Nitrofurantoin

Nitrofurantoin is an effective drug used for treating infections of the urinary tract.

Drug class and mechanism

Nitrofurantoin acts on the bacteria, which results in its killing.

How to use

The drug should only be used as per your doctor's prescription. The Nitrofurantoin drug should be taken with food. if you find it hard to take the oral suspension, the liquid can be mixed with milk, water or fruit juice and taken.

The drug should not be taken in lager doses and for longer periods. The whole dose of the prescription should be taken. If the dosage is stopped in the middle, there is a possibility of the infection to relapse.

Missed Dose

If you want good results, you should not miss even a single dose. If you miss a dose of Nitrofurantoin, it is good to take the drug when you remember it. But the missed dose should not be taken if it is time for your regular doses. Never mix two doses of Nitrofurantoin.

If you think of having taken an overdose, you should have to contact your physician immediately. Nausea and vomiting are some of the symptoms of an overdose.

Warnings/precautions

Nitrofurantoin should be avoided if you are allergic to the drug. Before Nitrofurantoin is prescribed, you should have to tell your doctor about all your present and past medical history. Be frank to tell your doctor if you are having any problems of the liver or kidney, anemia, electrolyte imbalance, diabetes or vitamin B deficiency.

Nitrofurantoin is rated FDA pregnancy category B, which means that the drug is not going to harm the unborn babe. However, the drug should not be taken during the last two to four weeks of pregnancy. As the drug is known to pass into breast milk, breast-feeding women should not feed their babes if they are on Nitrofurantoin medication.

The drug is only used for bacterial infections and it does not treat viral infections. The drug is also not prescribed to children below 12 years of age.

You should also inform your doctor about all the medications, including the prescription and non-prescription drugs, that you are on as some drugs are known to interact with Nitrofurantoin.

While you are on Nitrofurantoin medication, you should be under the constant watch of your doctor. The doctor should have to constantly monitor your liver and kidney conditions and so never miss any appointment or the lab tests. If you are having diarrhoea, you should not treat on you own.

Side effects

Like all drugs, Nitrofurantoin also comes with many side effects and allergic reactions. If you experience any allergic reactions like breathing difficulty, hives, rashes and swelling, stop the drug and contact your doctor immediately.

Some of the serious side effects that are seen with Nitrofurantoin are watery or bloody diarrhoea; shortness of breath; fever; cough; nausea; chest pain; stomach pain; loss of appetite; clay-coloured stools; dark urine; vision problems, numbness, pain behind eyes and jaundice.