Macrobid and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 5)
Reviews for Macrobid
- Ali...
- July 8, 2016
For Urinary Tract Infection "I am currently on day 2 of Macrobid, 2x daily for 5 days. The pharmacist was sure to emphasize taking Macrobid with food to prevent nausea. So far, I have no nausea but have developed a terrible headache. I must say that the pain of the UTI was gone within two hours of taking my first dose, which is worth it to me. So I'll be sticking this one out and hope the headache doesn't worsen."
- Anonymous
- Taken for less than 1 month
- June 14, 2019
For Urinary Tract Infection "This has been the worst experience of my life with any antibiotic. I took my first pill about 8:30 p.m. last night. Two hours later, I started having chills. All throughout the night, I had the sweats and the chills, and my stomach felt a little messed up. I got up to get ready for work this morning and started having severe diarrhea. Had to call out because I couldn’t get off the toilet. It’s now almost 1 p.m., and I feel awful. Still having diarrhea, slight headache, my body feels so weak and like I was hit by a truck. I wish I never took this pill, I feel like I poisoned myself."
Frequently asked questions
- What is "dual release" nitrofurantoin?
- Is meloxicam a sulfa drug?
- Does Macrobid make birth control pills less effective?
- What antibiotics are used to treat UTI?
- Pat...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 3, 2018
For Urinary Tract Infection "Felt great day 1, bladder symptoms resolving. After day 2, had similar adverse reactions as others - horrendous diarrhea, cramps, sweats, nausea, short of breath, headache, clammy skin, anxiety, and racing heart. I took this once before about 20 years ago, and it was fine. This time it was awful. Pushed myself through 5.5 days but had to stop. I hope these side effects go away soon, this is wretched. I need to get back to my life. Have not gotten out of bed for 2 days."
- Anonymous
- August 5, 2016
For Urinary Tract Infection "Honestly, I was pretty scared taking this medicine after reading these reviews, but I took it and did not have one problem whatsoever, also, it cleared my UTI right up! Started off taking Bactrim and had the WORST side effects: headache, dizziness, my body tingled, super sick, so they switched me to Macrobid for 5 days and had no problems. I ate with a healthy meal every time I took it and drank lots of water throughout the day. Everyone is different, so I guess I found the one that works best for me!"
- Mar...
- December 23, 2015
For Urinary Tract Infection "I tried taking this medicine twice. Both times I could only get to the second or third dose before being affected. It does cure the UTI, however, I awoke with a terrible headache and a weird sensation in my eyes. By the second dose, this weird sick feeling increased so much that I can only describe it as a poisoned feeling. As I have never been allergic or sensitive to anything, I stupidly tried it again. Same result."
- kit...
- September 5, 2013
For Urinary Tract Infection "I've been taking Macrobid for urinary tract infections for years with no problem. It always worked really fast. This time, I got a severe headache within an hour of taking the first pill. I didn't connect it to the Macrobid and took the second dose, which was a big mistake. The headache was like a migraine and took two days to go away."
- Mia...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 11, 2017
For Urinary Tract Infection "I've had a few UTIs recently, and the antibiotics have worked every time, but this time I was prescribed Macrobid, and after one pill, I felt pretty horrendous. The symptoms of my UTI went away, but it was replaced with really scary symptoms. I took the second pill, not thinking it was side effects, considering I've never had a bad experience with an antibiotic, but woke up during the night feeling like my breathing was so heavy I wasn't sure if I'd need to go to the hospital. The headache was unreal, I ached all over and walked about feeling like I was going to fall down any minute and like I was drunk or something. I called the doctor, who told me to get an antihistamine and not take another. I felt poisoned! Still not fully recovered."
- Anonymous
- Taken for less than 1 month
- July 18, 2017
For Urinary Tract Infection "Was diagnosed with a kidney infection last Friday and was prescribed Macrobid by the doctor...100 mg four times a day. I have to say the side effects aren't great... I had vomiting on the Saturday evening and banging headaches the entire time I was taking them, however, these eased with paracetamol, and the main thing is the kidney infection felt a lot, lot better after 2 days. It's not the perfect drug, but it's not horrendous."
