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Nitofurantoin

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Coco51 Tue 06-Nov-18 12:07:05

I’d like to post an urgent warning to all Gransnetters about this antibiotic which is usually prescribed for recurrent urinary infections. Please ask your GPs or whoever prescribes it for you to regularly check your liver.

I have been taking this for about 6 + years bowling along quite merrily but then my urine turned brown and I had extreme heartburn which was not controlled by the Omeprazole that I take. I couldn’t get to see my GP and had to go through the Practice nurse who diagnosed urinary inection and packed me off with a different antibiotic and advised me to see a GP for the heartburn. It really is impossible to get a timely appointment these days, so I booked the first slot I could get.
In the meantime I had a very bad fall hitting my head and face on a chest of drawers and was taken by ambulance to A&E and was admitted so that they could check I had no lots or neurological damage. The hospital doctors said their blood tests indicated there was a problem with my liver and wanted to keep me in for further tests.

Following a liver biopsy they confirmed that I had Auto-Immune Hepatitis which had almost certainly been triggered by the Nitrofurantoin. My liver has been significantly damaged by my own immune system and my life from now will be a regime of tests and immuno-suppressant drugs.

It is hard to express the gratitude I feel towards the hospital doctors’ vigilance because if they hadn’t pursued the further tests the first I would have known about the liver damage is when I had acute liver failure which almost certainly have been fatal.

It IS known in the medical profession that this is a problem So my purpose in posting today is to get the message out to everyone taking this drug that they should be regularly monitored for liver damage, and not to take for granted their GP will follow up with relevant reviews. I wish you all well, and hope that this long post is helpful.xxx

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Floradora9 Tue 06-Nov-18 19:34:37

I have never felt so ill as I did when prescribed a course of this drug. I have a note of it in my purse in case anyone tries to prescribe it again.

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Eloethan Tue 06-Nov-18 23:56:50

My husband was prescribed this recently following major surgery. Although, following the operation, he had not been at all well, he seemed to feel much worse after this medication was prescribed. And his liver function was subsequently found to be abnormal - after only a couple of weeks. Now returning to normal.

It really is very worrying that people appear not to be monitored for these very significant and possibly life changing side effects.

So sorry to hear this has happened to you Coco51 and so thoughtful of you to warn people about it.

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Sparklefizz Wed 07-Nov-18 08:19:03

So sorry to hear what a bad time you've been having Coco flowers

Did you also know that Omeprazole is not supposed to be prescribed indefinitely? I believe that it should only be taken for 2-4 weeks, but can't swear to the time scale. However, if you lose most of your stomach acid which is there for a reason, to stop the proliferation of bad bugs, then bad bugs are what you will get, and possibly something called SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overload) which is extremely hard to get rid of. I have it myself, not from Omeprazole but from antibiotics. If your GP has been careless about one med, he could have been careless about this too. Just saying .....

Again, sorry to hear what has happened. I have learnt the hard way that we have to take responsibility for our own health and fight our own corner.

Take care of yourself. flowers

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Auntieflo Wed 07-Nov-18 09:46:14

When I was prescribed Nitrofurantoin, for a urine infection, it brought up a rash on both legs, from knee to ankle. I now have it listed on my notes that I am allergic to it.
I didn’t realise what damage it may do. DH was on a course a couple of weeks ago, but luckily only for 3 days. He appears to have got away without any side effects, but did need a further course of A/B to clear the infection.

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