Macrobid and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 3)

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

For Urinary Tract Infection "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!"

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

For Urinary Tract Infection "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?"

• Tay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2019

For Bladder Infection "I had a bladder infection for over a month, which in turn made its way to my kidneys. I was given antibiotics when I was in the hospital, I seemed to do okay on those. When I was released, they gave me Macrobid to clear up the remaining infection. The first few days on it were okay (probably because I was sick from the infection, so I didn’t know the difference), but towards the end, I started to experience terrible side effects. Keep in mind, I took this hydrated and after eating every time. Around the 6th night, I had nausea, stomach cramps, headache, and uncontrollable shaking so bad that I could barely get out of bed. BUT don’t let the side effects stop you from taking it. If you do take this medicine, I have found one thing that makes the side effects better: eat a muffin or some bread and drink A LOT of water with it. When I ate a muffin and took Macrobid right after, my side effects weren’t as bad."

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

For Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 20, 2016

For Bladder Infection "Symptoms: severe abdominal pain, constipation, nausea, achy pain in back, fatigue, chills, sweating, headache, cough. I just finished my last dose of Macrobid, and I believe it cleared up my UTI, but these side effects are not worth it. The abdominal pain I have been having is so bad that it has woken me up from my sleep three nights in a row. I have the chills, and because of the abdominal pain, it is hard to eat. I also have terrible headaches that worsen with certain movements or lights. This pill is awful, and I wish I would've known about these symptoms before starting."

• Kik...
• August 16, 2020

For Bladder Infection "I read so many reviews before taking Macrobid because that’s just what I do before any medication. I was terrified to take this med after reading, so I clinched after every pill. I was given 100 mg to be taken twice daily for 7 days, but on the 4th day, I felt beating on my kidneys, almost like someone had a drum set in there. Since I know that 4 days of treatment is what some people are actually prescribed, I instantly stopped taking them. The worst side effect I had was headaches and fatigue, and the kidney thing."

• Jul...
• July 18, 2015

For Bladder Infection "After taking 2 pills, I suddenly experienced chills and a fever of 101, and a severe throbbing headache. I called the doctor, spoke to the nurse, she advised continuing taking it. My gut told me not to. Later in the evening, I developed tingly fingers. I called my doctor, and he said to stop taking it, I may be having a serum reaction. It's been over 24 hours since I have taken Macrobid, and I still have a terrible throbbing headache, upper back ache, and a low-grade fever. This medication is poison!!! I can't believe it hasn't been banned! Will pass the word to everyone never to take this horrible drug!"

• LPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2016

For Bladder Infection "I cannot overstate how much I despise this medication. It may be effective in getting rid of bladder infections, but I never got that far. I used this medication twice (I gave it a second go, thinking my previous experience might've been an anomaly). Wrong. Within 2 days, each time, I had severe flu-like symptoms. They included: chills, mild fever, muscle aches all over, sharp pains in my stomach, severe nausea, vomiting, pounding headache, and extreme fatigue. I was told to take with a meal and drink lots of water. I felt like I was drinking 2 gallons a day...until I couldn't drink or eat anything without throwing it up. I stopped taking it the second time, after 3 pills, and it took 2 full days (and lots of Tylenol) for my symptoms to subside."

• HNS...
• February 13, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "Currently on day 4/7, 100 mg BID. I went from feeling like my back was being ripped open and sobbing until I couldn't anymore from the pain to waking up the next day after my first dose feeling like a new person, this antibiotic is okay in my book! Mild GI issues, decreased appetite, and headaches are my only side effects. Nothing in comparison to what I was feeling before. All antibiotics aren't fun to be on, so keep that in mind before writing scary negative reviews. Hopeful that the Macrobid clears this up."

• Seb...
• August 24, 2012

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have been using Macrobid for a couple of years now. I am allergic to all other medications, and therefore, this is all I have to work with. It works well, doesn't always work for me. Sometimes I have to take a second week of it. I often feel the same way as others. Headache if I haven't drank enough water, upset stomach if I hadn't eaten enough food when taking the pill. It does make me tired as well. I try to eat well when I am on this medication to help with the energy level since I am allergic to caffeine and can't take that path. I think that if you make sure to take the pill with lots of food like they recommend, the nausea isn't that bad. Also, drinking more water than you're ever used to will help with the headaches."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 6, 2023