- Bda...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- July 3, 2019
For Urinary Tract Infection "Their reviews really drove me away, and I didn't want to take the pills since I hate taking medication. However, I eventually decided I needed to take it. Symptoms cleared up after the second pill, and I didn't have any side effects until day 3 when I woke up at night with some nausea. Went back to the doctor the next day, and he prescribed me some Zofran to take an hour before the Macrobid. I did that and managed to get through all 7 days with only a little fatigue, some headaches, and some excess flatulence. The trick is to take it with food and lots of water and follow it up with a probiotic 2 hours after."
- Mar...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 26, 2019
For Urinary Tract Infection "Mild nagging headache, mild nausea, cold sweats for up to 3 hrs after ingestion. Negative interaction with Lorazepam dramatically increasing the above side effects and duration. In addition, intense muscle aches and pains. IMHO, steer clear of benzodiazepines with this Rx. This is the 2nd time I took it this month because UTI came back. Antibiotics must be replaced soon by new biotech because we have so changed our internal biome with antibiotics that resistance has caught up with them. The same is true for fungi... google Candida Auris. At our population levels, microbiology has recognized us as their number one food source on the planet."
- Mis...
- June 21, 2019
For Urinary Tract Infection "I was given the Macrobid medication for a UTI. I took the first dose with food before bed and woke up feeling okay. I took the second dose that morning and headed into work. On my way into work, driving, I began to get dizzy, I thought I wouldn’t make it in. I arrived, then I immediately left work-went home with a headache, nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and body aches. I took another dose before bed to try and power through, then woke up the following morning unable to move, again with flu-like symptoms. My doctor told me to stop taking the medicine. And I will NEVER take it again. I am currently a day and a half off the antibiotic and still experiencing nausea, diarrhea, aches, and exhaustion. It is getting much better as time goes on, but I feel as if I wasted time on a medicine that made me even more sick when I should be UTI-free by now. My stomach is still so sensitive from this, so I cannot even go back on another antibiotic yet. Still have a UTI, missed three days of work, and feeling awful."
- Emm...
- December 29, 2015
For Urinary Tract Infection "I tried this for a UTI, got sharp pains behind my ribs that come and go all the time. Stopped taking it after two or three days, and my UTI came right back. Now on Bactrim and have the worst headaches all day long."
- Mau...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- September 20, 2017
For Urinary Tract Infection "I was extremely hesitant about taking this drug because of all the negative reviews. This drug worked great for my UTI for a few weeks. No real side effects except a headache here and there. I would definitely take it after a meal. Even with all of the negative reviews, just remember that each person is different and everyone reacts differently to drugs. I was so afraid of trying this drug because of the horrible side effects, however, I am so glad that I did! I would have rated it a 10, however, I now have to take something stronger due to the type of bacteria that showed up in my urine that is hard to treat."
- Chr...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- September 21, 2022
For Urinary Tract Infection "I have been on Macrobid several times before in the past, but this time was different. My body could not handle it, and it worried me. I was vomiting, achy, headaches, and just overall fatigued. I know everyone is different as well."
- ano...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 4, 2018
For Urinary Tract Infection "Earlier today, I got this for a UTI, and I have not stopped throwing up for over 12 hours. I'm fatigued, starving, sweaty, my head is pounding, and I'm miserable. I would never wish this on my worst enemy. DON'T TAKE THIS."
- Sky...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- July 11, 2019
For Urinary Tract Infection "This medication gave me the most severe headache imaginable. It felt like someone had pounded stakes in my temples. I couldn't get off the floor to call for an ambulance. The pain was so bad I passed out. I had a slight headache the first day. The second day was unbearable. Beware!"
- Jbl...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- November 14, 2018
For Bladder Infection "After having various antibiotics over the past 2 weeks for recurrent UTIs, a new GP prescribed Macrobid as my previous sample had been sensitive to it. I was desperate as going to the toilet and burning sensations when peeing every 10 mins. I have so far taken 3 pills out of 14. I noticed symptoms subsiding within about 6 hours of the first pill and a few hours after the 2nd, feeling almost back to normal but not quite completely. One side effect at the moment is a slight headache, which is much more bearable than the UTI."
- Anonymous
- Taken for less than 1 month
- July 21, 2012
For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm 36 hours in on this medicine and experiencing pretty bad headaches. Of course, it is the weekend and I can't really do anything until Monday. I still feel a slight twinge when I urinate. This is my first time on this medication. I'm hopeful that when I wake up tomorrow morning, I will have more of an improvement."
