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Nitrofurantoin is a brand name for Nitrofurantoin. The medicine, its uses, side effects and dosage are the same regardless of brand.
Used for: 1 INDICATIONS & USAGE Nitrofurantoin is indicated in adults and pediatric patients 1 month of age and older for the treatment of urinary tract infections due to susceptible strains of Escherichia coli , Enterococcus species, Staphylococcus aureus , Klebsiella species and Enterobacter species. Limitations of Use…
Verbatim from this product's FDA label. Tap a section to expand.
2 DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION Adult Patients: 50 mg to 100 mg four times a day -the lower dosage level is recommended for uncomplicated urinary tract infections. 2) Pediatric Patients: 5 mg/kg to 7 mg/kg of body weight per 24 hours, given in four divided doses (contraindicated under one month of age).
1 Recommended Dosage and Administration in Adult Patients The recommended dosage is 50 mg to 100 mg of nitrofurantoin four times a day. For long-term suppressive therapy in adults, a reduction of dosage to 50 mg to 100 mg at bedtime may be adequate .
6)]. 3)] and, in some patients, tolerance. 2 Recommended Dosage and Administration in Pediatric Patients (1 month of age and older) The recommended dosage of nitrofurantoin is 5 mg/kg to 7 mg/kg of body weight per 24 hours, given in four divided doses in pediatric patients aged 1 month and older.
3)] and, in some patients, tolerance. Table 1 lists individual dosage volumes for nitrofurantoin oral suspension (25 mg/5 mL) based on body weight for pediatric patients. 5 Greater than 30 kg to 40 kg 10 40 kg or greater See Adult Dose To measure the correct pediatric doses, it is important to administer nitrofurantoin oral suspension with an appropriate size oral dosing syringe with graduations that align with the volume prescribed in Table 1 above.
Continue therapy for one week or for at least 3 days after sterility of the urine is obtained. Continued infection indicates the need for reevaluation. 6)].
7)] The following adverse reactions associated with the use of nitrofurantoin formulations, including nitrofurantoin oral suspension, were identified in clinical studies or post-marketing reports. Because some of these reactions were reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate their frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.
Respiratory : chronic, subacute, or acute pulmonary hypersensitivity reactions have occurred. Chronic pulmonary reactions have occurred generally in patients who have received continuous treatment for six months or longer. Malaise, dyspnea on exertion, cough, and altered pulmonary function are common manifestations which can occur insidiously.
Radiologic and histologic findings of diffuse interstitial pneumonitis or fibrosis, or both, are also common manifestations of the chronic pulmonary reaction. Fever is prominent. The severity of chronic pulmonary reactions and their degrees of resolution appear to be related to the duration of therapy after the first clinical signs appear.
Pulmonary function may be impaired permanently, even after cessation of therapy. The risk is greater when chronic pulmonary reactions are not recognized early. In subacute pulmonary reactions, fever and eosinophilia occur less often than in the acute form.
Upon cessation of therapy, recovery may require several months. If the symptoms are not recognized as being drug-related and nitrofurantoin therapy is not stopped, the symptoms may become more severe. Acute pulmonary reactions are commonly manifested by fever, chills, cough, chest pain, dyspnea, pulmonary infiltration with consolidation of pleural effusion on x-ray, and eosinophilia.
Acute reactions usually occur within the first week of treatment and are reversible with cessation of therapy. Resolution often is dramatic . , non-specific ST/T wave changes, bundle branch block) have been reported in association with pulmonary reactions.
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients receiving nitrofurantoin. If signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, immediately discontinue nitrofurantoin.
1) Pulmonary Reactions: Discontinue if sign and symptoms of pulmonary reactions occur and take appropriate measures. 2) Hepatotoxicity: Discontinue if signs/symptoms of hepatitis occur. Monitor liver function tests. 3) Neuropathy: Peripheral neuropathy has occurred.
4) Hemolytic Anemia: Discontinue if sign and symptoms of hemolysis occur. 5) Clostridioides difficile -associated diarrhea: Evaluate patients if diarrhea occurs. 1 Hypersensitivity Reactions Serious and occasionally fatal hypersensitivity (anaphylactic) reactions have been reported in patients receiving nitrofurantoin [see Adverse Reactions (6)].
If signs and symptoms of a hypersensitivity reaction occurs, immediately discontinue nitrofurantoin and initiate appropriate medications and/or supportive care. Nitrofurantoin is contraindicated in patients with known hypersensitivity to nitrofurantoin.
2 Pulmonary Reactions Acute, subacute, or chronic pulmonary reactions have been reported in patients treated with nitrofurantoin. If these reactions occur, discontinue nitrofurantoin and take appropriate measures. Reports have cited pulmonary reactions as a contributing cause of death.
Chronic pulmonary reactions (diffuse interstitial pneumonitis or pulmonary fibrosis, or both) can develop insidiously. These reactions occur generally in patients receiving therapy for six months or longer. Close monitoring of the pulmonary condition of patients receiving long-term therapy is warranted and requires that the benefits of therapy be weighed against potential risks [see Adverse Reactions (6)].
3 Hepatotoxicity Hepatic reactions, including hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, chronic active hepatitis, and hepatic necrosis, has occurred. Fatalities have been reported. The onset of chronic active hepatitis may be insidious. Monitor patients periodically for changes in biochemical tests that would indicate liver injury.
1)]. 3)]. 4)]. 4)]. Known hypersensitivity to nitrofurantoin. (4) History of cholestatic jaundice/hepatic dysfunction associated with nitrofurantoin. (4) Patients who have anuria, oliguria, or significant impairment of renal function (creatinine clearance under 60 mL per minute or clinically significant elevated serum creatinine).
