Nitrofurantoin and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

For Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Pol...
• November 22, 2013

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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!"

• Nin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2019

For Bladder Infection "I'm so glad I found these reviews, but I wish I'd seen them before I took nitrofurantoin. After 3 pills, I started to feel really nauseous and vomited up any subsequent pills. I developed chest pains and trouble breathing. I stopped taking them immediately. Even so, I spent the most uncomfortable night of my life waking every hour. I had to sleep on my back because if I lay on my side, my chest hurt really bad. I couldn't get warm even with piles of blankets and the electric blanket on to warm the bed, and I was shaking and shivering. I felt like I had the worst flu ever. Today, I haven't been able to do anything and alternate between lying down and sitting as I have a really bad headache. I can't eat anything as it brings the nausea back. I'm with everyone who thinks this drug needs banning. It's poison. I usually don't react to drugs."

• sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "Please, please, please don't use this drug! Was put on it for a bladder infection that I didn't even know I had and have been nothing but miserable. When I first started taking it, 100 mg twice a day, I noticed that I had severe nausea, even though I took it with food. Then body pains and head pains came. My head would feel so heavy that I could barely hold it up, and my ears felt as if they were full of fluid. Then came the vision problems and trouble balancing and basically walking. I had to take time off work because I have been having a mental breakdown because of this drug. I am constantly crying or in full-on panic attacks. I feel like any day could be my last. Please don't take this pill, it's not worth it! I'm praying this won't be forever."

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

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

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

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Ant...
• August 2, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

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

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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!"

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

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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!"

• Wha...
• July 30, 2014

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "I was prescribed Macrobid for a bladder infection on a Friday. I took the first dose that evening after dinner. I woke up Saturday morning feeling fine, took another dose, and it went downhill from there. We went out for breakfast, and the fun began: nausea, chills, etc. I had to go home and get in bed for the remainder of the day. I had a fever of 101.3. I had a terrible headache, joint pain, etc. On Sunday, I was so freaked out that my husband took me to an urgent care clinic. I was told that it wasn't the Macrobid, but that my bladder infection had become systemic. Baloney. I would wake up and feel fine, take the medication with milk, and whammo! Down for the count. I am now on day five and finally went to work today. I totally felt hungover."

• Ash...
• November 22, 2016

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Prevention of Bladder infection "I don’t like that the people who didn’t have a bad reaction are acting like their experience negates all the others. Everybody is different, and everybody reacts differently. The good: in the last several weeks, I’ve been hospitalized with kidney infections and sepsis twice. I was on home IV antibiotics for four weeks. Nothing worked. Finally, bacteria were identified, and I was put on a black box antibiotic for 11 days. Then switched to Macrobid as a precaution for the next four months while we narrow down what is wrong. This is doing its job well. It has also caused a pain I feel in my head, sinuses, ears, neck, and teeth that is extreme and life-altering. You can’t live a normal life with this type of pain. It’s a nightmare. The pain is intolerable. If you haven’t experienced this, be grateful, not angry at those of us suffering."

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

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Lit...
• March 10, 2021

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I’ve had a bad reaction twice to the drug, it’s now on my records not to be given it. Nonstop being sick, a really painful headache that does not respond to any pain relief. I ended up in A&E the first time, then was given it again and had flu-like symptoms, and the worst bit by far again the excruciating headache. Today I feel a little better, my eyesight has gone funny, like my glasses are not working properly, and it was fine prior to taking the drug. Alarmingly, these are on the side effect list!!"

• Ros...
• November 9, 2019

For Bladder Infection "Prescribed Macrobid 100 mg x 2 daily (first time ever) for a mild bladder infection. Had the first one at lunch (didn’t read or anticipate any side effects). I was busy at work; began to feel increasingly ill with flu symptoms (way worse than how I’d felt with my UTI). I then developed shivers, aching with nausea and stomach cramps. I thought it strange I was getting the flu at the same time as a bladder infection! That night was horrific after a second dose; thought I was having an asthma attack (never had asthma before but felt like it), palpitations, tachycardia. My upper back and neck hurt so much, terrible headache (unusual for me). Having read these reviews, I’m 100% convinced this was a side effect of the antibiotic; no other explanation. Still feel dreadful and ‘poisoned’. Started large doses of D Mannose as it’s a weekend. Anyone who thinks the symptoms are placebo are wrong! I wasn’t anticipating any reaction! This is a truly scary drug which I will never touch again."

• GCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 6, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed Macrobid for a UTI. I know medications affect everyone in a different way. But this antibiotic made me so sick. I had severe headaches, nausea, and weakness. I was unable to go to work. I took the entire 7-day treatment even though it was making me feel so terrible. I thought it would be worth it if it cleared up my infection. But it didn’t clear it up! I still had the same symptoms, so I had to go back to the doctor. This time I was prescribed Cephalexin. It worked and with no side effects."

