Macrobid side effects: A detailed guide

Key takeaways

• Macrobid can cause mild side effects like headache, nausea, and diarrhea, but these are usually temporary.
• Serious side effects of Macrobid are rare but can include lung issues, nerve damage, and liver problems, requiring immediate medical attention.
• Certain factors, such as long-term use, age, and existing health conditions, can increase the risk of experiencing specific side effects from Macrobid.

Overview

Macrobid is a brand-name medication that comes as a capsule that you swallow. It’s available in a generic version called nitrofurantoin (monohydrate/macrocrystals).

Keep reading to learn about the common, mild, and serious side effects Macrobid can cause.

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More common side effects of Macrobid

Macrobid oral capsule may cause mild or serious side effects. Below are some of the more common side effects of this medication.

Commonly reported side effects of Macrobid oral capsule include:

• nausea
• headache
• flatulence

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Mild side effects of Macrobid

Macrobid may cause certain mild side effects. Most often, mild side effects are temporary and can be easily managed. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that don’t go away or become bothersome.

Mild side effects of Macrobid oral capsule that occurred in studies include:

• abdominal pain or indigestion
• constipation or diarrhea
• drowsiness or fatigue (low energy)
• fever or chills
• flatulence
• hair loss
• headache
• itchiness
• nausea and vomiting
• mild allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Macrobid in detail” section below.

Macrobid may cause more mild side effects than those listed above. For details, see the drug’s prescribing information.

Serious side effects of Macrobid

Macrobid may cause certain serious side effects. If you have any serious side effects from Macrobid oral capsule, call your doctor right away. But if you think you’re having a medical emergency or your side effects feel life threatening, take immediate action. Call 911 or a local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

After the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves a drug, it tracks and reviews side effects of the medication. Visit MedWatch’s website if you’d like to notify the FDA about a side effect you’ve had with Macrobid.

Serious side effects of Macrobid oral capsule that occurred in studies include:

• Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea
• lung-related side effects*
• liver-related side effects*
• mental health-related side effects, including depression and psychosis
• pancreatitis (inflammation in your pancreas)
• peripheral neuropathy* (damage to nerves outside your brain or spinal cord)
• severe allergic reaction*

* To learn more about this side effect, see the “Side effects of Macrobid in detail” section below.

Common questions about the side effects of Macrobid

Here are answers to some common questions about the side effects of Macrobid oral capsule. If you have other questions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

How long do Macrobid side effects usually last?

It depends. Usually, side effects caused by Macrobid oral capsule are temporary and go away on their own in a few hours or days. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have side effects that bother you or don’t go away.

In rare cases, the drug may cause long-term side effects. These can occur if you take the drug for a long time, or they may last for a while after you’ve stopped taking the drug.

Examples of long-term side effects reported with Macrobid oral capsule include:

• Clostridioides difficile-associated diarrhea
• liver-related side effects
• lung-related side effects
• peripheral neuropathy

Is Macrobid safe for older adults?

It depends on your specific health history. In studies of Macrobid oral capsule, older adults (ages 65 years and above) did not experience different side effects compared to younger adults.

That said, older adults are more likely to have health conditions such as kidney or liver problems. This can raise your risk of side effects from taking Macrobid oral capsule. Older adults are also more likely to take multiple medications. This increases the risk of drug interactions with Macrobid, which could raise the risk of side effects.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’d like to learn more about your specific risk of side effects of Macrobid based on your age, health history, and other factors.

Can Macrobid cause anxiety or weight gain?

No, it’s not expected to. Neither anxiety nor weight gain were reported in studies of Macrobid oral capsule.

Depression and psychosis are very rare mental health side effects that can happen with Macrobid treatment. Feeling anxious could be a symptom of these side effects. But the drug isn’t expected to cause long-term anxiety as a side effect.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you have more questions about whether the medications you take could affect your weight or mental health.

Is Macrobid a strong antibiotic?

