Macrobid for Urinary Tract Infection User Reviews (Page 2)

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

"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

"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."

• MN2...
• July 21, 2014

"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."

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

"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."

• Jwc...
• October 2, 2019

"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

"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."

• Kri...
• October 25, 2019

"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."

• Mar...
• May 6, 2015

"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."

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2017

"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."

• Pol...
• November 22, 2013

"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!"

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

"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

"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!"

• Ant...
• August 2, 2019

"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."

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

"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

"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

"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."

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

"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."

• Tif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2019

"I've never done a review but wanted to on it because of so many bad reviews. The Macrobid is working great, no side effects that I’ve noticed from the meds. But before starting the meds, I did have a severe UTI with severe pain in my stomach and back, as well as nausea, dizziness, cramps, muscle weakness, headache, and flu-like symptoms all from the UTI infection. I felt like death. Which has all subsided since taking this medicine. I’ve read a lot of bad reviews but I think everyone fails to realize that UTI and bladder infections cause a lot of symptoms plus everyone reacts differently. I would take this again!"

• sol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2013

"I took this medication for 2 days and I'm calling the doctor this morning. I will not be taking the next pill. I feel worse than before, as if I have the flu. I cannot sleep, and I'm sweating hot and cold. I have headaches and feel nauseous even after taking the pill with food. This isn't for me at all."

• Ash...
• November 22, 2016

"Okay, I never ever post on review boards, but with all these high-level ratings for this drug, I just had to speak out. This drug is poison, literal poison. I'm only on my second dosage, and it feels like my body is shutting down. Right this moment, I am vomiting every ten minutes, my head hurts constantly, and my body is riddled with chills and shakes. I have followed the doctor's directions to the tee, taking it with food and all of that, and it still has made me feel miserable. Yes, it has healed my UTI almost instantly, but now the rest of my body is suffering and breaking down because of it. Please seek other options before taking this medication. Please, I beg you, this is a very strong, dangerous drug."

• Et_...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 29, 2015

"I have a very, very hard time with medicine. Even mild medications have made me extremely sick. I can't tolerate Cipro or Bactrim, and easily get UTIs. I was terrified this time when they gave me Macrobid because I'd never had it. Even Z-Pak made me very sick. And then I read these reviews and just cried at the thought of taking it. I went out and bought crackers and Sprite, etc., to prepare for what's been described here. Then I took it and waited... and waited... and waited. Nothing horrible ever happened. It's important to remember that everyone has a different experience. Don't even read these. My main advice with this med is to eat, eat, eat. If anything happens you feel is weird, just ask your doctor. But mostly, relax and trust your doctor."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 28, 2019

"I haven't experienced any of the side effects others have mentioned earlier. After just one dose of Macrobid, within hours, all of my noticeable symptoms were virtually gone. It may have helped that I got my prescription at the first sign of a UTI, before the pain became terrible. Zero side effects during treatment."

• mer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 24, 2012

"I have taken this medication twice. I started feeling unwell after 4 days the first time around. The second time, I thought I had the flu as well as a urinary tract infection. The last pill of the day was taken at supper time. By bedtime, I was feeling ill, and then by midnight I felt very ill, delirious, with nausea, chills, and a rapid heartbeat. I went to the doctor and was told to discontinue the medication."

• ABa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2019

"After just a couple doses, I am extremely tired and sleepy, and having bad dreams from which I wake up agitated and anxious. Taking Macrobid for the first time now after a horrendous UTI/bladder/kidney infection treated with Cipro left me with another Cipro-resistant infection. I am allergic to penicillins, mycins, and sulfas, so antibiotic choices are limited. I am posting just to reassure others who might have similar experiences and wonder if it is the drug, which is how I myself ended up on this webpage. I am going to stick with it and hope side effects don’t get worse, and it finally rids me of this infection and accompanying severe abdomen and back pain."

• niq...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 14, 2014

"This is my second time on Macrobid, both times given during pregnancy. The first time it made me extremely sick, and I took it after a light snack and drank milk. I felt so bad I couldn't stomach taking the pill again. This time around, I got a urinary tract infection so bad I was having very bad pains under my ribs, so I figured the sickness from the antibiotic was better than the severe pain I was having. I started the meds four days ago and now I feel 100% better! Before every dose, I eat a COMPLETE MEAL so that my stomach is coated, and I have not had one side effect besides drowsiness, which I don't mind as much, but the pain is gone and I am back to my normal self. I am so happy the pills worked so fast and with food leave me perfectly fine."