What is Macrobid and when is it used?

Macrobid is one of the trade marks for the medicinal substance Nitrofurantoin. It is a broad-spectrum bactericidal, antibacterial medication, a synthetic antimicrobial derivative of nitrofuran.

The medication renders a bacteriostatic effect (stops the growth of bacteria), but can also act bactericidal (killing bacteria) depending on the concentration and sensitivity of microorganisms. It disrupts the synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein in bacterial cells. The resistance of microorganisms to the formulation is rare.

When can you use Macrobid?

You can buy Macrobid for primary or relapsing urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis, pyelitis, pyelonephritis,), including caused by enterococci and Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and some strains of Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Proteus. It can be also used as a prevention of infections during urological operations or invasive procedures, for instance, catheterization.

How is Macrobid used?

If you buy generic Macrobid without having the instructions from your doctor how to use it, you can follow the general guide:

The pills are taken by 50-100 mg 4 times a day; children are prescribed 5-7 mg/kg body weight per day taken in 4 divided doses. When prescribing a long course of therapy, the dose of nitrofurantoin must be reduced; adults are usually prescribed 50-100 mg once a day (in the evening), children - 1 mg / kg in 1-2 doses.

When shouldn’t you use Macrobid?

- Severe renal dysfunction (creatinine clearance<40 ml / min),

- Anuria,

-Oliguria,

- Pregnancy,

- Age up to 1 month,

- Hypersensitivity to Nitrofurantoin.

What adverse effects can Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin) cause?

- Eosinophilic lung infiltrate,

- Fever, cough,

- Pain in the chest,

- Troubled breathing,

- Nausea, vomiting, anorexia;

- Peripheral neuropathy, nystagmus,

- Dizziness, asthenia, headache, sleepiness,

- Dermatitis and polymorphic erythema, reversible alopecia, lupus-like syndrome, angioedema, maculopapia, ecopulmonaria, eculitis, skin itch, anaphylactic reactions,

- Sialadenitis,

- Pancreatitis,

- Ggout, and others (for the full list, see package insert).

In case you develop allergic reactions, such as skin rash, stop taking the pills and go to a doctor.

Special Instructions

The medication must be cautiously used in impaired renal function, low hemoglobin, diabetes, electrolyte imbalance, vitamin B deficiency or severe chronic diseases due to the elevated risk of peripheral neuropathy; in the appearance of the first symptoms of neuropathy must be stopped immediately. Macrobid and its generics should be used with caution in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, since hemolysis may occur in such patients; with its development, Nitrofurantoin should be stopped immediately.

With prolonged treatment with the formulation, it is necessary to periodically monitor the composition of peripheral blood, the functional state of the kidneys and liver.

Can Macrobid be used with other medicines?

Be careful when you buy generic Nitrofurantoin if you already take any other medicines:

- Uricosuric agents, such as probenecid and sulfinpyrazone, can reduce the excretion of Nitrofurantoin in the urine, reducing its effective concentration in the urinary tract, and increase its concentration in blood plasma, increasing its toxicity.

- Magnesium trisilicate with simultaneous use reduces the speed and extent of absorption of nitrofurantoin.

Where to buy Macrobid cheap?

If you need to use the medication frequently, you can buy Nitrofurantoin from an online drugstore. This will spare you from the need to go to a doctor every time you need to buy the drug for a prescription. Besides, online you can get a generic version of the drug that costs cheaper than the branded on