Macrobid is considered highly effective for treating UTIs, but its strength is specifically targeted at the bacteria that affect the urinary tract. Other antibiotics may be able to target a wider variety of bacteria, called “broad-spectrum antibiotics”.

Broad-spectrum antibiotics may be considered “stronger” as they can fight a wider variety of bacteria. This means they may have more side effects than drugs like Macrobid.

Side effects of Macrobid in detail

Below you’ll find details on some of the side effects of Macrobid oral capsule.

Lung-related side effects

In studies, lung-related side effects were rare in people taking Macrobid oral capsule. These side effects may be serious or even life threatening.

Lung-related side effects reported with Macrobid oral capsule include:

• interstitial pneumonitis
• pulmonary fibrosis

Symptoms of these lung-related side effects may include:

• shortness of breath
• chest pain
• cough
• fever or chills
• in severe cases, a bluish color to your skin, lips, or nails

If you experience symptoms of lung-related side effects, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with Macrobid. Continuing to take Macrobid after symptoms of lung-related side effects appear increases the risk that symptoms won’t go away, even if treatment with Macrobid is stopped.

Peripheral neuropathy

In studies, peripheral neuropathy was rare in people taking Macrobid oral capsule. This side effect may be serious or even life threatening in extreme cases.

With peripheral neuropathy, you experience damage to nerves outside your brain or spinal cord.

Symptoms may include:

• muscle cramps or twitching
• a “pins and needles” tingling or prickling sensation
• problems with balance or coordination

Certain factors can increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy with Macrobid oral capsule. These include:

• anemia
• electrolyte imbalance, such as a low level of sodium or potassium in your blood
• kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease
• vitamin B deficiency

If you experience symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with Macrobid.

If you take Macrobid long term, your doctor will likely monitor your kidney function. This is because even a slight decrease in kidney function can raise the risk of peripheral neuropathy as a side effect of Macrobid.

Liver-related side effects

In studies, liver-related side effects were rare in people taking Macrobid oral capsule. These side effects may be serious or even life threatening.

Liver-related side effects reported with Macrobid include:

• hepatitis (inflammation in your liver)
• liver damage
• cholestasis (reduced or blocked bile flow from the liver)

Symptoms may include:

• jaundice (yellowing of your skin or the whites of your eyes)
• dark-colored urine
• abdominal pain
• excessive itchiness

If you experience symptoms of liver-related side effects, tell your doctor right away. They’ll likely recommend stopping treatment with Macrobid. They can also suggest treatment based on your specific liver-related side effects and symptoms.

Allergic reaction

For some people, Macrobid oral capsule can cause an allergic reaction. Symptoms can be mild or serious.

Severe, life threatening allergic skin reactions, including exfoliative dermatitis and Stevens-Johnson syndrome are also possible with Macrobid. Symptoms of these reactions include:

• discolored skin rash, which may appear red, purple, pink, or light brown
• skin peeling, scaling, or blistering
• general discomfort and muscle aches

These skin reactions require treatment at a hospital or emergency room right away.

For mild allergic reaction symptoms, such as a mild rash, call your doctor right away. They may recommend treatments to help manage your symptoms. They’ll also let you know whether you should keep taking the medication.

For severe allergic reaction symptoms, such as swelling, trouble breathing, or severe allergic skin reactions, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms require immediate medical care because they can become life threatening. If you’ve had a serious allergic reaction to Macrobid oral capsule, your doctor may recommend taking a different medication instead.

Precautions for Macrobid

Consider the following important information before starting Macrobid.

Before taking Macrobid, discuss your health history with your doctor. Macrobid may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health. Be sure to talk with your doctor if any of the following apply to you:

• anemia
• electrolyte imbalance, such as a low level of sodium or potassium in your blood
• kidney condition, such as chronic kidney disease
• oliguria/anuria
• diabetes
• vitamin B deficiency
• past allergic reaction to Macrobid
• history of severe liver-related side effects after taking Macrobid in the past
• pregnancy
• breastfeeding
• alcohol consumption

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.