Allergic response to Nitrofuantoin

[Zebedee44]

Two weeks ago I developed the urgency and heat associated with cystitis which rapidly developed into a UTI with blood and responded quickly to 3 days of Trimpethoprim which I was able to get without delay from my amazing GP surgery.

All seemed fine until yesterday when the heat and urgency returned and because it is a three day weekend I was pleased to get another prescription from the surgery, this time of Nitrofuantoin. But after two doses I am struck down with some horrid side effects including fever and chills, headache, dizziness and tight chest.

My body hurts all over and I wonder if this drug has precipitated a flare and if I should raise my dose of Pred for a few days, I’m on 7.5mg. I have been stressing a lot about planned admission on Tuesday next week for a hernia repair and my body is on the offensive I think. I cancelled that yesterday even before the UTI started to niggle, just as well.

I would be grateful for your comments, many thanks, Chrissie

[Kendrew]

nhs.uk/medicines/nitrofuran... explains common side effects, some of which you seem to be experiencing.

However, the "fever & tight chest" is a little more of a concern and it may be advisable to speak to a medical practitioner as soon as you can just to check it out.

This doesn't sound like a 'flare' to me but others with more knowledge will be along to advise you further.

[Zebedee44 in reply to Kendrew]

Thankyou, the leaflet given to me with the dose described all the more serious side effects and I was certainly in a bad way this morning but not bad enough to call for help. A whole day of doing nothing has helped a bit with the side effects but now I’m experiencing pain in my shoulders, jaw, legs and feet, classic PMR areas for me.But I think it’s sensible NOT to continue the Nitrofurantoin until I have spoken with the surgery after the holiday and handed in a urine sample. I know organic Apple Cider vinegar helps with bladder issues and I have some but feel too nauseous to take it.

[YuliK in reply to Zebedee44]

Have you checked for covid ?

[YuliK in reply to Zebedee44]

Have you checked for covid ?

[Zebedee44 in reply to YuliK]

Hi Yulik, I tested negative this morning. The tight chest and cough certainly made me consider the possibility.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

medlineplus.gov/druginfo/me...

I think you should call for emergency advice asap since you are experiencing side effects they say require medical advice (fever and chills). I don't know how efficient 111 will be on a BH weekend - if in doubt, call 999 and let them decide. Write down your details so you can answer sensibly when they answer.

And let us know how you get on.

[Zebedee44 in reply to PMRpro]

Thankyou for your prompt response and I have come close to contacting 111 for advice but hoped to feel better as the hours since taking the dose this morning have gone by. I have managed to eat and drink something and will review again tomorrow if no better.Frankly I have more confidence in this forum and knew I would get a considered response pretty quickly from people who understand the fickle nature of PMR.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zebedee44]

Not the PMR I'm worried about - it's your reaction to the antibiotic. It is a pretty nasty one!

[Kendrew]

Same as Pro..... I think your 'side effects' warrant an urgent check as they involve fever and some breathlessness. These are considered as 'more serious ' side effects that demand urgent medical attention. I'd recommend you don't leave it till morning to seek medical advice.

[Zebedee44 in reply to Kendrew]

Thankyou for your concern but I really don’t feel that I am a medical emergency tonight, maybe I was this morning but slept the worst of it off. Sleep is a great healer.

[autumnlass]

I do agree with PMRpro and Kendrew - I’d recommend that you call 111 and get their medical opinion. I had to ring them on August Bank Holiday Monday last year and they were fantastic.

[Zebedee44 in reply to autumnlass]

That’s reassuring, many thanks. 👍

[autumnlass]

Hoping that you’ll be feeling stronger tomorrow. Let us know how you are. 🙂

[Oboes22]

I cannot take nitrofurantoin it always makes me severely nauseous but I have never had any other problems. Hope you get to talk to your GP. take care.

[TheMoaningViolet]

I am not sure whether anyone has ever been helped by calling 111, but my several experiences of contacting them tell me that doing almost anything else would be more useful. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but my recurring UTI infections have been stopped when I discovered that citrus drinks (one is always told to avoid with UTIs) turned out to be helpful. This could have been a coincidence and I would tread carefully as everyone is different, but I though I should mention it.

I hope you feel better soon.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to TheMoaningViolet]

I know quite a few who have been helped by 111 - even to the level of 111 calling 999 for the person. It is always the bad experiences that get trumpeted from the rooftops.

[TheMoaningViolet in reply to PMRpro]

It's good to hear that, but, in my case, the bad experience happened every time, hence my reservation about it, otherwise I would not have mentioned it.

