Nitrofurantoin : Before Using - Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin, Apo-Nitrofurantoin, Novo-Furantoin

Nitrofurantoin - Systemic

Brand Names

Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin, Apo-Nitrofurantoin, Novo-Furantoin Nitrofurantoin *** Before Using *** How to Use *** Fore Safe Use *** Side Effects

Before Using

In deciding to using a medication, the chance of taking the drug must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you will make. For nitrofurantoin, the following must be considered

Allergic reaction

Tell your family doctor if you have any unusual or allergy to nitrofurantoin or to any related medication such as furazolidone - Furoxone or nitrofurazone - Furacin. Also tell your health care professional if you are allergic to any other substances, such as foods, preservatives, or dyes.

Pregnancy care

Nitrofurantoin must not be using if you are within a week or 2 of your delivery date or during labor and delivery. It may cause problems in the infant. Studies in pets have shown some problems when given in doses many times the human dose. Before taking this drug, make sure your family doctor knows if you are pregnant or if you may become pregnant.

Breast-feeding problem

Nitrofurantoin passes into the breast milk in small amounts and may cause problems in nursing babies, especially those with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - G6PD deficiency. It may be necessary for you to take another drug or to stop breast-feeding during treat. Be sure you have discussed the chance and benefits of the drug with your family doctor.

Use for Children

This drug has been tested in child 1 month of age and older and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause various side effects or problems in child than it does in adults. However, infants up to 1 month of age must not be given this drug because they are especially sensitive to the effects of nitrofurantoin.

Elderly care

Elderly people may be more sensitive to the effects of nitrofurantoin. This may increase the risk of side effects during treat.

Drug interactions

Although certain medication must not be using together at all, in other cases two various medication may be using together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your family doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking nitrofurantoin, it is especially important that your health care professional know if you are taking any of the following:

Acetohydroxamic acid - Lithostat
Antidiabetics, oral - diabetes drug you take by mouth
Dapsone
Furazolidone - Furoxone
Methyldopa - Aldomet
Primaquine
Procainamide - Pronestyl
Quinidine - Quinidex
Sulfonamides - sulfa drug
Sulfoxone - Diasone
Vitamin K - AquaMEPHYTON, Synkayvite Patients who take nitrofurantoin with any of these medication may have an increase in side effects effecting the blood

Carbamazepine - Tegretol
Chloroquine - Aralen
Cisplatin - Platinol
Cytarabine - Cytosar-U
Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis - DTP vaccine
Disulfiram - Antabuse
Ethotoin - Peganone
Hydroxychloroquine - Plaquenil
Lindane, topical - Kwell
Lithium - Lithane
Mephenytoin - Mesantoin
Mexiletine - Mexitil
Other anti-infectives by mouth or by injection - drug for infection
Pemoline - Cylert
Phenytoin - Dilantin
Pyridoxine - Hexa-Betalin - with long-term, high-dose use
Vincristine - Oncovin Patients who take nitrofurantoin with any of these medication, or who have received a DTP vaccine within the last 30 days or are going to receive a DTP vaccine may have an increase in side effects effecting the nervous system

Probenecid - Benemid
Sulfinpyrazone - Anturane Patients who take nitrofurantoin with either of these medication may have an increase in side effects

Quinine - Quinamm Patients who take nitrofurantoin with quinine may have an increase in side effects effecting the blood and the nervous system

Other Information for using

The presence of other medical problems may effect the use of nitrofurantoin. Make sure you tell your family doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

Anemia
Diabetes mellitus
Lung disease
Nerve damage
Other serious illness
Vitamin B deficiency These conditions may increase the risk for side effects

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase - G6PD deficiency Nitrofurantoin may cause anemia in diseaseds with G6PD deficiency

Kidney disease - other than infection The risk of side effects of this drug may be increased and the drug may be less effective in diseaseds with kidney disease