Nitrofurantoin and Weakness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Ise...
• June 3, 2014

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was given nitrofurantoin for cystitis many years ago, and while it cleared the infection, it also made me very nauseous and weak. This time, however, I was prescribed it in the form of Macrodantin capsules, and I had no side effects whatsoever. Because of my previous experience, I was really quite scared to take it, but began with half the dose prescribed just to see how I'd feel. When I didn't feel sick after the first couple of half-doses, I upped it to the full dose and was fine, no nausea at all or any other side effects. I took it with meals, but not always with a full meal, sometimes only with a snack, but it still didn't make me feel sick. I suppose the lesson learned from reading all these posts is that we're all different."

• nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I get UTIs pretty frequently, so as soon as I felt the symptoms coming on, I went to an urgent care. The first day of Macrobid, I got a headache. The second day, I had a severe headache, body aches, weakness, and malaise. However, I thought it was just my illness because I have never had an experience like this with medication before. Day 3, I am in hell and sicker than a dog. Severe headache, nausea, lightheaded, weak, fatigued. I called in for Bactrim. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I get that not everyone has this reaction, but the risk is not worth it to me."

• nor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I get UTIs pretty frequently, so as soon as I felt the symptoms coming on, I went to an urgent care. The first day of Macrobid, I got a headache. The second day, I had a severe headache, body aches, weakness, and malaise. However, I thought it was just my illness because I have never had an experience like this with medication before. Day 3, I am in hell and sicker than a dog. Severe headache, nausea, lightheaded, weak, fatigued. I called in for Bactrim. DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION. I get that not everyone has this reaction, but the risk is not worth it to me."

• Far...
• December 7, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I have never felt so badly with an antibiotic in my life. I'm on nitrofurantoin 100 mg twice a day. The first day with food, I started feeling really badly, I was chilling, shaking uncontrollably... awful headache... hands and legs became numb... nauseous, so weak. Once I laid down, I couldn’t get back up. My husband is on hospice, and I am his 24/7 caregiver. I kept trying to get up, and I felt like I was going to faint. I'm so achy all over, I totally felt like it was the end for me. I am in bed right now and can’t even get up... like I had the worst flu ever... do not take this."

• Mea...
• May 19, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I normally would write off side effects as 'everyone has a different experience, don't try to discourage others.' However, I have just finished my second day of the Macrobid dose for my UTI, and I have never in my life experienced such unbearable side effects. Within about 2 hours of my first dose yesterday morning, I started feeling extremely nauseous, weak, brain fog, and horrible vertigo. I had to call out of work yesterday and today, almost unable to make it out of bed to use the bathroom or anything. This feels worse than just about any flu I have had. Not to mention, my joints all feel like someone hit them with a crowbar. I can't take this anymore, stopping the med ASAP. I don't even care about the negative effects of stopping an antibiotic prematurely at this point. By all means, take your doctor's advice, take this if it is prescribed to you, but listen to your body!!! Call them about any overwhelming side effects, don't put yourself through absolute torture if you don't have to."

• pen...
• May 11, 2016

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Took this drug for 3 days. The infection got better after 2 doses. However, I slowly developed headaches and a little chills on the 2nd day of treatment. Thought I might be getting a bit of flu, so I ignored the symptoms and continued my medication. As soon as I took the last dose, my symptoms got worse. I was so weak I could hardly walk. My eyes got blurry and generally nauseous and drowsy. As I type this, I still have all these symptoms with a raised heartbeat, occasional numbness of my hands and feet. All I want is to sleep but too scared to sleep just in case it got worse. Nonetheless, the medicine does the job as it cleared my infection after two days of taking it, but it gave me a bad experience, so I'm not taking this drug again."