For Urinary Tract Infection "If you have a UTI and your doctor wants to put you on Macrobid, let me tell you all about the side effects I had. The first day I was on it, I had a raging headache to the point I thought I had a brain tumor inside me. Then days two and three, I had the worst nausea and vomiting I’ve ever had. I would have a severe loss of appetite after taking the first dose in the morning. This is where it got weird. This antibiotic was literally burning my labia lips to where my pubic hairs were burning off me. Second, my butt cheeks felt like they were being electrocuted and with the worst stinging needles in my ass cheeks, I thought I had another condition. I stopped taking this after my UTI felt resolved. Now I’m off it, I am still feeling all these effects. Not to mention all I want to do is sleep. The only positive thing about this drug was it made my raging UTI go away."

• Kib...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "So, Macrobid can certainly have some uncomfortable side effects. Most of these are preventable/treatable with headache pills, taking it with lots of food, and probiotics. If you are allergic, that is not the fault of the medicine, nor is it yours. That's just the way the cards were dealt. Macrobid, or nitrofurantoin, is very good for UTI treatment, and the methods it uses make it unlikely for bacteria to build resistance to it. Macrobid should be the first option before general antibiotics for this reason. Macrobid works very well and is usually taken twice daily (breakfast, dinner). For me, I had fatigue and headaches, but they left after two days. After that, I felt fine for the remaining 8 days. And it worked!"

• Jor...
• April 17, 2016

For Bladder Infection "This medication was prescribed to me for a bladder infection. After I took the second dose, I woke in the middle of the night with the worst headache I've ever had in my whole life! I literally thought I might have to go in to see the doctor. After it subsided, I read all the reviews I could about this medication and its side effects. It seemed as though it was starting to work for my bladder infection, but the terrible side effects were not worth it. I called my doctor, and they prescribed Cipro instead. It took care of my infection with no side effects."

• Mrs...
• June 21, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have been taking Macrobid for two days now, and my UTI feels better, but today I woke up with terrible back aches where my kidneys are located and pains on my front sides. I have been so sleepy also today, like can't even keep my eyes open, with bad headaches."

• Ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I am 66 yr. old and get a lot of UTIs after going on the bike, in the pool, and apparatus at the gym that causes friction in that area. I usually get ciprofloxacin, which doesn't affect me much. But, Macrobid causes stomach troubles, nausea, chest and lung problems, chills, fevers, dizziness, palpitations, headaches, and more. I didn't have time to say 'no' to the walk-in doc who gave me this again, but I will never, ever use it again. I know it's going to take another week to get 'semi-normal' again, but this med takes me down every time."

• Mom...
• October 20, 2016

For Bladder Infection "I had a pretty terrible UTI for 10 days and counting, the burning was only getting worse. The day I was going to take a trip to the clinic was the day that I woke up with a high fever and aches and pains in both sides of my body. I haven't experienced anything like it. My brother and sister decided to drive me to the emergency in case it was an issue with my kidney. I was prescribed Macrobid 100 mg, take 1 twice a day with a meal. Lots, lots of water. I have never felt so cold and delirious in my life. I have a pounding headache, my body is so achy (neck, chest, everything), my stomach has stabbing pains in all sides and upper abdomen. Most alarming, my breathing is feeling tight, like from when I used to have asthma. The burning is gone, though."

• EGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION!!! I AM a healthy, active person. I almost never get sick. The night I took the first pill, I was nauseous. I woke up the next day and thought I was getting the flu. My legs ached, and I had the chills. I continued to take the pills thinking I had the flu. I fainted on the second day. I got red eyes, rashes on my legs, heartburn, headache, neck ache, and stomach ache. I look like a zombie. Finally, I thought, this is NOT the flu. I contacted my doctor, and she said, 'stop the pills.' I did a day ago, but I am still feeling horrid.... headache and blahness. Normally, I work out 3 times a week, am active, and work full-time. All I can do now is sit on the couch. I am so sorry I took Macrobid. I hope this drug will eventually get out of my system."

• Bum...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2012

For Urinary Tract Infection "I suffered severe headaches and nausea for hours from the very first dose and every dose thereafter. I would feel faint, overheated, extremely tired; I slept with the windows open and the heat off (it's winter). Four days of taking Macrobid, I began to have loose stools and severe muscle aches and neck stiffness. I began to have a sore throat and a dry cough on day two. After stopping, within 24 hours, I began to itch severely. I've been off of it for 48 hours and I still have a headache and I use Benadryl for the itching. I was given Levaquin in one dose, then Macrobid 100 mg two times a day for 10 days by the ER doctor. But my primary doctor thought it was overkill and should have just used the Levaquin."

