Quick question re Nitrofurantoin

[Sophiestree]

It seems I have an asymptomatic pee infection.

Must be 20 years or more since I had one of those...

Is Nitrofurantoin ok to take with Pred and TCZ (which i assume i don't take this weekend)

My only symptoms have been headaches, tiredness, heart thumping and internally feeling shaky.

Which I assumed was my usual symptoms... slightly exacerbated.

Thanks all in advance.

[MrsNails]

I’m taking it now with Pred & MTX - l’ll send you a link to check with TCZ:

MrsN

[Sophiestree in reply to MrsNails]

Great. Thank you

[MrsNails in reply to Sophiestree]

drugs.com/interactions-chec...

You need to speak to your Consultant before taking it……

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MrsNails]

I thought standard with any antibiotic is to stop the TCZ - and actually also with MTX.

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

I was planning on skipping my TCZ on Sunday.

[MrsNails in reply to PMRpro]

It is if your ‘ill/poorly’ - l’m totally symptom free but showing an infection on Dip Stick & Culture & l wouldn’t have known if it hadn’t been for the Beetroot Incident!

This is what’s baffling the GP…..

[mgrogers99]

Ask your pharmacist!

[Pixix in reply to mgrogers99]

Yes, or your doctor, surely?

[Sophiestree in reply to Pixix]

You'd like to think so wouldn't you. They don't know much either although they have proudly put on their screen in the waiting room that GCA is one of the things they are treating...

[Sophiestree in reply to mgrogers99]

I did... Tocilizumab is not something he is that familiar with!!

[Karenjaninaz]

You can always check with your chemist or pharmacist .They have the most update information. My understanding is nitrofurantoin- a very old drug-is a urinary antiseptic.

[Bedwell]

I actually had a strong reaction to that drug. For urine infection. Couldn’t function at all for 24 hours. I always find antibiotics difficult but that shook me up somewhat. I hadn’t started on predisolone at that point.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bedwell]

It has a reputation!

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRpro]

Reading the side effects I'm not surprised. They are pretty full on. If they don't ring today I only take 3 days worth so tonight would be my last one. The dipstick showed leukocytes but maybe the culture will be different

[Sophiestree in reply to Bedwell]

How soon after taking it didnthat happen?

[Sophiestree in reply to Sophiestree]

Did that happen... typo

[Bedwell]

Will have to look up diary. ! Think I took it at night and felt terrible all next day. Woke up following day and felt ok.

[Sophiestree in reply to Bedwell]

So pretty quickly then.

[Bedwell]

Yes! Couldn’t have been anything else!

[PMRnewbie2017]

I've just checked the BNF (British National Formulary) and Drug Bank On-line

"Methotrexate may decrease the excretion rate of Nitrofurantoin which could result in a higher serum level". This could be useful in practice!No interaction found between TCZ and Nitrofurantoin.

No interaction between Pred and Nitrofurantoin.

A lot of antibiotics cause nausea and digestive upsets and this is one of the reasons why patients don't finish the course.

Generally cystitis treatment lasts only a few days. Catheterised patients or those with chronic bladder infections may be put on long term low dose antibiotics - often Trimethoprim or Cotrimoxazole.

Nitrofurantoin wasn't used a lot when I was working but things change ......

FC retired Pharmacist.

[Sophiestree in reply to PMRnewbie2017]

thank you, that's really helpful.. as I say, I haven't had a urine infection for years and definitely wasn't prescribed this at the time. I think I'll look into the D Mannose. Thanks again