Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection User Reviews (Page 5)

• Dh1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 25, 2023

Nitrofurantoin "Okay, I had to come back and give my review. It's been over a month, and I keep forgetting. But you're reading this because, like me, you're afraid to take this drug and have read too many reviews that have convinced you not to take it. Well, look. I'm writing the review, so I survived it. I read enough positive reviews to feel like I needed to take this medicine and help my annoying UTI. I had zero side effects, it worked quickly and relieved my symptoms fast. I'm thankful I took it, and I hope you do too! I've read about Urosepsis, and it sounds awful. Take the damn pill! Thanks to the reviewer that mentioned getting a McFlurry."

• pal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "Macrobid was the worst experience I have ever had with any drug. Breathing problems developed on day 2 of a 3-day course, coughing, palpitations followed by chills and fever. Unable to do anything for three days and thought I had a very bad dose of flu, which is all you need when you have cystitis, but no, it was just the side effects from this antibiotic. Never again!"

• Phi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 1, 2025

"Started on Friday late afternoon and within a few hours, really bad diarrhea. Took a couple of instant Imodium, but that didn’t work. Had to change all bed linen as I had no control. Saturday, took another dose with some breakfast, a couple of boiled eggs, and within about an hour, severe diarrhea. Sunday morning again took another dose with breakfast, and within an hour, severe diarrhea. Won’t be taking this medication again."

• Tig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "I read these reviews and was terrified to take this. I have anxiety; so even if I didn’t have the physical side effects, I was pretty sure I would have psychosomatic ones after reading all the negative experiences. I’m also scared of antibiotic resistance and hate taking them to begin with. I procrastinated for a week because I didn’t want it to make me feel terrible. Also, my UTI wasn’t bad; I didn’t have many symptoms. But I knew it wasn’t going away, so down the hatch the Macrobid went. Well, I didn’t feel terrible. Absolutely no side effects. I know everybody is different, but if you have an Rx for this, don’t be afraid to try it because chances are you’ll be fine. It’ll do its job (which it is)."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 7, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "Worst medicine ever!!! Went to the ER & was diagnosed with a UTI, so this med was prescribed! I've been in bed now 2 days straight! The headaches & body aches are just ridiculous! Not to mention I don't have an appetite, but I've been throwing up off & on! This medicine made me worse than I was in the beginning! This is my first & last time taking this, that's for sure!"

• App...
• April 27, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "Took Macrobid for five days. It caused constant nervousness/jitteriness, and I could not sleep. Two days after the Macrobid regime was done, my UTI started up again. So much pain and suffering for nothing. What upsets me the most is that I had told the nurse at the clinic that Cipro works for me, and she prescribed Macrobid instead! Some people are worse than useless."

• Gir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "Overall, this antibiotic Macrobid was good. It cleared up my infection in 3 days out of a 10-day treatment. I always ate a lot with it and took a probiotic and yogurt right after taking it, and didn’t feel sick at all. It gave me a slight stomach ache, but I could function, and it was comfortable, until tonight, where I am in bed with sharp abdominal pains and a stomach ache. But it may be my fault because I took it later than I usually do. Otherwise, it is good. Don’t be afraid to try it. I get sick on all medications, and I get UTIs all the time, and by far, Macrobid is the best."

• ele...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 15, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "I have taken several antibiotics for UTI, and Macrobid is the only one where I felt the need to write a review and also search for one, as I was praying the EXTREME side effects I have been experiencing were not uncommon. I took Macrobid for three days, and each day the symptoms got worse. I have been completely nauseous ever since I started taking it, and my heart rate has been scary high. Yesterday, my heart rate got so high my whole body was shaking, and I got blurred vision as I was driving and had to pull over on the side of the road and have someone come pick me up because I was too unwell to drive. The vaginal irritation got worse on day 2, and I’m still waiting for that to subside. I would so much rather have a UTI than feel like I am literally about to die. This has been one of the scariest weeks of my life, as I thought something was seriously wrong with me until I read some of these reviews. If your doctor wants to prescribe you this medicine, you may want to ask for an alternative."

• CD ...
• February 12, 2014

"I had no problem with this medication, and my body is the anti-antibiotic! I am allergic to every antibiotic under the sun and avoid using them as much as possible, but I did not nip this urinary tract infection in the butt before it required a doctor's visit. I was instructed to take the pill twice a day for seven days. The first two days, the medicine did make me feel a little drowsy, but I think my body adjusted. Just make sure you give yourself time to know how it will affect you before driving, etc. I also would suggest taking it with a full meal. I did not experience any nausea, but I made it a point to only take my pills with a full stomach. I noticed results by the third day. I just finished the last dose and am feeling great."

