Generic name: nitrofurantoin (oral route)
Drug class: Urinary anti-infectives

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Oct 29, 2023.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Furadantin
• Macrodantin

In Canada

• Novo-Furan Suspension

Available Dosage Forms:

• Suspension
• Capsule

Therapeutic Class: Antibiotic

Chemical Class: Nitrofuran

Uses for Novo-Furan Suspension

Nitrofurantoin is used to treat urinary tract infections. This medicine is an antibiotic. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

Before using Novo-Furan Suspension

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

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated pediatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of nitrofurantoin in children. Safety and efficacy have not been established in infants below 1 month of age.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of nitrofurantoin in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart, liver, lung, or kidney problems, which may require caution in patients receiving nitrofurantoin.

Breastfeeding

Studies in women suggest that this medication poses minimal risk to the infant when used during breastfeeding.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

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.

• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Fluconazole
• Methotrexate

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

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
• Mineral imbalance in the blood or
• Vitamin B deficiency—May increase the chance for side effects.

• Diarrhea or
• Liver disease or
• Lung disease—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency (an enzyme problem in red blood cells)—May cause hemolytic anemia (red blood cells are destroyed) in patients with this condition.

• Kidney disease (not infection)—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

• Kidney disease, severe or
• Liver disease, history of with this medicine, or
• Urinating problems (e.g., unable to urinate or decreased amount of urine)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.

Related/similar drugs

amoxicillin, doxycycline, cephalexin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, Augmentin, levofloxacin

Proper use of Novo-Furan Suspension

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain nitrofurantoin. It may not be specific to Novo-Furan Suspension. Please read with care.

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

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

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.

Shake the oral liquid forcefully before each dose to make 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.

Swallow the capsule whole. Do not open, crush, or chew the capsule before swallowing it.

Do not take antacids containing magnesium trisilicate (e.g., Genaton®) while you are using nitrofurantoin. It may prevent the medicine from working properly.

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 oral dosage forms (capsules, suspension, and tablets):
  • For prevention of urinary tract infections:
    • Adults and teenagers—50 to 100 milligrams (mg) at bedtime.
    • Children and infants 1 month of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
    • Infants younger than 1 month of age—Use is not recommended.
  • For treatment of urinary tract infections:
    • Adults and teenagers—50 to 100 milligrams (mg) every six hours.
    • Children and infants 1 month of age and older—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor.
    • Infants younger than 1 month of age—Use is not recommended.
• For oral dosage form (extended-release capsules):
  • For treatment of urinary tract infections:
    • Adults, teenagers, and children 12 years of age and older—100 milligrams (mg) every twelve hours for seven days.
    • Children younger than 12 years of age—Use and dose must be determined by your 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.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions while using Novo-Furan Suspension

If you or your child will be taking this medicine for a long time, it is very important that your doctor check you at regular visits for any problems or unwanted effects that may be caused by this medicine.

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

Diabetic patients that use urine sugar tests should be careful when using this medicine. Nitrofurantoin may cause false test results with some urine sugar tests. Check with your doctor before changing your diet or the dose of your diabetes medicine.

Liver problems may occur while you are using this medicine. Stop using this medicine and check with your doctor right away if you are having more than one of these symptoms: stomach pain or tenderness; clay-colored stools; dark urine; decreased appetite; fever; headache; itching; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; skin rash; swelling of the feet or lower legs; unusual tiredness or weakness; or yellow eyes or skin.

Tell your doctor right away if you start having numbness, tingling, or burning pain in your hands, arms, legs, or feet. These may be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Nitrofurantoin may cause diarrhea, and in some cases it can be severe. Do not take any medicine to treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. Diarrhea medicines may make the diarrhea worse or make it last longer. If you have any questions about this, or if mild diarrhea continues or gets worse, check with your doctor.

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

Novo-Furan Suspension 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:

More common

• 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 the face, mouth, hands, or feet
• troubled breathing

Less common

• Black, tarry stools
• blood in the urine or stools
• burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• dizziness
• drowsiness
• headache
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• sore throat
• unsteadiness or awkwardness
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

Rare

• Abdominal or stomach pain
• blindness
• blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin and mucous membranes
• blue-yellow color blindness
• bluish color of the fingernails, lips, skin, palms, or nail beds
• blurred vision or loss of vision, with or without eye pain
• bulging soft spot on the head of an infant
• change in the ability to see colors, especially blue or yellow
• confusion
• cracks in the skin
• darkening of the urine
• decreased vision
• diarrhea
• diarrhea, watery and severe, which may also be bloody
• eye pain
• general tiredness and weakness
• light-colored stools
• loss of appetite
• loss of heat from the body
• mental depression
• mood or mental changes
• nausea or vomiting
• pale skin
• pale stools
• red skin lesions, often with a purple center
• red, irritated eyes
• red, swollen skin
• red, thickened, or scaly skin
• skin rash
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swollen or painful glands
• tenderness of salivary glands
• unpleasant breath odor
• upper right abdominal pain
• visual changes
• vomiting of blood
• wheezing or tightness in the 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:

More common

• Diarrhea
• gas

Incidence not known

• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• lack or loss of strength
• loss of hair, temporary
• sensation of spinning
• uncontrolled eye movements

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

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Frequently asked questions

• What antibiotics are used to treat UTI?
• What is "dual release" nitrofurantoin?

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

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