• Anonymous
• August 2, 2009

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "I have been on Macrobid for a urinary tract infection for 4 days and still do not have relief. I have called my doctor, and he has now prescribed me a sulfa drug. I have used the sulfa drug in the past, and it works quickly. I am miserable on the Macrobid, exhausted, irritable, weepy, nauseous, and have a headache."

• CDa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2025

For Urinary Tract Infection "The good part of nitrofurantoin 100 mg x2 is the burning and urgency went away in 24 hours. The bad part is I was starting to get so weak by day 2 (I am 5'3", 110 lbs, 73 years). I spent the evening on the couch. No energy. I had trouble getting up to make food, I had an extreme headache, weakness, foot cramps. I did not take the AM pill day 3. By the evening of day 3, I only took 1 pill. The morning of day 4, the walk from my bed to the kitchen to make breakfast felt like I was going to pass out. I had been hydrating during the night but slept uncomfortably. I had to sit and rest to feel stable enough to make breakfast. I went outside and thought I was going to pass out trying to roll my trash to the curb. I had errands but did not want to drive. I called doctors, no contraindications for anemia. Finally, by 3:00 PM, I felt good enough to drive to get dinner. The doctor has not called in another prescription. I stopped taking it, and since it is standard, no sure substitute exists."

• Kat...
• April 30, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Had abdominal discomfort, burning sensation, and blood after urination. Urgent care diagnosed me with a UTI. They prescribed this for me, and after taking one pill, my symptoms started to subside. I have only experienced a slight headache, but no other significant side effects. My urine, however, did turn a different kind of yellow, but when looking at the packaging, this is normal and doesn't warrant concern. Great antibiotic."

• Sai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "I hated using Macrobid. It gave me ugly stomach cramps and headaches. I’m 26 weeks pregnant, and it was either take this or Bactrim. I was not about to take Bactrim. My UTI is gone, but I had to deal with a week of upper abdominal pain, headaches, and just an overwhelming sense of feeling like absolute garbage. Thankfully, none of it went to my baby girl. That’s the only positive of this medicine, it goes straight to your urinary system."

• miz...
• October 17, 2015

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "This works fine for me. I'm allergic to most of the antibiotics out there, but not this one, thankfully. I get UTIs frequently because I always have to be cultured, sometimes that waiting period helps the thing really get going. Normally, it's a 10-day course. I do not get headaches or any of the side effects others have had. Everybody's body is different, the only way you'll know how you will react is to take it yourself."

• chr...
• July 23, 2014

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I am 11 wks pregnant, and after my first OB/GYN appointment, they called me with results that I had a urinary tract infection. I was shocked because I didn't have any symptoms other than pressure by my bladder, which I was relating to the pregnancy. I was prescribed 100 mg of Macrobid x 3 days, taking 1 capsule every 12 hrs. The first night I took it a couple of hours after dinner and went to sleep. BIG MISTAKE! I woke up vomiting, ate a bagel right away, and took the second pill. I felt nauseated all day, tired, and had a mild headache. The remaining pills I took directly after a full meal and felt a little better. If it wasn't for the medicine only being for 3 days, I don't think I could've taken it any longer. I just kept telling myself that if I don't finish it, a UTI can be much more serious."

• Pun...
• January 24, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "After reading all of the horrible reviews on this site, I was terrified to take Macrobid. I waited two days, hoping that the symptoms would clear and I wouldn't have to take this 'awful poison.' Everything I read talked about flu-like symptoms and high fevers. Scary stuff. I finally gave in and took my first dose around 9:00 a.m. By around 1:00 p.m., I had a bit of a headache, which was mostly controlled with Advil. Same side effect with the second and third doses. By day three, I was side effect-free and nearly symptom-free too. I would take this again in a heartbeat. Don't let the reviews scare you. Everyone reacts differently, and you can't base what your experience will be off of the bad experiences others had."

• beb...
• March 10, 2012

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I have had a urinary tract infection since January, and it is now March. First, I was put on a Z-pak with no relief. Then I was put on Cipro. The test came back as if I hadn't taken anything. Now I am on nitrofurantoin, and the symptoms have subsided. I have a headache and am tired, but so what, they will go away when I finish taking this. It worked great for me."

• Cyn...
• August 14, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "I started taking the medication, the first day was okay. The second day, I don't know what happened, but I started getting a fever, then chills, it got worse. I couldn't eat, my body hurt so bad, tossing and turning. Not to mention that I lost ALL appetite to eat, and that was yesterday! I'm awake now with still a killer headache, can't sleep. My stomach hurts, and I'm heading to the doctor because the medication just isn't for me if it's making me feel worse than when I had the bladder infection."