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Does Macrobid Taken For UTI Cause Back And Neck Pain Along With Leg Cramps?
Question: I am taking macrobid for uti, have been on it for two days, take it twice a day, my back and neck has been hurting pretty bad, it started today and legs have been cramping a little, want to know if macrobid is the cause and what do I need to do. It’s got me pretty worried and scared.
Brief Answer:
The body may take 3-4 days to adjust the medicine
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Microbid (nitrofurantoin) is the first line treatment for urinary tract infections.
Back and neck pain and leg cramps are the common side effects of Microbid. These symptoms may last initial 3-4 days after the start of treatment until your body adjusts to the medicine. If you do not feel improvement in neck or back pain or other side effects do not subside within 4 days please contact you doctor. You may need some lab tests or change the medicine to a different one with fewer side effects.
Take Microbid with food may help to reduce the side effects.
Continue taking Motrin (after the meal) or paracetamol to relieve the pain.
Take adequate fluids.
If you experience shortness of breath, rash, itchiness, wheezing, numbness, dizziness, tingling sensation in your fingers or toes, develop watery or bloody diarrhea or fever immediately contact your doctor. The medicine should be stopped.
Hope the information is helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know. I will be happy to help you further.
Thank you.
The body may take 3-4 days to adjust the medicine
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,
Microbid (nitrofurantoin) is the first line treatment for urinary tract infections.
Back and neck pain and leg cramps are the common side effects of Microbid. These symptoms may last initial 3-4 days after the start of treatment until your body adjusts to the medicine. If you do not feel improvement in neck or back pain or other side effects do not subside within 4 days please contact you doctor. You may need some lab tests or change the medicine to a different one with fewer side effects.
Take Microbid with food may help to reduce the side effects.
Continue taking Motrin (after the meal) or paracetamol to relieve the pain.
Take adequate fluids.
If you experience shortness of breath, rash, itchiness, wheezing, numbness, dizziness, tingling sensation in your fingers or toes, develop watery or bloody diarrhea or fever immediately contact your doctor. The medicine should be stopped.
Hope the information is helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know. I will be happy to help you further.
Thank you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
I had a doctor tell me these were not common side effects and he has already ordered blood work on me. This is very confusing, getting two entirely different answers. My question is, what is causing the pain in back and cramping and weakness in legs?
Brief Answer:
Information
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for follow-up.
Microbid (Nitrofurantoin monohydrate) is a good medicine for urinary tract infections but it may cause a lot of unwanted effects.
After oral intake Microbid is absorbed into a blood from gastrointestinal tract. The drug is cleared by kidneys and concentrated in the urine. It enters bacterial cells and changed by bacterial enzymes into a several toxic substances that kill bacteria. In fact, it has multiple mechanism of action but exactly how it kills bacteria is not fully understood. Like bacterial cells it also enters human cells and is modified into several substances (much less degree than bacterial cells) which is harmful for human cells and accounts for the side effects of the medicine. Overall it is considered safe medicine and serious side effects are very rare.
Muscle and joint paint are common side effect of Microbid, some patients report it as a back pain. Unfortunately the exact mechanisms of how nitrofurantoin causes back pain or muscle cramps are unknown. Therefore, doctors sometimes order lab tests to exclude any other causes.
Hope, this information is helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Wish you good health.
Information
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for follow-up.
Microbid (Nitrofurantoin monohydrate) is a good medicine for urinary tract infections but it may cause a lot of unwanted effects.
After oral intake Microbid is absorbed into a blood from gastrointestinal tract. The drug is cleared by kidneys and concentrated in the urine. It enters bacterial cells and changed by bacterial enzymes into a several toxic substances that kill bacteria. In fact, it has multiple mechanism of action but exactly how it kills bacteria is not fully understood. Like bacterial cells it also enters human cells and is modified into several substances (much less degree than bacterial cells) which is harmful for human cells and accounts for the side effects of the medicine. Overall it is considered safe medicine and serious side effects are very rare.
Muscle and joint paint are common side effect of Microbid, some patients report it as a back pain. Unfortunately the exact mechanisms of how nitrofurantoin causes back pain or muscle cramps are unknown. Therefore, doctors sometimes order lab tests to exclude any other causes.
Hope, this information is helpful for you. Please, feel free to ask me if there is anything else you need to know.
Wish you good health.
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
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