Nitrofurantoin and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

Nitrofurantoin 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."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2021

For Prevention of Bladder infection "I was given this drug to take to prevent recurring UTIs. “100 mg 1x per day with food at bedtime.” All I can say is “avoid at ALL COST!” I have ended up with horrifying bowel movements (frequency and color), backache, no energy, no appetite (great when you're supposed to take this with food), fever, chills, severe anxiety, but the worst was lung congestion, a horrifying cough, and difficulty breathing that was SO BAD I was sent for a Covid test, and they said they were certain I had it (I didn’t). Stopped taking the drug, and within 24 hours there were no more fevers, cough lessened, no congestion. Took a couple of days for the bowel movement issues, difficulty breathing, backache, etc. to subside. I think this drug should be taken off the market. I started taking the supplement D-mannose daily and have had much more luck. I will never EVER take this again."

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

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "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."

• Amy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2016

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "Lower back pain gone after 1st day of this medicine. Nausea is horrible - taking Phenergan to offset nausea. I'm lethargic and resting. This stuff must be strong - but I'd take bed rest and nausea over a knife in my back anyway! I'm on 2X daily with food for 5 days. I'm on day 3."

• Seb...
• August 24, 2012

Nitrofurantoin 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."

• Inf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "My urologist put me on this medicine Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for two months. The first week, sick to my stomach, hands and feet numb, no energy, feeling like passing out, terrible stomach pain. I couldn't even get through the first week. Now, today I was not able to pee either. This stuff made me even worse."

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Awful drug. Took Macrobid for 3 days for UTI, where I couldn’t eat as I felt so sick, slept nearly all day, every day, as it made me so tired. I’m on the progesterone contraceptive pill, it has interacted with that, and I’ve had a period for 3 weeks nonstop since taking these antibiotics (after 5 years of no periods). Three weeks on from taking these, I have been depressed the whole time, not wanting to get out of bed and felt teary, and everything was making me cry. I thought I was going insane as you don’t expect medication to still be affecting you 3 weeks after you have finished taking it!! Gave me twitches in my hands too! Need this medication out of my body ASAP!! Trying to take charcoal, probiotics, and milk thistle to recover my body from this awful drug!! Do not take it, ask for a general antibiotic instead, as it’s so not worth the side effects. I’d rather suffer from the UTI than ever take them again!!"

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 28, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Been taking this drug for 3 days and not sure if the way I’m feeling is due to the drug or my ongoing stomach issues and anxiety. However, I have been feeling tired, nauseous, and experiencing some dizziness. Also, had a headache for the first 2 days that wouldn’t budge - mainly frontal, behind the eyes! On the plus side, it seems to have cleared the UTI. I’ve completed my course, so hopefully, these symptoms will disappear."

• sic...
• September 23, 2014

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "After having a lot of urine infections for the past year, I am now back on Macrodantin 50 mg, 4 times a day for 7 days. Makes me feel yak, headaches, keeps me awake, slightly dizzy, feel tired a lot. Then doctor wants me to take a low dose of it for 6 weeks. Will keep you posted if it actually works this time. I have my doubts."

• Pix...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 3, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "I'm taking nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) 100 mg, currently on day 4 of 7 for urinary tract infection (UTI). My urinary tract infection was more than painful pee - I had the whole set of flu-like symptoms like chills, nausea, aches, and of course, painful pee and blood in the urine. I would say about 80% of my symptoms - especially the pain! - were gone within 24 hours, and the only thing I feel now is a bit of itchiness in the urethra when I pee. No big deal. On the downside, I am VERY tired (day 2 was the worst, felt like I was 90 years old), a bit dizzy, certainly nauseous, I feel like I have to breathe really hard, and muscle pain. Overall, very effective for treating urinary tract infection, but I feel like crap and I can't wait to finish the 7-day course."

• Anonymous
• August 14, 2010

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "Took for a bladder infection. Felt better after a day or so, but got extremely nauseated, even taking it with a snack. It also makes me so tired, all I want to do is sleep. I have stopped taking it, and it feels like I am getting the same symptoms back. I am allergic to sulfa drugs, and this is what the doctor gave me."

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

Nitrofurantoin 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."

• Hal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I really felt like I should state my experience with this drug. I had done a lot of research, including reading these reviews, and I was terrified of taking nitrofurantoin. I almost decided to deal with a UTI rather than take it. Well, I wanted to share that I didn't have any negative effects. It did make me feel a little tired, but I'm not sure if that is from the medication or from waking up earlier than usual. I will say to make sure you take it with a meal. I had half of an English muffin and oatmeal, and I didn't have any nausea. I would also say to drink plenty of water to help the medication work. And finally, don't be afraid like I was. I was having really bad anxiety after taking the first pill, and I am totally fine."

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2012

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I have been on Macrobid for 3 days now. I feel so nauseated. I'm so tired, and I can't eat or drink anything, except for a little water, without getting sick. It gives me a horrible headache, and I feel so weak. I am also allergic to sulfa medications (Bactrim), so the doctor gave me this."

