Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

• No...
• November 14, 2013

Nitrofurantoin "First time I took Macrobid for UTI, after a few days I developed flu-like symptoms, fever, aches and pains, heart racing, bronchial congestion. After the infection came back, I took it again and only one dose brought back all the side effects and more. I went online to see if I was alone and I am one of many with this reaction and worse. Thank God for the Internet."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 10, 2024

"I was prescribed this medicine after the first two antibiotics that I was prescribed did not cure my UTI. This medicine cured it. I was concerned about this medication because of the negative reviews. However, I had no side effects, and the medicine quickly cured my UTI. I think that the most important requirement to not experiencing side effects is to always take this medicine after eating food and to drink lots of water (not coffee, not sodas) but WATER. I am posting this review to help people who may be on the fence about this medicine because of the negative reviews."

• She...
• February 29, 2020

"I am usually a lightweight with most medications, so when I was given nitrofurantoin, I was nervous. I ate something small before taking it, to my surprise, after the first pill, I was feeling relief from the pressure and burning from the UTI. It has made me a little drowsy, but that is it. I’m on day 5, I would take this again. Everyone is different. I have high blood pressure and anxiety, both were not affected."

• Flo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2020

Nitrofurantoin "I’m 20 and get a lot of UTIs. I’ve taken just about every antibiotic there is. This is one of the milder ones. The bad-smelling pee and burning went away after my second dose. I’m on my 4th day. I take this for 5 days. Gives me bad insomnia, but yet I’m super sleepy. Not the best feeling in the world, but it’s worth it to clear the infection. UTIs can become dangerous if left untreated."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "I get UTIs all the time. I’ve taken Bactrim and Cipro, and both give me terrible headaches and just make me feel terrible. I was super anxious to take Macrobid because of all the negative reviews, but it worked well and gave me no side effects. I will never take a different antibiotic for a UTI ever again."

• kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 4, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "My doctor wanted to give me Cipro or Bactrim, but since I have a pill complex, I asked for something smaller. He prescribed Macrobid, and I came to this site to apparently scare myself before taking it. Well, I'm here to tell you that this antibiotic was GREAT! As someone who has colitis and constant headaches, both triggered by virtually anything, neither were affected by this drug. I experienced zero side effects. I took 100 mg twice a day for 5 days. I would take 1 capsule right after breakfast and 1 capsule right after dinner, so it was always accompanying a meal. 5 days later, the urine culture came back negative. This worked great for me! I didn't start feeling pain relief until day 4 though. Hang in there and take with meals."

• Dan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2015

Nitrofurantoin "I have been prone to UTIs for years. I have been put on every antibiotic under the sun. For me, this is the antibiotic I would choose every time because it works and has minimal side effects. The only side effect I have experienced is a headache. I will take a headache any day over horrible bladder infection pain. Also, this antibiotic helps to clear up the infection within the first day of use, which is a plus for me so I am not in pain as long. (I have taken Cipro, which made me throw up and cry, Bactrim, didn't clear up my infection, and Monurol which made me very sick as well.) It is important to remember to make a 'pill sandwich' with this antibiotic. You eat a full meal, take the pill, and then eat some snacks after the pill."

• MN2...
• July 21, 2014

Nitrofurantoin "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."

• Jwc...
• October 2, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "Never again. I thought I was going to die. I was prescribed this drug for a UTI. 2 tabs a day for 3 days. 2 tablets in, I was in so much pain in every inch of my body I couldn't walk. I felt like I had a pain in my chest every time I needed to take a breath, and my headache was the worst I'd ever experienced. My vision was blurry, and I was constantly thirsty despite being hydrated. I felt queasy, and my skin was so sore to touch I couldn't even pull on my trousers. I know everybody is different, but after checking about other users' experiences, there is obviously a huge issue with side effects and this medication. I thought if I did manage to sleep, I'd never wake up again. I tried pain meds, but nothing touched this. I phoned my doctor and was told to stop taking them. My experience was so horrendous I'm frightened to take anything else again. I'm hoping that once it's out of my system, I'll feel better, but 4 days on, I still feel some effects."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 4, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "Very good experience with some minor side effects... minor and worth having rather than being in the hospital with a kidney infection! I read some of the reviews on here. I have health anxiety and a bit of hypochondria, and I am afraid to take medications. I was hesitant to take this one as well after reading the reviews. The only side effects I felt were some mild diarrhea, headache, some muscle aches, fatigue, mild pelvic and side pain, and chills (which could have been from the UTI rather than a side effect of the medication). Please take the bad reviews with a grain of salt. Everyone responds differently to medications, and my experience was good with this. Don't take UTIs lightly, as they can lead to more serious problems."

• Mar...
• May 6, 2015

Nitrofurantoin "Taking Macrobid has saved my life! I have been prone to UTIs since I was sexually active and have had bladder infections my whole life. I have tried everything from Cipro (makes my feet swollen) to Bactrim (doesn't cure) amongst many others. I was very surprised by the other reviews, so I felt the need to write one because it has been the best medication to help prevent me from getting another UTI - as long as I take food with it, I am fine."

• ATa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 22, 2020

"Prescribed nitrofurantoin as a seven-day course for UTI. Was careful to take with food and expected maybe some nausea. OMG, what a horror story. I can't believe this drug is legal. Started with mild nausea and indigestion. Got worse with each dose and each day. Vomiting, diarrhea, head spinning, pounding headache. Felt so ill I thought I had COVID-19. Yes, it's dealt with the UTI, but I currently (end of day 4) feel like I'm dying. Am speaking to the pharmacist tomorrow, begging to be allowed to stop this awful medication."

