Nitrofurantoin for Prevention of Bladder infection User Reviews

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

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "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."

• Kil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 31, 2018

"I honestly have had a great experience with this medication. I take one pill of Nitrofurantoin 100mg right after sex and also eat an apple with it. I used to not eat food while taking it or on an empty stomach and got so nauseous but would not throw up. I'm the type of person that gets a UTI/bladder/kidney infection every single time after sex. I tried every natural preventative measure I could and still got infections. This saved my sex life tremendously and it's made me so happy to be able to be intimate again. The reviews are scary, but it was definitely worth a shot and I'm so glad I took it!"

• AMo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 4, 2013

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "I have had frequently recurring urinary tract infections for almost 15 years and tried pretty much every trick out there to prevent them, to no avail. When discussing this with an Ob/Gyn, she decided to prescribe Macrobid to be taken on days of intercourse in order to prevent me from getting another infection. I went from getting an infection every couple of months to not having one for a year and a half, until I ran out of the medication. The only side effect was a change in urine color, which did not have an effect on my quality of life beyond wearing panty liners as a precautionary measure on days I had taken it to ensure my underwear did not get stained. Taking this to prevent infections was a life changer for me."

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

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "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."

• Rhl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 11, 2020

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "I have been taking 100 mg of Macrobid at bedtime each night for the past almost 2 weeks to hopefully prevent reoccurring UTIs. After a couple of days, I developed such a bad cough that I was actually sent for a COVID-19 test, ran low-grade fevers, had headaches, no energy at all...could barely move and felt faint and had no appetite. Forgot the pill one night and realized, late the following day, how great and normal I felt all day, so much energy...actually wanted to and enjoyed eating. Took my pill again that night and next day...it was even worse. Am calling my doctor, I don’t want to feel like I’m literally fading away."

• Mss...
• March 27, 2008

Macrodantin (nitrofurantoin) "Pills are very small and easy to swallow. I have no side effects from this medication. I use it to prevent serious urinary tract and bladder infections. I take it after sexual intercourse and it does prevent UTIs for me. I wouldn't want to live without this medication."

• tw_...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 8, 2014

"In college, I started getting urinary tract infections fairly frequently. Finally, after a handful of UTIs (treated with Cipro - allergic to Sulfa medicines), the doctor referred me to a urologist who placed me on nitrofurantoin. I was initially taking it every day, then just after sex or other situations which increased the likelihood of developing a UTI, and eventually I stopped taking it altogether because it had been about 5 years since I had a UTI. Well, I woke up around 4 am today with the all-too-familiar urgent need to pee. By the time I had finished showering, I was fairly certain I was developing a UTI. I happened to still have some nitrofurantoin on hand, I took a pill before work and my symptoms were gone in a matter of hours. No side effects. Yay!"

• Anonymous
• November 17, 2016

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "I would experience urinary tract infections multiple times a year due to sexual intercourse. I would always make sure that my partner and I would both wash off before sexual intercourse to cut down on the spreading of bacteria, which helped, but I still suffered from frequent UTIs. My doctor then prescribed Macrobid. I have had no negative side effects with or without food, and I have had ZERO urinary tract infections for the past 9 months. This medicine has really increased my quality of life, including my sex life. Definitely recommend!"

• Anonymous
• December 12, 2009

Macrodantin (nitrofurantoin) "This is a miracle drug. I used to get a bladder infection every 2 weeks, until my doctor prescribed this to me for daily use. I've been taking it every day for 2 years now and have yet to deal with a single bladder infection. Plus, there are no side effects for me. Being on this pill has made my life a lot more comfortable."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2019

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "I don’t like that the people who didn’t have a bad reaction are acting like their experience negates all the others. Everybody is different, and everybody reacts differently. The good: in the last several weeks, I’ve been hospitalized with kidney infections and sepsis twice. I was on home IV antibiotics for four weeks. Nothing worked. Finally, bacteria were identified, and I was put on a black box antibiotic for 11 days. Then switched to Macrobid as a precaution for the next four months while we narrow down what is wrong. This is doing its job well. It has also caused a pain I feel in my head, sinuses, ears, neck, and teeth that is extreme and life-altering. You can’t live a normal life with this type of pain. It’s a nightmare. The pain is intolerable. If you haven’t experienced this, be grateful, not angry at those of us suffering."

• jth...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 5, 2017

Macrodantin (nitrofurantoin) "Before starting on this drug, I was going through a nasty cycle of UTIs and thrush. I would get a UTI due to intercourse, and after taking antibiotics to treat it, I would then develop thrush. The cycle happened about 7 or 8 times over the course of a year, even though my husband and I were taking every preventative measure possible and following doctors' advice (wash before and after, pee within 5 minutes, drink lots of water, etc.). I even saw a urologist to try and get to the bottom of it. I couldn't break the cycle until I was prescribed this. I don't take it daily; after we have had intercourse, I take one as a preventative. Since starting this medication, I have not had one UTI. I have no side effects. It has greatly improved my quality of life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 30, 2012

Macrodantin (nitrofurantoin) "I am a paraplegic due to a gunshot to my spine incurred in Vietnam. I had taken Macrodantin for over forty years, and it helped to greatly curb my infections due to the need for intermittent catheterization three times daily. It caused side effects as I got older. I hadn't realized that this medicine was causing me to be continuously dizzy and generally unwell. I have since stopped taking it."