• Oki...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 28, 2024

Nitrofurantoin "Given Macrobid (100 mg, twice daily (every 12 hrs)) for UTI (I had urinary urgency and frequency for a few days, started getting nausea and lower back pain). 1st dose: 30 mins in got a headache, heat/tingling at the top of head, moved forward and turned into pressure in forehead and temples—felt similar to a fever, but no temperature (was only 97°F). Felt lethargic, started getting a sharp pain above the pubic bone/in my bladder, and a bit of ache in back; the lower abdominal/back pain was manageable with heating pad, but headache remained for almost 2 hrs. Felt good when it was gone though; relief from urgency, more energy, thinking clearly. But an hour before the next dose I felt sick, back pain came back, felt emotional. 2nd dose: same headache again, felt fevered but wasn’t, was cold; slept through it, awoke with random body aches, knee and chest sore, felt ill. Talked to the doctor, new urinalysis said no UTI, so it works, but was advised to stop because of side effects. Take at your own risk."

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

Nitrofurantoin "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?"

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "The most important thing about having a UTI is making sure a urine culture is done. Many don't realize that there are antibiotics that simply just won't work because the bacteria they have are resistant to the antibiotic prescribed. Just because the antibiotic didn't work for you doesn't mean it won't work for others. I've been prescribed Cipro and Bactrim for UTIs in the past, but after the ABT course, my UTI kept coming back with a vengeance. Macrobid was the only antibiotic that was able to clear my bladder/UTI infection. I've seen that sometimes it can make you feel worse before you feel better. The urine culture and sensitivity test is key for those suffering from recurrent infections."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2023

Nitrofurantoin "I had a feeling I would react to this medication, but I wanted to be a good patient. After one pill, I feel severe restlessness, headache, disorientation, fatigue, dizziness. I would never take this again."

• Dan...
• December 23, 2020

"In less than 1 day of starting this medication, I could hardly walk. The weakness and tingles in my legs were unbelievable, especially my left leg. My trunk was weak, and I had difficulty sitting up. My resting heart rate was like I was running. Even my breathing was more difficult. I experienced profuse diarrhea and nausea too. Thankfully, I went to my doctor right away and determined it was the medication, and she stopped it immediately. I ended up in physical therapy so I could regain the ability to do simple things like bending over and touching my toes. Before I started the medication, I was in the gym 1-2 hours a day. I paced a 10-minute mile for an average of 3-5 miles, or I would swim 3200 meters (2 miles) in an hour. Then I did a total body group workout. A year later, I am still not back to my baseline. Please report any adverse reactions to the CDC, this effort may help save others from an experience like mine."

• Kat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2019

"I was on this medication for 9 grueling days for a UTI. I didn’t take the last day because I thought if I did, it would be my last day living. I had severe-and I mean severe-side effects, including nausea, headaches, muscle and joint pain that were excruciating. I had pain in my spine so bad that I was afraid I had bone cancer. My joint pain would wake me up in the middle of the night. I had a few horrible nightmares and chills every night. It was seriously a feeling of doom. I had no idea a drug prescribed by a doctor could have such horrible side effects. It was so bad that I didn’t even think it was the antibiotic. I ended up going back to my doctor on day 9. I was sent for scans on my stomach, gallbladder, and bowels. I had full blood work done. Guess what? NOTHING was wrong. It was all side effects from this nasty drug. PLEASE take it off the market. It was a very bad experience."

• LBa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I am 6 weeks pregnant and ended up with my first UTI. I was prescribed Macrobid because I am very allergic to sulfa antibiotics, which landed me in a hospital a few years back. Upon reading the reviews, I was so incredibly terrified to take this medication, but I had no choice. I'll consider myself lucky, but so far I have found that Macrobid is actually quite tolerable. I've been a bit more tired and achy than usual and had some mild nausea, but nothing too severe. I have found that taking it with a full meal is critical, and drinking TONS of fluid (water/Gatorade) helps with side effects. But for me, this is really a reminder to take reviews with a grain of salt - you really have no idea how your body will react until you try it yourself."