(4) Pregnant patients at term (38 weeks to 42 weeks gestation), during labor and delivery, or when the onset of labor is imminent. (4) Pediatric Patients under one month of age. (4)
Not medical advice. Always read the patient information leaflet and follow your prescriber or pharmacist.
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Cyanosis has been reported.
Hepatic :
Hepatic reactions, including hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice, chronic active hepatitis, and hepatic necrosis, have occurred .
Neurologic:
Peripheral neuropathy, which may become severe or irreversible, has occurred. Fatalities have been reported. Conditions such as renal impairment (creatinine clearance under 60 mL per minute or clinically significant elevated serum creatinine), anemia, diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalance, vitamin B deficiency, and debilitating diseases may increase the possibility of peripheral neuropathy .
Asthenia, vertigo, nystagmus, dizziness, headache, and drowsiness also have been reported with the use of nitrofurantoin. Benign intracranial hypertension (pseudotumor cerebri), confusion, depression, optic neuritis, and psychotic reactions have been reported.
Bulging fontanels, as a sign of benign intracranial hypertension in infants, have been reported rarely.
Dermatologic:
Exfoliative dermatitis and erythema multiforme (including Stevens-Johnson syndrome) have been reported. Alopecia also has been reported.
Allergic:
A lupus-like syndrome associated with pulmonary reactions to nitrofurantoin has been reported. Also, angioedema; maculopapular, erythematous, or eczematous eruptions; pruritus; urticaria; anaphylaxis; arthralgia; myalgia; drug fever; and vasculitis (sometimes associated with pulmonary reactions) have been reported.
Hypersensitivity reactions present the most frequent spontaneously-reported adverse reactions in worldwide post marketing experience with nitrofurantoin formulations, including nitrofurantoin oral suspension.
Gastrointestinal:
Nausea, emesis, and anorexia occur most often. Abdominal pain and diarrhea are less common gastrointestinal reactions. These dose-related reactions can be minimized by reduction of dosage. Sialadenitis and pancreatitis have been reported.
There have been sporadic reports of pseudomembranous colitis with the use of nitrofurantoin. The onset of pseudomembranous colitis symptoms may occur during or after antibacterial treatment .
Hematologic:
Cyanosis secondary to methemoglobinemia has been reported. , Pseudomonas species or Candida species, can occur. There are sporadic reports of Clostridioides difficile superinfections, or pseudomembranous colitis, with the use of nitrofurantoin, including nitrofurantoin oral suspension.
Laboratory Adverse Reactions The following laboratory adverse reactions have been reported with the use of nitrofurantoin formulations, including nitrofurantoin oral suspension; increased AST (SGOT), increased ALT (SGPT), decreased hemoglobin, increased serum phosphorus, eosinophilia, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency anemia, agranulocytosis, leukopenia, granulocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, megaloblastic anemia.
In most cases, these hematologic abnormalities resolved following cessation of therapy. Aplastic anemia has been reported. gov/medwatch .
If hepatitis occurs, discontinue nitrofurantoin immediately, and take appropriate measures. 4 Neuropathy Peripheral neuropathy, which may become severe or irreversible, has occurred. Fatalities have been reported. Conditions such as renal impairment (creatinine clearance under 60 mL per minute or clinically significant elevated serum creatinine), anemia, diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalance, vitamin B deficiency, and debilitating disease may enhance the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy.
Monitor patients receiving long-term therapy periodically for changes in renal function. Optic neuritis has been reported with nitrofurantoin formulations [see Adverse Reactions (6)] . 5 Hemolytic Anemia Cases of hemolytic anemia of the primaquine-sensitivity type have been induced by nitrofurantoin.
Hemolysis appears to be linked to a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency in the red blood cells of the affected patients. This deficiency is found in 10 percent of Blacks and a small percentage of ethnic groups of Mediterranean and Near-Eastern origin.
If hemolysis occurs, discontinue nitrofurantoin immediately; hemolysis ceases when the drug is withdrawn. 6 Clostridioides difficile-associated Diarrhea Clostridioides difficile -associated Diarrhea (CDAD) has been reported with use of nearly all antibacterial agents, including nitrofurantoin, and may range in severity from mild diarrhea to fatal colitis.
Treatment with antibacterial agents alters the normal flora of the colon leading to overgrowth of C. difficile . C. difficile produces toxins A and B which contribute to the development of CDAD. Hypertoxin producing strains of C. difficile cause increased morbidity and mortality, as these infections can be refractory to antibacterial therapy and may require colectomy.
CDAD must be considered in all patients who present with diarrhea following antibacterial use. Careful medical history is necessary since CDAD has been reported to occur over two months after the administration of antibacterial agents.
If CDAD is suspected or confirmed, ongoing antibacterial use not directed against C. difficile may need to be discontinued. Appropriate fluid and electrolyte management, protein supplementation, antibacterial treatment of C. difficile , and institute surgical evaluation as clinically indicated.
7 Persistence or Reappearance of Bacteriuria Nitrofurantoin lacks the broader tissue distribution of other therapeutic agents approved for urinary tract infections. Consequently, many patients who are treated with nitrofurantoin are predisposed to persistence or reappearance of bacteriuria.
If persistence or reappearance of bacteriuria occurs with symptoms of urinary tract infection, after treatment with nitrofurantoin, other therapeutic agents with broader tissue distribution should be selected. In considering the use of nitrofurantoin, lower eradication rates should be balanced against the increased potential for systemic toxicity and for the development of antibacterial resistance when agents with broader tissue distribution are utilized.