Nitrofurantoin - good or bad?

[gillsky8]

Not sure that this is posted in the best place, but I don't seem to be able to access any other links atm.

I have been prescribed this antibiotic for traces of blood in urine just over 2 days ago.

50mg to be taken at night.

Only on the third dose so it's early days, but had quick urine test done at hospital yesterday and it was clear., having had last 2 with trace of blood this is encouraging.

Consultant prescribed this meds for the next month, he said to prevent uti, bladder infection and kidney infection, kidney function normal on yesterdays blood tests.

However, I have been reading some not so very good reviews about the use of Nitrofurantoin

So anyone had experience of this please, its use for long term and side effects good or bad.

thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is a standard approach for persistent UTI symptoms - and it was a consultant who prescribed it. It can occasionally be an unpleasant antibiotic to take but not everyone has problems and it if sorts the UTIs out it is worth it.

[random901]

Just started mine today. Pessimistic about UTI clearing with 3 days' worth - it didn't last time. Apart from nausea I didn't have any unpleasant side-effects. Hope yours clears soon!

[Joanbill13 in reply to random901]

Three days is useless I found. I have a chemist who will sell me 5 days to round course up to 7 days which is recommended.

[gillsky8 in reply to Joanbill13]

He’s actually given me a whole months worth as a preventative

[Sillydogsmum]

Confusion, you didn't have a UTI as per details in previous post. You just had leucocytes and red cells, hence reference to Nice guidelines. Prophylactic Nitro is usually used for prevention of recurrent proven UTI on lab testing. Didnt you say it was prescribed by yr GP not a consultant This could easily be due to atrophic vaginitis etc but it all sounds a bit mixed up. ? Why prescribed Fosamycin and Nitro if no infection identified? Could do with clarifying with yr GP, should you be having a referral to exclude other causes of blood in urine or not? Or perhaps I have misunderstood your 3 posts.

[Jackoh]

I personally can’t take this drug. On day 2/3 I started having hallucinations and felt very ill. 💐

[Hunter134]

I was on it for many months aft a recurring UTI.I had no side effects and I stressed about taking it as well.Good luck!

[Pixix]

I’ve taken it a fair bit in my history. It’s one that has poor side effects for me, so not my favourite, but it worked well.

[Zebedee44]

I find three days of Trimethoprim works best for me. Nitrofurantoin made me feel quite unwell. I suffered frequent UTIs in my first year of PMR which seemed to be caused by calcium build up in my bladder from Adcal /Calcichew.

Last year my doctor suggested a vaginal pessary would help and it has.

[Buchanan16]

My 86 year old mum has been taking 50mg Nitrofurantoin at night as a preventative measure for the past 15 months since her PMR/GCA diagnosis with no ill effects at all. She had been getting recurrent UTIs as well as pmr symptoms for the 9 months before eventually being diagnosed when she lost her sight in her one eye overnight.Since then she hasn't had any UTIs at all.

[RT18]

it was the antibiotic used for mum with haemorrhagic cystitis. Never had any issues with it, but she did with others …

[Siena62]

I had two courses of this in quick succession but it didn’t clear the UTI (I didn’t have any side effects as far as I am aware). I refused to take it a third time and was prescribed Trimethoprim instead. However, I had a definite infection as well as large amounts of blood in my urine. I was diagnosed with vaginal atrophy and was prescribed a estriol pessary. So far (and it’s still early days) I haven’t had any further symptoms of a UTI. If you don’t have an infection it seems odd to be prescribed an antibiotic. Have you been examined for vaginal atrophy? It doesn’t just affect the vagina but the whole of the vulval area and it’s possible that the small traces of blood are the result of thinning skin and small abrasions.