- Dcl...
- August 31, 2016
For Urinary Tract Infection "Only took 3 pills - was sent to the hospital for feeling like I had the flu with intense body aching, chills, migraine, and fever. I was in so much pain I cried. I am 18 weeks pregnant. I wondered why my OB office prescribed me a different antibiotic than in the past, but I knew right away something was wrong. It left me feeling poisoned and extremely ill. It's been 2 days since my last pill, and I still have pain behind my eyes, my neck, head, and back. I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS. IT'S POISON."
- Mzz...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 12, 2016
For Bladder Infection "I was diagnosed with a bladder infection and had been given the script for Macrobid. Right after taking the first pill, I had the worst headache that NOTHING would help. I did take a 2nd pill, and that about put me down with the headache. I took Advil, Tylenol. I ended up taking a Tramadol, which helped a little. I felt very weak, out of sorts, nausea, NO appetite, gassy stomach, and my neck hurt like crazy. Overall, I felt like I had a real bad case of the flu. I also want to mention that I had extreme anxiety. I am already OCD, and this medication magnified everything. I would rather suffer from the bladder infection than go through this again. I thought Bactrim was bad. The ONLY thing Macrobid helped with was my low-grade fever."
- Jen...
- October 23, 2015
For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm usually skeptical about these posts and the crazy side effects, so I didn't take them seriously when I was prescribed this medication. I only took 3 doses, and although my symptoms are gone, I had the worst splitting headache I've ever had, intense nausea, and foggy brain/not feeling myself. I skipped my 4th dose and felt completely better within a few hours. I felt worse on this medication than I ever did with a UTI."
- rom...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- August 9, 2016
For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Macrobid the same day my UTI symptoms began. By my visit to the clinic, it was already very painful. By the second day, my UTI was slightly better, the dizziness and nausea were intense, but it didn't impede my ability to function. This continued until the fourth or fifth day when the headaches began. First, they were manageable, but after dose 10, I wasn't able to function without getting sick (by then, the UTI symptoms were almost completely gone). The side effects lasted until all the medication was taken and for a couple days after. That being said, I've always been very sensitive to side effects from medications, and everyone's body will react differently. Take with food and lots of water, and the whole ordeal will be over soon."
- Pus...
- Taken for less than 1 month
- September 28, 2015
For Bladder Infection "Was prescribed this for an E. coli UTI but had never received this in the past. Bad choice of color of pill. It forewarns issues. Had what I thought was the flu this weekend. Twelve hours, then the fever broke. Did not know that flu symptoms could be a side effect. Have had headaches (top of head) since beginning. Now have vaginitis of some ilk. Now don't know what route the doctor will suggest: worried, in pain, and not sleeping waiting for the doctor's office to open. I will always put Macrobid in my medical records as an allergy. Took in generic form to keep costs down. Still expensive and now must start over with another drug, delaying both the cure of the UTI and causing the vaginal discharge."
- Wee...
- July 27, 2016
For Urinary Tract Infection "By the end of day one (2 doses), I felt very tired. Day two, I woke up weak, fatigued, achy, but was advised to stay on Macrobid as the UTI symptoms had improved. As the day wore on (3 doses), I became increasingly tired, had no energy, a headache, a sensation of heart racing, and nausea. Another call to my provider, and they suggested I switch to Cipro. Before I could do that, an episode of nausea sent me to the bathroom. I passed out, hit my head, and ended up hospitalized. I would be very afraid of this medication, considering the other options."
See also:
More about Macrobid (nitrofurantoin)
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For Urinary Tract Infection "The doctor diagnosed me with a mild UTI yesterday and prescribed Macrobid. A few hours after taking it, I felt my brain wasn't fully functioning, very slow. After that, I was beginning to feel more and more nauseous, which ended up in full-blown violent vomiting, which was continuous for hours. Now it's the next day, and I have heart palpitations, a bursting headache, extreme tiredness, still can't hold anything down. I've never been this sick from any other antibiotic, and I only took 1 dose. The doctor prescribed me different antibiotics, I couldn't continue the Macrobid with these abnormal side effects. I never write reviews but thought to share my experience this time because of the severe side effects this medicine can have. It might work great for some people, but not for me."