• lhs...
• June 10, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Macrobid for a 3-day course, 2 doses a day. The first day I seemed to be getting better, but then I woke up at 4:15 am the morning of the second day with chest pains. Throughout the day, I suffered from headaches, chest pains, muscle and joint aches, nausea, dizziness, fever, and chills. Now on the third day, and though I'm not feeling as ill anymore, I'm still dealing with chest, back, and stomach pains. Can't even tell if treating the UTI because I've been in so much pain. Worst experience I've ever had with antibiotics - would definitely never use Macrobid again!"

• Jil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2016

For Urinary Tract Infection "After being diagnosed with a UTI, I was given Macrobid 100 mg 2x day. The first day was fine. On the second day, I noticed a lot of stomach pain after taking each dose. On the 3rd day, I woke up with a headache, abdominal pain, and a weak and ill feeling. I called my doctor to see if I could get switched to another medication. I felt ill, foggy-headed, and anxious the rest of that day. I did not like this medication and won't take it again."

• kco...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 15, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was put on this Macrobid because I had a very bad UTI. I tried all the natural remedies first, such as cranberry juice, cranberry supplements, and D-mannose. To no avail, I called my physician, and they prescribed Macrobid over the phone. I was given doses to last for 5 days. The first day, the symptoms of the UTI subsided a little, but I could still feel a little pain. On the second day, I started to get a dull headache and felt sleepy, and the UTI was seeming to get worse. On the third day, the UTI pain went away, but I kept the headache, so I took some aspirin to counteract that. I am on my 4th day, I feel way better. I will finish my prescription and hopefully will be good from there."

• Mom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2017

For Urinary Tract Infection "I began to take Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin mono) 100 mg caplets on last Thursday for a UTI. Within 24 hours, I had severe muscle aching, headache, and fatigue. Within 2 days, I had even more severe body aches, joint pain, extreme fatigue and sleepiness, dizziness and difficulty walking, as well as a fever of 101-102 degrees. I went into a walk-in clinic, but symptoms progressed, and by Sunday, I was in the ER thinking I was in septic shock. I assumed my infection had spread, I had no idea it could be a reaction to the antibiotic. After a barrage of tests, including a CT scan, the only possibility is that this poison was wrecking my health. This medication caused me a huge amount of problems. I stopped taking it yesterday and still have a headache, dizziness, muscle aches, and low fever. I can only hope the damage caused by Macrobid is not permanent."

• Suz...
• November 21, 2015

For Bladder Infection "I have been on Macrobid twice for bladder infections. It cleared them up, but the side effects knocked me off my feet for days. Fever of 101-102 and flu-like achiness and wicked headaches the entire time I was on the medication. The first time I took it, the doctor said I must have had the flu too. The second time I called him after three days and had him switch me to another antibiotic."

• Mr ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "Have had UTI 3 times now and treated with Macrobid. Third time I only had a pain in my right side and within taking the first pill my heart rate shot up and got excruciating headaches, and I had shivering and a high temp, basically flu-like symptoms. Though I was dying, I was bedbound and thought I had sepsis as most of the symptoms matched. I was crying in bed as I felt so bad. On the second day, the temperature came down and shivering was gone, but headaches were still there, and I mean they were so bad radiating pain into my jaw. I had no appetite either but forced myself to have something as it states in the pack you should for absolution. Saw doc today and she took me off them, will wait for results to see if I need something else. Glad I looked on here, thought I was going mad. I’m sure that Macrobid is fine for some people and I was the first two times, but not now. UK review"

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

For Urinary Tract Infection "Went to Dr. as I had blood in my urine, no other symptoms, culture says UTI. Prescription Macrobid. First day I had a massive headache that hurt so bad I cried. 2nd and 3rd day, nausea and diarrhea with increased anxiety. 4th day, dizziness so bad I felt like I was sleeping drunk, sitting to standing was a nightmare and walking was difficult. Felt flu-like the entire time. It has been 2 weeks since I stopped taking it. Had to go to the Dr. again because the dizziness did not go away. Now I have an inner ear problem that needs to be fixed with therapy. Still feeling sick. 2 panic attacks and still an increase in anxiety. Random periods of time feeling like I can’t catch my breath. Will never ever take again. Also, fun side note, still have blood in urine."