• Nui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2025

For Urinary Tract Infection "So far I've been like 3 days into this medication and I've been feeling fever (just instantly goes away after a bit), chills, nausea, but they weren't all ghastly. Although I was panicking it could be a kidney infection. I did lose my appetite to eat for a bit of a day, but then the next day I devoured my food like crazy. I don't really feel back pain as much. I thought I had constipation, but I just didn't poop for two days and then I went to the toilet like three times on the third day. And I just go to the toilet a lot to pee as well. It's super uncomfy-the side effects-but at least they ain't as horrible as what I've been reading so far. After reading a load of these reviews, I did get scared thinking that my pill might do me harm, but so far I am doing great. Just feeling tired and possibly a fever? But I recommend taking this pill while eating. Like eat half your meal, take the pill with water or even cranberry juice, then you finish your food. Then drink a full glass of water."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 5, 2020

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "This drug was fine at first. By the second pill, it seemed as if my UTI was gone. If you don’t take this drug with TONS of food, it will mess you up. This drug also gave me severe stomach gas and diarrhea every morning. It also increased my appetite so much when I woke up that I had to eat something immediately or I felt sick. I really did not like being on this medicine. It messed up how I felt and just made me super tired and uncomfortable. I hope I never have to take it again."

• Jco...
• November 17, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Cleared up the UTI pretty quickly. But on the second day, I started to have some side effects: nausea, upper abdominal and back pain, feeling very weak and tired. Eating a larger meal with the pill seems to help a little. Not the worst medication, but not great either."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "This medication made me feel awful. I woke up every day with a bad headache, experienced nausea, dizziness, and extreme tiredness throughout the week (every day). I don't think I can finish the full week as I need to resume my life. I wouldn't take this again. However, the infection seems to be gone, so it worked for that."

• chr...
• August 25, 2014

For Bladder Infection "I have given this medication 1 because of the side effects, which actually only flared up on my final day of taking them. I felt really ill for about two days, which totally knocked me for six. Tiredness, loss of appetite, and shaking, later in the day, a rash on my legs, which was worse on my feet and ankles, then my face went a bright red color. Two days later, the rash is still there but starting to fade, next came some tightness in my chest, which is easing. As I said, these came at the end of the 7-day dosage period, so there was no point contacting a doctor, so I'm just riding it out. Hope they clear the infection."

• 816...
• August 14, 2016

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "Was prescribed this antibiotic for a bladder infection at emergency care. Doctor said there were few side effects when I asked - was hesitant to take it because I'm very sensitive to antibiotics, but was assured this was the best medicine for me with the least side effects. Wrong! By day 2 I was totally lethargic, feeling very irritable and running a low-grade fever on and off. Thought temp was from bladder infection. Finished 6-day course, went to my doctor for a urine recheck, and since my culture appeared clean, was told I could stop a day earlier. Two days off the medicine and I'm still feeling like crap, extremely tired and lethargic with a low-grade fever of 100.5. Feel like I have a minor case of the flu, but since reading other articles I believe it's from the antibiotic. Never again will I take this."

• Ash...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2022

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "Started taking Macrobid last week, and after the first dose, I felt off. I ended up leaving work early that day because I had intense nausea, chills, and general lethargy. Later that evening, it had progressed to a fever, balance issues, and it's like I had no legs under me. Took one more dose, and it was the same issues. Decided to discontinue the meds, and the side effects went away almost immediately. But that didn't help the bladder infection. I started to think maybe it was the infection that had caused all of the side effects, despite not having any now. So I took another dose this morning. You guessed it, ALL of the side effects from before. So I contacted my NP who prescribed Cipro instead. My pharmacist says that the adverse reactions are pretty rare, but I can't imagine taking the full course of Macrobid. The nausea was the worst! I honestly felt terrible!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2018

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed this medicine for a possible UTI. Didn't work because I believe I have cystitis, but this was precautionary. Almost didn't take it because of the reviews! The only bad side effect I had was stinky gas and maybe a little tired. I don't understand how this drug has so many bad reviews. (Maybe people who have bad experiences are more likely to review something and the ones who have good experiences just move on with their lives.) Drink it with a glass of water and food. I was fine."

• Kri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I started this 11 hrs ago... Let me tell you, it has made me feel horrible. Dizzy, trouble concentrating, exhausted, my face feels odd, hot/cold, and I'm nauseous. I am terrified to take another dose. Unfortunately, my culture showed this antibiotic to be most effective. But there is no way I can take 5 days of this. I just looked up reviews and saw that I'm not the only one feeling this way. I have only had a bad reaction to Erythromycin (vomiting) many years ago. I don't recall an antibiotic ever making me feel this way before."

• Kbr...
• August 29, 2018

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I'm in my 5th day of Macrobid. Really just wanted to review to ease some minds because I ran to the internet too when I was prescribed this medication (like I always do with new medicine). The only side effects I've had are some nausea/stomach upset, anxiety (I have health anxiety and was pretty shook up from the reviews, so could be that), tiredness, and my urine turned a dark yellow/fluorescent yellow. I'm 19, get UTIs a lot as I'm prone to them, and am on a 7-day course. I'm also usually pretty sensitive to medicine because I'm so in tune with my body. Basically, this drug is fine (for me). If you drink/eat before/after taking it, the nausea is dramatically reduced. I even talked to my nurse, and the majority of people do well on the medicine with little side effects (mainly upset stomach). This medicine has taken care of my UTI, no problem. By day 3, I felt normal."

• Joa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2019

Nitrofurantoin 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."