NITROFURANTOIN (ANTIBIOTIC)

[ReverendBadger]

I would be interested to hear from anyone who has had this drug prescribed for UTI or indeed anything else.

[Yanno]

Jax takes this for uti’s. Now has it as a prophylactic on a daily basis. Needs careful selection of the antibiotic by the doctor as Jax has uti’s which are resistant to certain antibiotics. Prior to taking it daily as a prophylactic our doctor gave Jax a course of Trimethoprim and Nitrofuratoin to hold at home. As soon as a UTI showed we urine tested ourselves and if positive took a sample to the doctor and started immediately on one antibiotic. If the lab advised that the uti was resistant to the first antibiotic we would switch to the second.

Ian

[ReverendBadger in reply to Yanno]

Hi again Ian.

I asked because I had never been prescribed it before so read the package insert carefully as I always do and tried to remember it. Took 1 tab at 17:30, at around 21:00 I get this sudden sharp tingling sensation in an area the size of a 10p coin on my inner right wrist, lasts a few seconds then disappears. I attach no signiificance to it at the time as odd pains here and there are a feature of my rheumatoid arthritis.

At 03:00 ish I wake up and realise that I have the same tingling sensation on the back of my right hand. Its like what you get with a stinging nettle. As I lie awake it turns itself on and off, might be on for anywhere from a second or 2 to half a minute. Its always on at full stregth i.e. pain and when off completely gone. when it comes back it is in the same localised area on the skin.

Then it starts on my left hand and arm, i.e this is bilateral, in 3 specific areas. My logical but inexpert conclusion was a neurological side effect. GP agreed and changed drug. Leaflet mentions tingling like pins and needles and possible nerve damage.

[SaltyFlorist]

This drug really bothers my stomach and digestion. I take it if I have a breakthrough infection and it works great for me. I use sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim as a prophylaxis. Luckily I have very few breakthrough infections.

[Gill-C]

Trimethoprim has worked well for me with no side effects but Nitrofuratoin does not.Good luck with the new meds!

[ReverendBadger in reply to Gill-C]

Trimethoprim is the one I got swapped to.

[Gill-C]

I was told at the hospital that what works depends on the cause of the infection. If it’s related to the incursion of faecal matter then trimethoprim won’t touch it. (Apologies to anyone who is reading this over breakfast!) Try it and see I guess.

[binnyrox]

Hello

Based on urine cultures - the urologist recommended I take Methenamine Hippurate 1g twice daily (with something acidic eg effervescent vitamin c for better absorption)

The brand prescribed for me is Hiprex

This is purely for prevention and not treatment

Also because I had episodes where there were E. coli in the urine - he put me on a course of Urovaxom tablets - again for prevention

The latter works very well. I’ve had. I no more problems with E. coli

Hiprex has definitely reduced the episodes of urinary tract infections with other bacteria

I take cranberry juice 240ml daily - Knudsens brand as Consumer Lab did tests and found it contained the highest potency of the prophylactic ingredient

Nitrofuratoin was not recommended for my particular situation based on the offending bacterias

Hope this helps

Take care and kindest regards

BR

[clairebaby123]

Hi there, my sister has been taking this nightly now for the past 3 months and it has been amazing for her. Before this, she would suffer horrendously with urine infections which caused severe paranoia and hallucinations amongst other things, but these symptoms were the hardest to watch. She hasn't had an infection since then and it has been an absolute god send. Xx

[ReverendBadger in reply to clairebaby123]

I spoke to another GP today & he confirms this drug is very effective for people who can tolerate it and don't get worrying side effects. It's their "first choice" UTI treatment.