• Lip...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2019

"PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE TAKING THESE TABLETS. As you can see, many people are having a bad side effect. I am one of these people. I nearly lost my life because of it. It all started with one pill to treat UTI, but after half an hour of taking this pill, I developed a severe allergic rash, then all my body became swollen, then I could not breathe. I tried to go to the toilet, then I started screaming at my husband that I was going to faint and needed an ambulance. I told him the name of the pills just before I passed out. The next thing I knew, I was fighting for my life in the hospital due to a severe allergic reaction. I am in the hospital while I am typing this. Please BE CAREFUL."

• Anonymous
• July 21, 2009

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "This medicine is a lifesaver for the prevention of bladder and urinary tract infections. I used to get them all the time, and they are so painful. But since I started taking Macrobid as a preventive, I rarely get an infection."

• CDa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 7, 2020

"For the last 30 years, I have had recurring UTIs, always after intercourse. I have been on various antibiotics for UTIs over the years, with no long-term success. I was recently prescribed nitrofurantoin for long-term prevention. It has worked so well, I am beyond relieved. Absolutely no side effects, only benefits!"

• Mee...
• September 29, 2015

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "I got prescribed Macrobid. Read all kinds of reviews, good and bad ones. Decided to give it a try. Ate like a pig and took the pill. I got so sick. I was lightheaded (like I consumed all kinds of drugs) and had sharp pain in my stomach. Got a fever. My back... oh, my back killed me. And I had difficulties breathing. Felt like I got kicked by a horse. I called in sick for two days in a row for work. And I only took two pills. I'm stopping it. Gonna end up in the coffin much faster with that medication. I was all normal before taking that medication with a bit of UTI... now I feel like I'm a rotten vegetable :("

• Anonymous
• April 11, 2012

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "I was 20 weeks pregnant when I had to go to the hospital because I had a bladder infection and kidney stones. The doctor ordered me to take this twice a day for 7 days, and it helped greatly. When I went in two weeks later for a follow-up with my ob/gyn, he said the infection was gone, but just to be safe, he put me on this for the rest of my pregnancy to prevent me from getting another infection since I'm predisposed to getting them. After three weeks of taking this once a day, I had to take myself off of it. I was nauseous all morning and night, tired to the point of lethargy, and just not feeling well at all in general. As soon as I stopped taking it, all the horribleness went away."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2021

"I was given this drug to take to prevent recurring UTIs. “100 mg 1x per day with food at bedtime.” All I can say is “avoid at ALL COST!” I have ended up with horrifying bowel movements (frequency and color), backache, no energy, no appetite (great when you're supposed to take this with food), fever, chills, severe anxiety, but the worst was lung congestion, a horrifying cough, and difficulty breathing that was SO BAD I was sent for a Covid test, and they said they were certain I had it (I didn’t). Stopped taking the drug, and within 24 hours there were no more fevers, cough lessened, no congestion. Took a couple of days for the bowel movement issues, difficulty breathing, backache, etc. to subside. I think this drug should be taken off the market. I started taking the supplement D-mannose daily and have had much more luck. I will never EVER take this again."

• Anonymous
• December 12, 2011

"Ever since I was a child, I have had recurring urinary tract infections that only became more frequent as I grew older. I was having 4-12 UTIs a year and was treated for 8 kidney infections, three of which required hospitalization. Nitrofurantoin has made a huge difference in my life. One 50 mg pill a day and I have not had a single UTI in over 5 years."

• Ano...
• October 31, 2015

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "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."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2019

"POISON. I took nitrofurantoin for a stubborn bladder infection. This drug I felt was going to be the end for me. I now have liver damage and permanent tinnitus. If you're looking to have your life destroyed, this is the drug for you."

• fun...
• March 24, 2011

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) "I took Macrobid for the second time in 10 years, told the doctor about how I am allergic to it, and he said, 'You will be fine.' Took 1 tablet Tuesday night, and for the next 5 hours, I was throwing up, passing out, and having diarrhea all at the same time. This is not for me."

• Why...
• May 29, 2020

"After chronic UTIs and “interstitial cystitis” for months that were ruining my sex life and my life in general, my urologist prescribed 50 mg of this med to take every time I had sex. Before this, I was doing everything (gallon of water a day, peeing and washing before and after sex, d-mannose pills, etc.). This is the second time I’ve done this as I had a similar situation (chronic UTIs) 5 years ago, but then went several years with no issue. I’ve been on nitro for a year now, taken every time I have sex (multiple times a week) and haven’t gotten a single UTI. This medication saved me from UTIs. The downside is - I think it causes acne and is now giving me issues with yeast infections even though I’m eating yogurt and taking a probiotic every day. It does give me mild stomach symptoms as well. All worth it until the yeast issue - and now I’m considering getting off but am terrified of the potential UTIs."

• Mo5...
• July 20, 2017

"I was getting extremely painful monthly UTIs before starting nitrofurantoin. I tried everything - peeing after sex, cranberry juice, you name it, but nothing worked. I haven't had a UTI in over two years now since I started taking the drug. Truly a lifesaver."

• Dar...
• December 19, 2011

"I take this antibiotic after intercourse, and I have not experienced an infection since! Highly recommend this to anyone that has recurring urinary tract infections. Be sure to eat before you take and do not take with alcohol."