Patient Information - Nitrofurantoin

What does it do?

Nitrofurantoin is used to treat and prevent urine infections.

How should you take it?

Take nitrofurantoin regularly as directed. Take it with food and with a glass of water. Keep taking it until the course is finished, even if you start to feel better.

What if you forget a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as possible and continue as directed.

Can you take other medicines?

Some medicines available without a prescription may react with nitrofurantoin including:

magnesium trisilicate (e.g. Quick-Eze®)

Tell your pharmacist or doctor about all medicines or treatments that you may be taking, including vitamins, herbal products or recreational drugs.

What side effects might you notice?

Side Effects	Recommended action
Short of breath, persistent dry cough Symptoms of liver problems including: yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, pale bowel motions, abdominal pain Increased risk of infection - symptoms may include: fever, chills, sore throat, aches and pains, tiredness, pain when peeing, mouth ulcers Numbness or tingling of the fingers or toes Skin rash Swollen lips, tongue, throat or face Headache, changes in vision, pounding in one or both ears (may be intracranial hypertension) Severe stomach pain	Tell your doctor immediately
Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite	Tell your doctor if troublesome
Stomach upset	Take with food

Side Effects

Recommended action

Short of breath, persistent dry cough

Symptoms of liver problems including: yellow skin or eyes, itching, dark urine, pale bowel motions, abdominal pain

Increased risk of infection - symptoms may include: fever, chills, sore throat, aches and pains, tiredness, pain when peeing, mouth ulcers

Numbness or tingling of the fingers or toes

Skin rash

Swollen lips, tongue, throat or face

Headache, changes in vision, pounding in one or both ears (may be intracranial hypertension)

Severe stomach pain

Tell your doctor immediately

Nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, loss of appetite

Tell your doctor if troublesome

Stomach upset

Take with food

If you notice any other effects, discuss them with your doctor or pharmacist.

Other information:

Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, or if you have G6PD deficiency or porphyria.
Nitrofurantoin may turn your urine to a dark yellow or brown colour.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding.

This leaflet contains important, but not all, information about this medicine.

Prepared by the PILs Committee at Christchurch Hospital, Canterbury District Health Board, New Zealand. December 2017

For more general information about this sheet and its contents, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

Medicines A-Z

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Te Reo Māori

Allopurinol Amoxicillin (oral) Aspirin (low dose) Atorvastatin Cilazapril Metformin Metoprolol Omeprazole Prednisone Warfarin

Web links for this sheet in different formats

Click on buttons to copy web addresses for this leaflet:

Online:

PDF A4:

PDF A5:

If your browser does not automatically copy these links use its copy command instead.

About My Medicines

My Medicines Patient Information Leaflets (PILs) contain important, but not all, information about the medicines they describe.

For more information about the sheets, see: What does a My Medicines sheet cover?

My Medicines is developed by a team at the Canterbury District Health Board. Our team is made up of doctors, pharmacists, and a non-medical person to help us keep to plain language. We also discuss our information with specialist health professionals or groups when needed

Nitrofurantoin