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Canadian Brand Names

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Description

Nitrofurantoin belongs to the family of medicines called anti-infectives. It is used to treat infections of the urinary tract. It may also be used for other conditions as determined by your doctor.

Nitrofurantoin is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet
• Suspension
• Capsule

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Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

This medicine has been tested in children 1 month of age and older and, in effective doses, has not been shown to cause different side effects or problems in children than it does in adults. However, infants up to 1 month of age should not be given this medicine because they are especially sensitive to the effects of nitrofurantoin.

Geriatric

Elderly people may be more sensitive to the effects of nitrofurantoin. This may increase the chance of side effects during treatment.

Pregnancy

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Fluconazole

Other Interactions

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.

Other Medical Problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Anemia or
• Diabetes mellitus or
• Lung disease or
• Nerve damage or
• Other serious illness or
• Vitamin B deficiency—These conditions may increase the chance for side effects

• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency—Nitrofurantoin may cause anemia in patients with G6PD deficiency

• Kidney disease (other than infection)—The chance of side effects of this medicine may be increased and the medicine may be less effective in patients with kidney disease

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Proper Use

Do not give this medicine to infants up to 1 month of age.

Nitrofurantoin is best taken with food or milk. This may lessen stomach upset and help your body to better absorb the medicine.

For patients taking the oral liquid form of this medicine :

• Shake the oral liquid forcefully before each dose to help make it pour more smoothly and to be sure the medicine is evenly mixed.
• Use a specially marked measuring spoon or other device to measure each dose accurately. The average household teaspoon may not hold the right amount of liquid.
• Nitrofurantoin may be mixed with water, milk, fruit juices, or infants' formulas. If it is mixed with any of these liquids, take the medicine immediately after mixing. Be sure to drink all the liquid in order to get the full dose of medicine.

For patients taking the extended-release capsule form of this medicine:

• Swallow the capsules whole.
• Do not open, crush, or chew the capsules before swallowing them.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. Do not miss any doses.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For the capsule, oral suspension, and tablet dosage forms:
  • For the prevention of urinary tract infection:
    • Adults and adolescents—50 to 100 mg once a day at bedtime.
    • Children 1 month of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
    • Children up to 1 month of age—Use is not recommended.
  • For the treatment of urinary tract infection:
    • Adults and adolescents—50 to 100 mg every six hours.
    • Children 1 month of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
    • Children up to 1 month of age—Use is not recommended.
• For the extended-release capsule dosage form:
  • Adults and children 12 years of age and older: 100 mg every twelve hours for seven days.
  • Children up to 12 years of age: Dose must be determined by the doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

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Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits if you will be taking this medicine for a long time.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

For diabetic patients:

• This medicine may cause false test results with some urine sugar tests. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or the dosage of your diabetes medicine.

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Side Effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

• Changes in facial skin color
• Chest pain
• Chills
• Cough
• Fever
• General feeling of discomfort or illness
• Hives
• Hoarseness
• Itching
• Joint or muscle pain
• Shortness of breath
• Skin rash
• Sudden trouble in swallowing or breathing
• Swelling of face, mouth, hands, or feet
• Troubled breathing

• Black, tarry stools
• Blood in urine or stools
• Burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• Dizziness
• Drowsiness
• Headache
• Pinpoint red spots on skin
• Sore throat
• Unusual bleeding or bruising
• Unusual tiredness or weakness
• Weakness in arms, hands, legs, or feet

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• Blistering, peeling, or loosening of skin and mucous membranes
• Bluish color of skin
• Blurred vision or loss of vision, with or without eye pain
• Bulging fontanel in infants
• Confusion
• Darkening of urine
• Diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• Loss of appetite
• Mental depression
• Mood or mental changes
• Nausea or vomiting
• Pale skin
• Pale stools
• Red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• Red, thickened, or scaly skin
• Skin rash
• Sores, ulcers, or white spots on lips or in mouth
• Swollen or painful glands
• Unpleasant breath odor
• Visual changes
• Vomiting of blood
• Wheezing or tightness in chest
• Yellow eyes or skin

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

• Diarrhea
• Gas

After you stop using this medicine, it may still produce some side effects that need attention. During this period of time, check with your doctor immediately if you notice the following side effects:

• Abdominal or stomach cramps or pain, severe
• Diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• Fever

This medicine may cause the urine to become rust-yellow to brown. This side effect does not require medical attention.

Nitrofurantoin may cause a temporary loss of hair in some people.

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

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