• Oga...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2016

Nitrofurantoin "I wish I would have read these reviews before I started taking this medication! I feel so sick! I started to wonder if I have something really serious like cancer. I am so weak. One minute I am drenched in sweat, and then I have chills so bad no amount of blankets will warm me. I can't get out of bed, and I must go to work tomorrow. I am a teacher, and I have parent/teacher conferences! I constantly have a fever of 101 or higher! Why would they prescribe this medication to anyone? Too many people have the same terrible side effects!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2013

Nitrofurantoin "This is the first and last time I ever take this drug! After 24 hours of it in my system, I started having flu-like symptoms. I could feel my sinuses draining down my throat, I began to have a horrible cough. Granted, at first, I seemed to be getting better, but by the night of day four, my eyes are all itchy and watery, my nose is constantly running, constantly coughing. Now on day five, I took my last pill. Still feeling like crap, still all the same symptoms from day four. Hoping this goes away soon before I return to the ER once more."

• Jon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

Nitrofurantoin "I had a UTI last year and was aware that this meant I might get more in the future. I started with another three weeks ago, and then the pain went to my kidneys. After one dose of Macrobid, the symptoms began to go within six hours. By the third dose, my energy levels went up again, and the pain I had urinating has gone. I will take the remaining five days' dosage, and I am amazed at how quickly this new treatment has knocked some very debilitating symptoms on the head!"

• Han...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2020

"I was showing symptoms of a UTI and went to an urgent care where I was prescribed a 5-day supply of nitrofurantoin. Within 24 hours, in which I had taken two doses, I was experiencing a feeling of being “off.” By day 3, I began experiencing further side effects. I was experiencing fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headaches, and loss of appetite. On day 4, the dizziness and nausea had increased, and there was a complete loss of appetite. I was unable to make any sudden movements without becoming extremely dizzy, nauseous, and disoriented. The only time I felt okay was when I was lying down and remaining still. I decided to stop taking the medication, which was only missing the remaining 2 doses. This medication did clear up the UTI, but I do not recommend it due to its side effects."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2013

Nitrofurantoin "This antibiotic is a godsend! I am allergic to penicillins and sulfas. At first, I tried Cipro, it didn't work. I had kidney stones for 8 months, I finally got my second lithotripsy in June for an 8x9mm stone, and then my kidney got infected. This is my fourth day on Macrobid, and I have had no serious side effects except 1 bout of diarrhea on day 1, which was welcomed compared to the nausea and pain from the infection. Macrobid actually got rid of my nausea!"

• K M...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "Everyone is different. I had a great experience with Macrobid. I am actually allergic to a few meds, so I was relieved to have one for a mean UTI I got over the last few days. I actually started taking Macrobid, 100 mg twice daily for 7 days, before coming to this site to read the reviews. Firstly, it says to take it with food or milk, so many probably didn't follow those directions because it will give you nausea/vomiting if you don't. The only side effect I've had is drowsiness. But my doctor also prescribed me metronidazole 500 mg, taken twice daily with the Macrobid to offset symptoms that can bring on a yeast infection, etc. I only get UTIs once or twice a year, but this one reared its ugly head, and Macrobid worked wonders for me."

• She...
• February 24, 2017

Nitrofurantoin "I've taken Macrobid for 15 years for recurrent UTIs. I get UTIs about 4-6 times a year (ugh), so I've taken it a ton of times. Macrobid gets rid of my infections every single time without fail. The only side effect I have ever noticed, which is pretty annoying, is nausea for about 2 hours after taking each pill. Once in a blue moon I puke, but not usually. Eating and drinking with the pill lessens the nausea but doesn't totally prevent it. So, it does its job really well and eliminates my infections, but I do cringe when I have to take it because it sucks to endure the nausea."

• luc...
• April 27, 2015

Nitrofurantoin "Started Macrobid, no reaction first day. Second day, felt congested in my chest, which was weird. By that night, I had cold fingers and toes and very sore joints: toes, fingers, ankles, and worst of all, the knees. Feel really awful, have stopped the antibiotic, never again. Can't wait to feel normal again."

• Wan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2014

"Taking 100 mg 2x daily for urinary tract infection. On day 5 of 7 with limited side effects. I have a severe allergy to many medications, but thankfully no severe reaction to this one. I noticed the nausea is alleviated if you drink a full 8 oz glass of water with each dose and continue drinking water throughout the day. I work long hours, so not sure if the drowsiness is caused by the medication or not. Some vaginal itching and discomfort, but so far no vaginal infection. Doctor recommended I eat yogurt daily while on this medication, and I am following doctor's orders! I have felt some dizziness, but it isn't constant."