Nitrofurantoin 100mg MR Capsules

What are Nitrofurantoin Capsules?

Each Nitrofurantoin capsule contains 100mg of the active ingredient nitrofurantoin. Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic that is particularly effective at treating UTIs (such as acute cystitis), killing the bacteria responsible for causing the infection.

UTIs are fairly common in women, but they can also affect men. They are caused by bacteria entering the urinary tract, and can cause a burning sensation when urinating, discomfort in the bladder, and in more severe cases pain in the kidneys.

Although UTIs can be very uncomfortable, if left untreated they can be even more serious. Thankfully, they are normally easily managed. Common cystitis treatment would involve using a combination of simple painkillers such as paracetamol and ibuprofen, sachets to neutralise the pH of the urine such as Cymalon, and an antibiotic treatment such as Nitrofurantoin.

What is Nitrofurantoin used for?

Nitrofurantoin is used to treat cystitis (a common UTI) as well as bladder or water infections. The active ingredient nitrofurantoin kills the bacteria which causes the infection, reducing inflammation, easing pain and discomfort, and allowing you to get on with your day.

You may need Nitrofurantoin for treatment of a UTI if you have any of the following symtpoms:

• Needing to urinate urgently or more often than usual.
• Pain or a burning sensation when urinating.
• Urine that’s dark yellow, smelly or cloudy.
• Blood in your urine.
• Pain in your lower abdomen.

If you’re unsure whether you are suffering from a UTI, you should discuss your symptoms with a doctor or pharmacist, who may ask you to provide a urine sample to help with diagnosis and to determine on the right course of treatment.

How does Nitrofurantoin work?

Nitrofurantoin contains an antibiotic agent called nitrofurantoin, which targets and kills the bacteria responsible for causing a UTI. Nitrofurantoin is proven to treat UTIs fast and efficiently because the body quickly filters it from your blood and into your urine. This means the nitrofurantoin is concentrated at the site of infection, allowing it to target the bacteria causing the UTI.

How quickly does Nitrofurantoin treat urinary tract infections?

Improvements are usually seen within 24 hours of taking Nitrofurantoin, and symptoms are usually completely resolved after 3 days. If symptoms are not improving or are worsening following at least 3 days of treatment, you should consult your doctor or pharmacist to explore alternative options.

You may feel better before you have completed the course of antibiotics. However, you must finish your course as advised, even if your symptoms have cleared. If you stop taking the antibiotic early, the infection is more likely to return, and the bacteria which cause UTIs can become resistant to the medication.

Why should I choose Nitrofurantoin over Trimethoprim?

Current NHS guidelines recommend that nitrofurantoin is used as the first-line antibiotic to treat UTIs, as there is currently less bacterial resistance to Nitrofurantoin than Trimethoprim. This means that Nitrofurantoin is more likely to be effective in treating your cystitis if you haven't had a urine sample analysed to test for the best treatment to use.

However, many women will still be prescribed Trimethoprim to treat UTIs such as cystitis, and many find it works more effectively for them than Nitrofurantoin. Both medications work in a similar way, so you should follow the advice of your doctor as to which treatment is more suitable.

How to take Nitrofurantoin Capsules

Nitrofurantoin MR Capsules are for oral use only.

You will take one Nitrofurantoin capsule in the morning and the evening with a drink of water. Continue at the same time each day for 3 days. The capsules need to be swallowed whole with a glass of water.

Please ensure that you have read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before taking Nitrofurantoin.

Should I take Nitrofurantoin 100mg capsules with food?

Generally, it's better to take Nitrofurantoin with a meal or snack if possible. This helps prevent a stomach upset or stomach pain, which can sometimes happen if you take the tablets on an empty stomach.

Nitrofurantoin ingredients

Each Nitrofurantoin capsule contains the active ingredient: Nitrofurantoin 100mg

Each Nitrofurantoin capsule contains the inactive ingredients: talc, corn starch, lactose, carbopol, povidone, sugar, magnesium stearate, gelatin, E104, E171, E132, Shellac, Propylene Glycol (E1520), Titanium Dioxide (E171), Black iron oxide (E172), Ammonium Hydroxide (E527) and Simethicone.

Nitrofurantoin side effects

As you are only taking Nitrofurantoin for three days, the chance of side effects occurring are minimal and most patients do not experience them.

Occasionally, some people have experienced the following side effects. These are not medical emergencies, but may require advice from a healthcare professional if they become bothersome or do not improve once you have finished your course of treatment.

• Feeling sick or being sick, stomach ache, loss of appetite or diarrhoea.
• Headache.
• Dizziness or drowsiness.
• Changes of mood, confusion.
• Skin rashes.
• Short-term hair loss.

If you experience other, more severe side effects, such as shortness of breath or fever, or you experience an allergic reaction that causes wheezing, facial swelling and itching, you should stop taking Nitrofurantoin and call 999 immediately.

Please ensure that you have read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before taking Nitrofurantoin.

Nitrofurantoin warnings

Please ensure that you have read the Patient Information Leaflet thoroughly before taking Nitrofurantoin.

Nitrofurantoin is not suitable for everyone, and some people with certain medical conditions cannot take it. Checks for suitability are carried out in the online consultation, which is part of the ordering process.

DO NOT take nitrofurantoin 100mg tablets unless discussed with your regular doctor beforehand if the following apply:

• You are allergic to nitrofurantoin.
• You have kidney, liver or lung disease or a condition affecting the nervous system.
• You have porphyria.
• You have diabetes.
• You have anaemia, a vitamin B deficiency, or abnormal levels of salts in your blood.
• You lack an enzyme called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase.
• You are currently taking or have recently stopped taking any prescribed or non-prescribed medication or have recently had a Typhoid vaccination.

Nitrofurantoin and pregnancy

Speak to a doctor before taking Nitrofurantoin if you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or are breastfeeding and think you have a UTI.

Nitrofurantoin and alcohol

Nitrofurantoin and alcohol do not interact, so moderate alcohol consumption will not affect how this medicine works. It is, however, not advisable to drink alcohol while suffering from a UTI, as this can irritate the bladder. Drinking plenty of water and herbal teas may help clear the infection more quickly.

Will Nitrofurantoin stop my contraceptive pill from working?

Nitrofurantoin will not stop your contraceptive pill (combined or progesterone-only) from working, so it’s perfectly safe to take it alongside the pill. Only two antibiotics (called rifampicin and rifabutin) are known to reduce the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill.

Will Nitrofurantoin give you thrush?

Because of the way Nitrofurantoin works, it is extremely rare for you to experience thrush with this medication. However, like all antibiotics, nitrofurantoin reduces the amount of bacteria in the body, which can cause the naturally occurring fungus to overgrow in the vagina, leading to thrush symptoms.

If you develop vaginal thrush while using any course of antibiotics, thrush treatment is available from The Independent Pharmacy.

Can you take painkillers whilst being treated with Nitrofurantoin?

You can take Nitrofurantoin safely with any over-the-counter painkillers such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol. Nitrofurantoin will not interact with traditional pain medication.

• https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/nitrofurantoin.
• https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/urinary-tract-infections-utis/
• https://patient.info/medicine/nitrofurantoin-for-urine-infections-Nitrofurantoin
• https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng109/chapter/summary-of-the-evidence
• Nitrofurantoin 100mg Patient Information Leaflet: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.428.pdf