• Kri...
• October 25, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "This medication made me feel horrible. I had a UTI and was prescribed this Macrobid. I took one dose. Within about 15-30 minutes, I felt so miserable. It worsened as the day went on. I felt anxious, dizzy, nauseous, my face tingled, and I couldn't concentrate. And the worst part was it was long-acting, so it took quite some time to feel normal. I will never take this again."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "Before your freakout thinking that you're gonna have the worst experience ever on this drug, don't! Most people who have good experiences don't come to these sites and write reviews, it's always the bad ones! I have terrible health anxiety, and I'm sensitive to lots of drugs. I also had C. diff three months ago (cured by at-home fecal microbiota transplantation), so taking an antibiotic again was pretty scary for me. The side effects I got were a slight headache and nausea for a couple of hours after each pill, some gas, but no other digestive issues (thank goodness!). I was feeling better on the fourth day and have one more day to go. Take it with bread to make it easier on your stomach."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2024

"After reading these reviews, I felt I should comment as I had a positive experience. I took Macrobid, 2x a day for 7 days for a UTI. I feel so much better, and my only side effect was some diarrhea on day 7. I feel so much better!"

• Pol...
• November 22, 2013

Nitrofurantoin "I am currently taking Macrobid for a urinary tract infection. I've been taking it twice a day for going on 4 days now. I was very very leery of this medication, because when I was pregnant 4 years ago, it was prescribed to me for a UTI. I took it and was really ill. I felt like I had the flu...weak, chills, nausea, horrible headaches. My doctor gave it to me and I was scared to take it, but with my last UTI the Cipro didn't knock it out. I'm happy to report that this time, I am doing fine on it. No side effects, but the UTI symptoms are pretty much gone. Make sure you take this ON A FULL STOMACH! Not with a glass of milk, not with a snack, not BEFORE eating...a full stomach!"

• Ant...
• August 2, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "I was prescribed a 7-day course of Macrobid for a UTI. The first four days I felt fine and my UTI symptoms improved. Day 5, I suddenly began to experience a headache, racing heart, and severe anxiety. Day 6 was even worse, I felt jittery and confused. I didn't connect it to the Macrobid at first because I'd experienced no side effects the first four days. I felt like I was going crazy and was afraid to drive. At that time, I thought maybe my symptoms were due to my blood pressure, even though I'd never had those issues in the past. Finally, it dawned on me that it could be side effects from the Macrobid, so I searched the internet and found several forums where people had commented and had the same issues I did. I did not finish my last two doses of Macrobid. I've been off the medication for six days now, my symptoms have lessened greatly, although I'm still having episodes of anxiety here and there, but to a much lesser degree. I will NEVER take this medication again."

• DDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "I did not read any reviews before taking this and had no idea what was happening to me. Thought I had Lyme disease. The muscle pain and headache, and dry eye sockets - I realize felt like very severe dehydration - despite drinking a lot. People who say we are overreacting just got lucky. If you have things to do - don't take it. Can't get out of bed. And I am usually a workhorse. I am working anyway - with headaches, eye strain, and general flu symptoms."

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

Nitrofurantoin "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!"

• SRS...
• August 15, 2019

"I wanted to update other users as I returned to my doctor. She performed a thorough examination, and even though I am 12 days on from my last tablet, she believes the aches, pains, and infection I have picked up are all linked to the aftereffects of the drugs. I have also been having nightmares and experiencing acid reflux. I am reassured that my symptoms are linked and should therefore start to calm down. My doctor said it’s not unusual for some side effects to last for 6 weeks, but they should gradually lessen. She also said that stress can trigger further side effects. I was very emotional after being checked over, as I have spent the last 3 weeks feeling awful and was starting to think there must be something very wrong with me. As it turns out, it really has just been the nasty side effects of a drug that has been like a poison. I hope this reassures others who are in the midst of similar experiences."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "Please don't be scared to take this medication. I read the reviews and was horrified, but honestly, the drug was very tolerable. I went through two other medications for UTI before I was prescribed this one. First, it was Bactrim, which a few hours after taking the third dose I got hives. Second was Ciprofloxacin HCl 500 mg, and I ended up with tendinitis in both legs. Thirdly is Macrobid 100 mg 2x a day for 7 days. My advice is to take it with a full meal. The only side effects I get are slight drowsiness and nausea close to the 12 hours mark of my next dose. Eat large meals before taking Macrobid, and then snack throughout the day and drink lots of fluids. You'll be okay."

• EmI...
• April 13, 2012

Nitrofurantoin "I absolutely love this medication. Works really fast, I didn't leave me with any side effects, and makes me feel better within a few hours! I will never take another medication for a urinary tract infection again besides this one!"

• Kbj...
• August 25, 2014

Nitrofurantoin "I react and have side effects to almost everything I take. I'm allergic to Bactrim and doxycycline, and Cipro is awful for me. No vomiting or flu symptoms everyone keeps talking about. Sometimes I get hot flashes (I'm 24) and an upset stomach, but that's the worst of it."

• Anonymous
• May 15, 2020

"On day 3 of nitrofurantoin and don't feel well at all. Was awake all night, heart is beating faster than normal, night and day sweats, tingling in arm and leg, anxiety, shaking in hands, dizziness, and no appetite. Very nervous as I have never felt this way. First and only time I will be taking this drug. Calling the DR today to see what can be done. I would not use this again."

• Fla...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 27, 2020

Nitrofurantoin "I took this for a UTI. I found relief the next day. The only side effects I experienced were: dark brown urine, nausea, and upset stomach. It was very annoying to have to deal with, especially after being at the hospital and enduring horrible pain from the UTI itself. I try to avoid taking this, but I am glad I have it if I ever desperately need it."