PMS-Nitrofurantoin Bid: Uses, Side Effects and Dosage

What is pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID used for?

pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID is used to treat infections of the urinary tract. Antibacterial drugs like pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID treat only bacterial infections. They do not treat viral infections.

How does pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID work?

pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID is an antibiotic. It is activated when it is broken down by bacteria. After it is activated, pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID kills bacteria and prevents the growth of infections.

What are the ingredients in pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID?

Medicinal ingredients: nitrofurantoin

Non-medicinal ingredients: carbomer 974P, corn starch, D&C Yellow # 10, FD&C Green # 3, FD&C Red # 40, gelatin, lactose, magnesium stearate, povidone, sugar compressible, talc, and titanium dioxide. The imprinting ink contains butyl alcohol, dehydrated alcohol, FD&C Red # 40 aluminium lake, FD&C Yellow # 6 aluminium lake, FD&C Blue # 2 aluminium lake, FD&C Blue # 1 aluminium lake, isopropyl alcohol, povidone, propylene glycol, shellac, sodium hydroxide and titanium dioxide.

pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID comes in the following dosage forms:

pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID is available as a 100 mg capsule.

Do not use pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID if:

• you are allergic to any ingredient in pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID. Make sure to read

  “What are the ingredients in pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID?” above.

• you have a severe disease of the kidneys.

• you are in the final stages of pregnancy (in labour or during delivery) as there is a risk that it might affect the baby

Do not give pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID to newborns or infants under one month of age.

To help avoid side effects and ensure proper use, talk to your healthcare professional before you take pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID. Talk about any health conditions or problems you may have, including if you:

• have disease of the lungs. You may develop lung disease if you need to take pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID for a number of months. Your doctor must regularly check how your lungs are working. Talk to your doctor about benefits and risks of taking pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID for a long term.

• have liver disease. Your doctor may want to regularly check how your liver is working.

  Your doctor may want to regularly check how your liver is working. If you get liver disease while taking pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID, you should immediately stop taking the medicine and talk to your doctor.

• have kidney disease
• lack an enzyme (body chemical) called G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase). Your red blood cells are more easily damaged if you do not have this enzyme. This condition is more common in black people and people of Mediterranean or near- Eastern origin. Your doctor will know about this.

• are breast feeding a baby with suspected or known deficiency in an enzyme called G6PD

  (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase).

• are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant.

Other warnings you should know about:

• The following conditions may increase the chance of developing a side effect which causes damage to the nerves, altered sense of feeling, like pins and needles:

  • anaemia (a decrease in red blood cells causing pale skin, weakness and breathlessness);
  • diabetes;
  • a lack of vitamin B;
  • abnormal levels of salts in your blood;
  • you are suffering from an illness that makes you very tired.

Tell your healthcare professional about all the medicines you take, including any drugs, vitamins, minerals, natural supplements or alternative medicines.

The following may interact with pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID:

Medicines:

• medicines for indigestion (Antacids e.g., magnesium trisilicate);
• medicines for gout (e.g., probenecid or sulfinpyrazone).

You should not take pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID along with medicines that affect your kidneys.

Laboratory tests:

• if you are taking pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID, you may get false positive results when you test your urine for sugars (glucose).

How to take pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID:

• pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID should be taken every 12 hours with food or milk. This will help to avoid upset stomach.

• Although you may feel better early in treatment, pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID should be used exactly as directed.
• Misuse or overuse of pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID could lead to the growth of bacteria that will not be killed by pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID (resistance). This means that pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID may not work for you in the future.
• Do not share your medicine.

Usual dose:

Adults and Children over 12 years:

One pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID 100 mg capsule twice a day for 7 days. Do not take more than 2 capsules per day.

If you have a urinary tract infection, your doctor will decide how long you should take pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID.

Overdose:

If you think you have taken too much pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID, contact your healthcare professional, hospital emergency department or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose:

If you forget to take pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID, do not worry. If you remember later on that day, take that day’s dose as usual. If you miss a whole day’s dose take the normal dose on the next day. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten capsule. If you are not sure ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What are possible side effects from using pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID?

These are not all the possible side effects you may feel when taking pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID. If you experience any side effects not listed here, contact your healthcare professional.

Common side effects in people who take pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID include:

• nausea or vomiting
• headache
• flatulence (passing gas)

Serious side effects and what to do about them

If you have a troublesome symptom or side effect that is not listed here or becomes bad enough to interfere with your daily activities, talk to your healthcare professional.

Reporting Side Effects

You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:

• Visiting the Web page on Adverse Reaction Reporting

  (https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/drugs-health-products/medeffect-canada/adverse-reaction-reporting.html) for information on how to report online, by mail or by fax; or

• Calling toll-free at 1-866-234-2345.

NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

Storage:

Store at controlled room temperature (15°C to 30°C). Keep out of reach and sight of children.

If you want more information about pms-NITROFURANTOIN BID:

• Talk to your healthcare professional
• Find the full Product Monograph that is prepared for healthcare professionals and includes this Patient Medication Information by visiting the Health Canada website (https://health-products.canada.ca/dpd-bdpp/index-eng.jsp); the manufacturer’s website (www.pharmascience.com), or by calling 1-888-550-6060.

Last revised: August 26, 2020