immediately. Symptoms may include vomiting.

Proper storage of Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules:

Store Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules at room temperature, between 59 and 86 degrees F (15 and 30 degrees C). Store away from heat, moisture, and light. Keep Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules out of the reach of children and away from pets.

General information:

If you have any questions about Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules, please talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.
Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules is to be used only by the patient for whom it is prescribed. Do not share it with other people.
If your symptoms do not improve or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This information is a summary only. It does not contain all information about Nitrofurantoin Macrocrystalline Capsules. If you have questions about the medicine you are taking or would like more information, check with your doctor, pharmacist, or other health care provider.

Issue Date: November 5, 2008

Database Edition 08.4.1.002