[Zebedee44]

Thankyou Moaning Violet, tbh I have always found the service at 111 to be a great reassurance and I came close to calling them after all the advice given here but I also felt that a good nights sleep might sort things out and it has. I feel so much better and no return of the side effects I experienced yesterday morning.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Zebedee44]

Good to hear

[Ana-16]

I had an awful very belated allergic reaction and was covered in hives for days after. Most unpleasant. Wish you better

[autumnlass]

I’m so glad that you are feeling better - that’s so good to hear. I was worried for you. They responded very quickly to me on 111 last year on August Bank Holiday Monday, and I had to be admitted as an emergency and have a urethral stent inserted under GA. Everyone was so kind. 🙂

[Zebedee44]

As we all find with PMR it is important to know your own body and I honestly didn’t feel unwell enough to need emergency care. I will speak to my GP after the long weekend and look out for delayed side effects but the fever, chills, headache and chest problem have passed. As always I am grateful for the support of this forum. Thankyou all, Chrissie

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zebedee44]

What worries me is if it was an early/mildish allergic reaction - it might be different if you take the antibiotic again.

[Zebedee44 in reply to PMRpro]

Well actually it had been on my medical history that I was allergic to it but at my recent pre assessment for surgery the nurse deleted it as I had no recollection of an adverse reaction and certainly not at the date shown. I wasn’t even registered with that surgery at the time, although now I’m wondering if it had occurred years before and wrongly dated.I explained that to the on call doctor I spoke to on Friday afternoon and expected him to offer a safer drug or a longer course of the Trimethoprim. I was a bit astonished when he prescribed nitrofurantoin regardless. So it’s silly me and a strange set of circumstances which brought about this mistake.

I know better now and will make sure it is properly recorded in my notes.

I often wonder whether dementia is starting, as I used to have such a reliable memory. Not a good thought!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zebedee44]

There seem to be a lot of doctors who are very cavalier about reports of allergic reactions to drugs. Maybe they think all patients exaggerate ...

I was put on an ACE inhibitor for atrial fibrillation. After a couple of days I developed a rash which proceeded to spread out from around my neck down my trunk and along my arms, getting itchier by the hour I told the nurses and ward junior doctors - antihistamines offered and - when it was almost intolerable in the middle of the night - a cold washcloth to lay on it! I persisted though and on the Sat morning the weekend duty consultant did the ward round so I told him. He jumped as if he'd been shot. No more ACE inhibitor and in large red letters on the notes: NO ACE inhibitors!! I was lucky ...

[Zebedee44 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes you WERE lucky. As a victim of medical negligence which changed my life and that of my family I am wary of doctors in most circumstances until I have reason to respect them. Hence my reluctance to involve 111 yesterday.

[Hummingbird28]

I was given a 7 day course of Nitrofurantoin for a UTI and by the fifth day I had ticked all of the boxes for the side effects including a rash, shortness of breath and a tight chest. The nurse at the surgery was unconcerned so I decided not to take any more and see how I felt and if I got worse I would go to A & E. Gradually the symptoms got better and a hospital visit wasn’t necessary, but the UTI was still there and 3 days later my PMR started … that was January 2019. Coincidence maybe, but my gut tells me it was the culprit! However I do know people who have taken this drug for bladder infections and haven’t been affected at all. I did make sure that the GP was aware of my reaction and asked for it to be put on my medical records for future reference.In February last year I was taken to hospital with mild covid symptoms and was asked by the paramedic if I had any allergies to any drugs and I mentioned the nitrofurantoin and that it should be on my records. He told me later that it was lucky that I had told him as there was no mention of it on my medical records. Apparently the hospital doctor was very annoyed about this as it could have caused problems and it took up a lot of her time trying to find details from the surgery.

If you’ve had these horrible side effects it probably would be best to make sure that they do get recorded … just in case!

[Zebedee44 in reply to Hummingbird28]

Thankyou Hummingbird. By coincidence I had been referred to the hospital recently and provided a medical history to take with me which stated that I was allergic to a couple of drugs including Nitrofurantoin. When I told the pre op assesssment nurse that I thought it might be wrong she evidently deleted it from my records, so when I spoke to the GP on Friday he said it didn’t flash up on his screen and prescribed it. I stopped taking it after two doses and the rapid onset yesterday morning of nasty side effects and today I have felt much better. No return of the bladder symptoms so far.

[Amkoffee]

Did they grow a culture to see what bacteria you have? If it is not E coli it could require a special antibiotic to get rid of it.

[Zebedee44 in reply to Amkoffee]

They wouldn’t take a urine sample this time because it was a bank holiday but the last sample was tested just a week before and didn’t show anything suspicious. I have a pot to pee in for Tuesday when I will also drop in a note for the doctor that I AM allergic to Nitrofurantoin, as was previously recorded.