• Ean...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For Bladder Infection "I was put on a 3-day course of nitrofurantoin in April and only managed to take 3 of the 6 pills due to vomiting and feeling like I had the flu. I was put on this again recently for 7 days and spent most of the time out of work due to nitrofurantoin side effects, banging migraine on the first day and after that came the excruciating stomach pains, nausea and vomiting, extreme weakness and fatigue, cold sweats, and general malaise. I did manage to fight through the 7 days - the side effects became less manageable as the days went by, though. I congratulate anyone who gets through a week's course and is still able to go to work, as this is the second time I've been off of work due to this medication."

• Ast...
• September 4, 2016

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Definitely would NOT take this again. I experienced headache, dizziness, stomach pain, diarrhea, muscle pain, tingling in my limbs, I was so weak. I really thought something was wrong, and it just so happened all this started when I took the first pill! I am definitely sticking to my ciprofloxacin! I know everyone's different, good luck to the ones that do take it :/"

• BLR...
• October 17, 2018

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Attended emergency for statin use-related UTI. Started medication the same day and the next morning vomited. I took the next prescribed dose and 2 hours later could not take a deep breath, had a very tight, heavy chest, and I thought I was having a heart attack. By the time for my next dose, I had a headache, muscle pain which kept moving, felt sweaty and feverish. The next dose created more of the same, with increased labored breathing. I had never felt so weak or nauseated. Sleep was intermittent and weird dreams. I did not continue, called my GP and stopped immediately. I am a 60-year-old woman and this is the most horrible drug I have ever been prescribed."

• 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."

• dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2020

For Urinary Tract Infection "Got this prescribed for 7 days for UTI. I am 30 weeks pregnant, and they found Strep B in my urine, and since I am allergic to penicillin-based drugs, this is my only option before IV antibiotics. My side effects are headache and pain behind the eyes (bearable), feeling like I haven't slept at night: daytime fatigue and weakness. I am finding myself sitting or laying down most of the day, especially 2-3 hours after taking the pill. I am on day 5 and am trucking along. 3 more days. It really helped clear up the awful foul smell of my urine. So yeah, not fun, but when there is no other option, you stick with it."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2019

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Macrobid was the worst medicine I had for a UTI. I only took one dose before bed to start with. I felt dizziness, sweating, heart racing, and weakness. I don’t think I will be taking any more. I will be contacting my doctor for something else. I would not recommend. I had a UTI before and had a different medicine that did not give barely any side effects except diarrhea and a little nausea if you didn’t eat."

• Amb...
• August 1, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "Was prescribed Macrobid by my physician for UTI. On the third day of taking this medicine, my hands became numb. It was so bad that when I was driving to work, my left hand slipped off the steering wheel. Talking about scared. I thought I was going to drive off the bridge. They need to do something about this medicine. Because of the severe side effect that I received, this medication is dangerous. I'm still suffering from weakness in both hands. And it's very scary when I have to go somewhere. I never thought that I would get this bad reaction from this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 14, 2019

Nitrofurantoin 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."

• in ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 16, 2019

For Bladder Infection "I took this last night at bedtime, prescribed for a UTI. I woke up feeling completely disoriented with a migraine. All of my joints were in extreme pain, and I was barely able to walk because I was so weak. This was a really strange and frightening experience. Thought I was having a stroke or something. My brain was a mess. The funny thing is that all of the nurses and doctors said they never heard of these symptoms. I don't believe them, looking at all of these posts. Twenty-four hours in, I still feel very weak and just want to sleep. Could not go to work today. I am not finishing this drug."

• H R...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 30, 2017

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "This is the third antibiotic in 2 weeks used for a UTI. Yes, the drug has been effective in healing the infection. However, it would not be my 1st choice. I've had muscle pain in my legs and feet, exhaustion, insomnia, grotesque nightmares, weakness, unsteadiness walking, nausea, dry mouth with a taste of metal in my mouth."

• Mzz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2016

Nitrofurantoin 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."

• mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2015

For Urinary Tract Infection "I take this medicine for urinary tract infections during pregnancy. I am on it now again for the third time. Take twice a day for seven days. The side effect I get comes right after the first pill. I get flu-like symptoms: sore joints, chills, sleepiness, and extreme weakness. However, no fever. Took one Tylenol and sweated it out while sleeping, woke up better. But, this medicine works really well after the first dosage."

