Nitrofurantoin and Tiredness: What Users Say (Page 2)

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

Nitrofurantoin for Bladder Infection "I got prescribed Macrodantin before I read these reviews. I’ve been on it now for only 2 days, and I’m dying sick. However, it cleared up my bladder infection almost immediately! I have awful flu symptoms, exhausted, and no appetite at all. I’m cold all the time and just feel terrible overall. I’ve decided to come off the antibiotic because I can’t continue feeling this way. Seriously consider what this drug does to your body before taking it!"

• 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."

• 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!!"

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• 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."

• Bum...
• July 18, 2019

For Bladder Infection "I was prescribed this for a bladder infection, 100 mg twice daily. The first couple of days was okay. Then on day 3, I felt like I was on a different planet! I felt dizzy, disorientated, nauseous, my face felt puffy, my mouth felt tingly, I felt like I was on a rough boat crossing, and felt unbelievably tired. My chest feels tight, and my mouth is so dry! I’m glad I’ve read other people have had these symptoms. I am not taking any more and will go back to my doctor."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 11, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "I used to use nitrofurantoin when I would get recurrent urinary tract infections as a low dose, and that seemed to work well. I hadn't had a UTI in 7 years, then got one. The doc prescribed nitrofurantoin, and after 3 pills, my symptoms were worse. Usually, when I get antibiotics for a UTI, my symptoms stop almost immediately, so I knew they weren't working. The doc then prescribed Bactrim, and I felt better within hours. I must have a nitrofurantoin resistance from taking so much? My side effect was I was very tired. I could have slept all day."

• Bay...
• February 6, 2017

For Bladder Infection "I was prescribed Nitrofurantoin for a bladder infection. My first day of taking this medicine, my feet and hands became so very cold, and I could not control the chills. My hands became very pale. It felt like frostbite, like there were pins and needles in my fingers. I also became very lethargic and nauseated. I also had very intense pain in my lower back. I stopped taking them. I waited a few days and I took it at night before going to bed. I woke up in the middle of the night with the same chills, numbness, and tingling in my fingers and toes, nauseated and tired. This time, I contacted my doctor, and she advised me to stop taking the medication. I won't take this medication ever again."