Side effects from taking Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) antibiotic.

Posted by connie1977 @connie1977, Dec 13, 2020

Seeking people who may have experienced side effects after taking Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid). As soon as I started taking it August 2018, within 24 hours I was experiencing sharp electrical impulse pain to the medial malleolus of the left ankle. There were times when I would jump from the joint I would suddenly get. A year and half later I still have these electrical impulse shooting pains but now in both ankles. I was on the medication for 1.5 doses. PA misdiagnosed the pain as cellulitis and gave me a second dose which after 2 days I stopped. Pain is worse at night; usually wakes me during the night.

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Hi @connie1977 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Allow me to bring fellow members @sarasally2 @sue6408 @katek001 @pines and @cloe001 into this discussion as they have experience with nitrofurantoin (Macrobid).

Connie, has it been determined that the sensation of sharp electrical impulse-like pain in your ankles is a result of the antibiotic? It sounds like the pain has not yet resolved despite not taking the medication for the past 18 months. Have other causes, like tarsal tunnel syndrome or other nerve related causes, been investigated?

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It has not be determined that it was the result of the antibiotic. The timing of the onset for me is suspicious. When asked about it, I was told it couldn't be; that doesn't happen with antibiotics. I had testing done in the timing of it (EMG) which did not find anything.

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@connie1977

It has not be determined that it was the result of the antibiotic. The timing of the onset for me is suspicious. When asked about it, I was told it couldn't be; that doesn't happen with antibiotics. I had testing done in the timing of it (EMG) which did not find anything.

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I took macrobid a month ago and have had swelling in my right lateral ankle as well as pain and muscle pain there too. It’s been about a month now after it happened and it’s slowly going away. Is your ankle better now?

Some days it feels stretchy, electrical feeling in some areas behind the malleous bone and sharp pains here and there if I go up or down the stairs. A few doctors I spoke to said it could have been from macrobid because I’ve had an X-ray and ultrasound and they can’t find anything. I’ve been seeing a physical therapist and it seems to be helping. The pain is usually the worst at nighttime for me as well. The timing for me too is suspicious. A week after I stopped macrobid it happened.

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@lani22

I took macrobid a month ago and have had swelling in my right lateral ankle as well as pain and muscle pain there too. It’s been about a month now after it happened and it’s slowly going away. Is your ankle better now?

Some days it feels stretchy, electrical feeling in some areas behind the malleous bone and sharp pains here and there if I go up or down the stairs. A few doctors I spoke to said it could have been from macrobid because I’ve had an X-ray and ultrasound and they can’t find anything. I’ve been seeing a physical therapist and it seems to be helping. The pain is usually the worst at nighttime for me as well. The timing for me too is suspicious. A week after I stopped macrobid it happened.

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Hi Lani, welcome. I'm glad to hear that your side effects are going away. Were you able to switch to another antibiotic to deal with the infection?

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@colleenyoung

Hi Lani, welcome. I'm glad to hear that your side effects are going away. Were you able to switch to another antibiotic to deal with the infection?

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No, I didn’t switch to another antibiotic. I took the full course of macrobid.

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@lani22

No, I didn’t switch to another antibiotic. I took the full course of macrobid.

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I hope the infection is gone. Did you aks that your medical records be updated to note your reaction so that you're not prescribed macrobid in the future?

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Hi, I am currently going through some issues that I am just now realizing may be from generic macrobid, 100mg twice daily. Today is Sunday. This past Monday, 6 days ago, I started showing signs of uti (I'm somewhat prone) and my dr was closed, so I went through our insurances telehealth. It is worth noting I began azo to relieve the pain, and it was upsetting my stomach, but worth it. Once I got the rx, I quit the azo. That next morning I was in the bath, and I had been nauseated and not really hungry, as I was washing myself, at the bottom of my sternum, almost under my bottom right rib was an excruciating knot that when I applied any pressure, I got sick and vomited. So I make an appt with my dr (Wednesday)
At this point I'm allowing myself to dry heave once in a while for relief. My stomach hurts. He suspects pancreatitis or gallbladder, or even a peptic ulcer but my insurance has to pre-certify everything so they sent me to the local ER where they would be covered. They do a CT scan, urinalysis, and cbc. Everything looked good they said! At the dr my BP is elevated, my urine showed protein and no bacteria, er later in the day was opposite with no protein, but trace bacteria (the knot had reduced, but still very tender. I hadn't had my morning dose of macrobid but did not make the connection. They say I have no gall stones, but recommend I call my dr and get a scan done to check my gallbladder contraction.
Wednesday, at mr dr I weighed 165. Saturday, I weighed in at 156. Laying here, my stomach is a constant dull burn, (weird because it isn't my esophagus like a normal burn would be) but if I apply pressure it's sharp. I an extremely nauseous. Last night I felt better than this, but took my dose and then went to bed. Neither my dr nor the er dr even suspected that it could be the medicine, I made sure they all knew I'm on it.. and I'm at a loss. I only have 1 dose left, I am not taking it. Does this sound like macrobid?

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...oh cant help except to say years ago 2nd time I took it, did have vomiting and shaking etc., but also had uti with 38.6 temp. went to emerge, dr said finish prescription..... so never found out if it was the medication or the infection; however I do recall the doctor saying "Macrobid can have strange effects." Perhaps go on line and find out the manufacturer and do a search with these side effects? It's confusing when we get so many side effects from meds and other people don't.... best wishes to find out what is causing your issues..... sorry I can't be more helpful.

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