• Wee...
• July 27, 2016

Nitrofurantoin 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."

• Sta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2016

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "I woke up feeling a nasty burning sensation, so I went to the walk-in clinic today to be prescribed Macrobid. I must say, in the first hour after taking it, my extreme pain and irritation were gone, but as time went by, I started to feel like I was going through chemotherapy. Only one pill, and I feel extreme side effects. I wear corrective lenses, and my vision is getting all messed up. My body is super weak, my heart beats very fast, my stomach is in knots, my abdomen is cramping up like nobody's business. I have a headache. Never ever taking this again. I would not recommend this antibiotic to anyone. Yes, everyone is different, therefore, you will react differently to antibiotics, but this one is absolute agony."

• Han...
• July 3, 2021

Nitrofurantoin for Urinary Tract Infection "This is by far the worst medication I have taken, and it's ruined my birthday weekend. I started feeling very fatigued with a stomach ache on day 1, but I didn’t think too much of it as I was also on my period, so symptoms didn’t feel too out of the ordinary. By day 2, I had lost my appetite and became so nauseous and dizzy I couldn’t get up. Day 3, I was feeling a little better until a couple of hours after my morning pill when I got a twisting hunger type of pain in the top of my stomach, the kind I’d imagine you’d have after not eating all week. It was excruciating, and it was only after I ate that I realized it was no hunger pain. This made me very nauseous and weak for the whole day. Now I am day two off the course, it’s my birthday, and I have a new addition of chest pain and headache on top of the other symptoms. I’m considering going to the ER, that is how awful this medication has made me feel. The worst part is my UTI symptoms came back on day three after ceasing on day 1."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "I was prescribed this medication, and by day 2 I was nauseous, vomiting (until there was nothing but green bile coming up), diarrhea, body aches, chills, sweats, and very weak and extremely cold. I have had UTIs in the past, but this was the first time I have taken this antibiotic. I had to stop taking it for my own health. I felt like I was going to die if I took one more dose of this stuff. I wouldn't say the pill is horrible, but it is not for me. I need another type of antibiotic."

• Mam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 25, 2019

For Urinary Tract Infection "This drug had me so sick, I was in bed for 7 days. I was vomiting, had diarrhea, headaches, extremely weak to the point I actually fell down. I didn't even have the strength to roll over in bed, my daughter had to help me. Of the fourteen tablets I was given, I managed to take only five. And with each one, I got worse until my daughter finally realized it was this medicine."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2015

For Bladder Infection "I do not take any form of medication and am not allergic to anything at all, but prescribed this drug for a UTI, 4 x 100 mg for 7 days. After taking the tablets for 2 days, the headaches started along with an intolerance to light. Then I started to feel like I was having flu-like symptoms, chilly with aching joints. I felt lethargic and began to feel quite weak, with a feeling of not being able to focus properly and feeling dizzy. So much so, I did not feel comfortable driving. I spoke to my doctor and said I would not take any more (I was up to 5 days by then). The symptoms of my UTI are still there, and I'm going back for another antibiotic, will never take this drug again."

• Pen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2018

For Urinary Tract Infection "Within hours after taking nitrofurantoin for UTI, I was bedridden for 48 hours. Had weakness in muscles and joint pain, confusion, delirium, ice-cold sweats, feet and hands ice cold, burning headache, back and hip pain, loss of concentration, pale face, loss of appetite. Horrid taste in mouth, couldn't eat for 4 days and lost 5 lbs in weight. Had to send for the doctor after the 5th day. Mentioned to the doctor who came that I thought the tablets had a bad effect on me, he dismissed comments saying nitrofurantoin was a widely used medication for UTI. I stopped taking it and felt better in 24 hrs. Horrid, scary experience, a warning to other people prescribed this medication. Horrid nightmare experience."