Nurofantoin

[maria40]

I was prescribed this yesterday at A&E for a bladder infection. Have taken 2 200mg tablets yesterday and feel dreadful: icy cold and can barely drag my self about the flat. Waiting for a call back from NHS 111 but don't know what to do with myself. Instinct is to stop the tablets. Any advice please.

[Breconblue]

UTIs are awful.. Nitro is a Broad Spectrum antibiotic often given as first line for UTIs, esp when Bacteria present is not known as probably in your case. Symptoms you describe is unlikely to be caused by the Nitro but progression of UTI. Don’t stop taking unless it looks like a genuine allergy, but hopefully they will switch you to an antibiotic specific to your infection . Hopefully they took a sample in A and E for the lab? Best of luck it really is horrid

[MrsNails]

It’s possibly the UTI rather than the Meds, are you drinking plenty of fluids?

Have you read the patient information leaflet re side effects?

Then tend to give this until they’ve checked what antibiotics the infection will be sensitive to....

Let us know what they say & if you are to continue or change to a different one.

Hope you feel better soon 💐

MrsN

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't agree with Breconblue - it is a quite unpleasant antibiotic in my experience though it does work which is the important thing! But those are listed as common adverse effects:

mayoclinic.org/drugs-supple...

and in combination with the UTI could make you feel pretty rubbish.

It takes more than 2 doses to get the UTI under control and while I know you feel awful, unless you get another antibiotic you should carry on or you increase the risk of developing resistant bacteria.

[Breconblue in reply to PMRpro]

Which part don’t you agree with, PMRpro?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Breconblue]

That it isn't likely to be the antibiotic. Nitrofurantoin can be horrible to take.

[Breconblue in reply to PMRpro]

Well she only had two, it can be quite nauseating, but a bad UTI can cause the same symptoms as side effects.I’ll bow to your obvious better judgement and let you advise

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Breconblue]

I merely said it CAN cause such symptoms - speaking from personal experience.

[Crochetty in reply to PMRpro]

Yes it certainly can be .Years ago I was treated with it , came out in hives but didn’t connect it so finished the treatment . Next timeI was given it I had chills and fever .So stopped immediately. I always tell medical staff that I am allergic to it Hate to think what would happen if I took it again

[SnazzyD]

Some people feel foul on Nitrofurantoin, even getting confusion. However, two doses is unlikely to have got on top of the infection if it’s a humdinger so if you are stopping this antibiotic please have something else to take. Right now, I’m not sure you can tell if it is either or both things causing how you feel. Did you get a Covid test in A&E?

[maria40 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks Snazzy. No, I didn't get a Covid test but I have had my first shot of the vaccine. I'm having that rare thing, a house visit, later. I'm very impressed with the service from 111. I think I must have sounded as bad as I felt on the phone.

[Hummingbird28 in reply to maria40]

I had a UTI in December 2018 and was given nitrofurantoin which I had to take for 7 days. The first symptoms were aches and pains and shivers, then came the confusion and ‘brain fog’. On the fourth day I woke up finding I was breathless which got worse as the day went on. After checking on the prescription leaflet it stated that it was one of the less common side effects which needed to be reported to a GP or if it was severe to go to the emergency dept. at the hospital. I went to the surgery, reported my symptoms but couldn’t see a doctor only a nurse who informed me that it was common to have a reaction to certain antibiotics but totally ignored the fact that I could barely breathe and told me I had to finish the course before I could be given some different antibiotics if necessary. The next day I was slightly less breathless but had a rash which travelled from my toes to my thighs alarmingly quickly - another less common side effect which might need a hospital visit, the leaflet stated. At this point I decided to stop taking the tablets and made an appointment to see a doctor as the UTI was still very much there. I was given another antibiotic which eventually cleared up the UTI.But.... 5 days later on January 1st 2019 I woke in the night unable to move ....PMR had struck!

Coincidence? Maybe, but I’ve always thought that this was the cause of my PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hummingbird28]

There's a nurse who needs reporting if ever ...

[MrsNails in reply to maria40]

Hi Maria

How are you feeling today & what did the Dr say when they came to see you?MrsN

[maria40 in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you Angela .I feel quite a bit better today though still rather lethargic. Dr has put me on a different anti-biotic, Ciprofloxacin. I have though had a warning from PMRpro that this does not sit well with long term steroid users like me and I have to look out for any signs that it is affecting my Achilles tendon. The biggest surprise was that he suggested that as my temperature was high, I should have a Covid test even though I've had the first shot of the vaccine. I don't think I do have it but will do the test anyway.

[MrsNails in reply to maria40]

Hi Maria

I’ve taken the Ciprofloxacin too for kidney infections (2019 - the year of the Kidney Infections!)

Lots of fluids, pain meds (paracetamol if you can take it for your temp & any pain) but these ‘big boy’ antibiotics do knock you about! I had to set my alarm early for some of them to keep them away from my other Meds 😳

But definitely get a Covid Test, get one sent to home then the only challenge is making up the box to post it back in! 😉

Wether we’ve had our vaccine or not we can’t be complacent as as yet the Vaccine is not 100%

I bought myself some Urine Dipsticks to check my wee when l got the kidney pain before l sent a sample to the Surgery, I took Nitrofurantoin for 3months......

Take Care Maria 💐

Hugs Angela xx

[maria40 in reply to MrsNails]

Thanks so much. As I'm quite dozy at the moment I've had to draw up a time table to keep the steroids and the antibiotics apart. My problem with the Covid test which has just been delivered is that on the phone I was told it would be collected but I can't see any indication of how that can be done - I'll have to phone again I think.

[MrsNails in reply to maria40]

Have a little sleep & then look at it again, when my DiL had one a Courier called the next day, the info is probably there but hard to spot! For me it was the folding up of the box that was the challenge 😳

Take Care xx

[maria40 in reply to MrsNails]

I see what you mean about the box! Nearly had me screaming. I booked the courier online on 119 and mentioned the awfulness of reconstructing the box with arthritic fingers to the adviser I spoke to -they know!

[MrsNails in reply to maria40]

Isn’t it a challenge! 😳 How are you feeling today? xx

I mentioned it too on a Feed Back Survey - even MrT got stressed with it!

[maria40 in reply to MrsNails]

Not wonderful I'm afraid as I barely slept last night; don't know if that is a side effect or just me worrying about everything. Have a home delivery today and had ordered quite a few things to replace dairy products, necessitated by the medication which doesn't like them, just had a message to say quite a few not available so I'm not happy. Still no cheese might have a good effect on my weight!

Hope you're well and can get into your lovely garden if you have the sunshine we're enjoying.

[MrsNails in reply to maria40]

You’ve really got a right old dose haven’t you 😖

Lots of fluids, rests, paracetamol if they suit you.

Yes we headed into the garden on Saturday & started measuring up for some new planters - MrT is getting an Orbital Sander & Power Saw for his birthday 😉 Not so sunny today but that doesn’t stop me planning, looking at Water Features now!.....

Take Care 💐 xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsNails]

So did I - daughter sids shouldn't use dipstix for over 65s as they give false +ves apparently, need to culture. However, she retracted it when I said I have done 3 in thelast 10 days, 1 negative, one slightly positive and the final one I have never seen a colour change so fast!!!! And then I took the sample to the lab having requested a form from the GP last week!

[Susanrid]

I’ve taken this antibiotic for UTI - feel foul while taking it - usually needs a day in bed but it does work - bear with!

[S4ndy]

Hope you feel better soon. I react badly to that antibiotic but it works for me so I usually ride out the course. It's mainly gut and bowel issues that it causes with me. Glad you are seeing a doctor. Best wishes x