Macrobid

Cystitis is an uncomfortable urinary tract infection which occurs when the bladder becomes infected for a number of potential reasons including:

• sex or using a diaphragm
• after having a catheter
• wiping from back to front when using the toilet

Your chances of developing cystitis are also raised if:

• you are pregnant
• you have diabetes
• you have weakened immunity
• you are less than a year or above 75

Though it can be painful and difficult to manage, cystitis is generally not dangerous though if left untreated it could lead to a kidney infection so it is important to seek help as early as possible after it develops. There is a wide range of possible medications to ease the infection including the oral antibiotic Macrobid, part of the family of nitrofurananti bacterials which help stop the continued growth of bacteria.

Medicines can cause side effects in some patients and none in others. Whilst some side effects can be common with Macrobid, they tend to be mild enough not to stop a patient from taking it.

The side effects most commonly associated with Macrobid include:

• nausea
• stomach pains
• decreased appetite
• diarrhoea and/or vomiting
• darkened urine (though this is not harmful)
• dizziness or fatigue

If any side effects are worrying you or causing problems, then contact your doctor. Seek medical help right away if you experience more severe issues, including:

• numbness or tingling
• vomiting or itching
• fever with shortness of breath and pain in the chest
• a severe headache
• swelling of the lips or throat

Macrobid is an easy-to-use form of treatment which usually only requires a short-term course. It demonstrates benefits within 3 days and up to 7 though it can be taken on a regular or long-term basis to control numbers of bacteria if needed. A daily tablet is taken, and will begin working on destroying the bacteria causing the infection right away. It is effective, safe to use and well-tolerated by patients in studies with minimal side effects as it concentrates within the urine rather than throughout the body as a whole.

Macrobid is available online from Click Pharmacy, and you can quickly and easily get a prescription by answering a short series of health questions. Our in-house doctors will assess your responses to ensure that this is the best form of treatment for your symptoms, and if approved, you can purchase your medication right away. It will be sent to your chosen address via next day delivery in discreet packaging.

Macrobid’s active ingredient is nitrofurantoin which was FDA-approved in 1953, making it a well-studied, safe, long-term option for anyone suffering from a UTI. Although newer antibiotics have come on to the market since this time, there has been an increase in resistance to them, whereas there is very low resistance still to Macrobid’s active ingredient despite its longevity. As such many have begun using Macrobid as the first-line therapy for cystitis once again.

The active ingredient in Macrobid is nitrofurantoin in the ratio of 25% macrocrystallinenitrofurantoin and 75% nitrofurantoin monohydrate.

The inactive ingredients are:

• carbomer 934P
• corn starch
• compressible sugar
• D&C Yellow No. 10
• edible grey ink
• FD&C Blue No. 1
• FD&C Red No. 40
• gelatin
• lactose
• magnesium stearate
• povidone, talc
• titanium dioxide.

If you have a lactose allergy or intolerance, then ensure you let your doctor know before using this medication.

Your doctor will be able to give you the necessary directions for how best to take your Macrobid prescription, including dosage. It is usually taken twice a day, and it is recommended that you take it at the same time - once in the morning and once in the evening. This will ensure the amount of the antibiotic in your body remains even and can continue working at the optimum level to destroy the infection.

Take Macrobid with food to decrease the possibility of side effects or nausea, and avoid taking indigestion tablets containing magnesium, as they can lower the effectiveness of the medication.

If you start to feel better within a couple of days, do continue to take the medication to completion because the infection can reoccur if you stop too soon.

When you take the antibiotic Macrobid the kidneys filter the medication out of the bloodstream and into the urine, meaning the treatment is where it is needed most, the urinary tract. Macrobid’s active ingredient damages the bacteria's cell wall, entering the cell itself and destroying its DNA. The bacteria is then unable to multiply or repair itself, and in turn, the infection is destroyed and clears up.

Macrobid is usually prescribed for 3 to 7 days though it can be used on a longer-term basis when needed for patients who suffer from recurring UTIs, as this helps to control the bacteria found in urine. Whilst highly effective in dealing with cystitis, taking the medication longterm needs to be reviewed regularly by your doctor to stop any side effects, such as problems with the liver.

Macrobid is not usually recommended to be taken whilst breastfeeding as the nitrofurantoin is excreted into the milk and can cause adverse reactions in nursing infants under 1 month. It can also be dangerous for babies with G6PD deficiency. Your doctor will assess whether Macrobid is appropriate for you to take when breastfeeding and weigh the possible risks versus the benefits to the mother. If it is not deemed suitable, then they will discuss an alternative with you.

Macrobid may interact with medications containing magnesium salicylate and choline magnesium salicylate. Drugs which interfere with one another can either affect how well one of them works or even cause dangerous side effects. As such, if you take anything containing these drugs, then be sure to let the doctor know before beginning the treatment.

Macrobid cannot be used for patients who have liver or kidney issues or those who are near-term in their pregnancy.

Cystitis can be treated with different antibiotics or different potencies of nitrofurantoin, depending on the severity of the infection and bacterial resistance to certain treatments. Bacteria are less resistant to Macrobid than trimethoprim; hence, prescribers prefer the former over the latter as the first-line treatment.

Alternatives to Macrobid for the treatment of cystitis include:

• Trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole
• Nitrofurantoin 50mg
• Fosfomycin
• Pivmecillinam