Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Nitrofurantoin as follows:
- Human intestine has a lot of bacteria, both good and bad, living in a sensitive balance with each other. This helps maintain the normal natural intestinal environment. Prolonged use of antibiotic helps killing the bacteria. While doing this, antibiotic does not differentiate between good and bad bacteria. Consequently, apart from killing the bad infectious bacteria, antibiotic also kills the good bacteria in the human intestines, thus compromising the balance between good and bad bacteria. This can result in reduction in the number of good bacteria and increase in the number of bad bacteria, leading to irritation of the intestinal mucosa and antibiotic associated diarrhea. Patients with history of antibiotic associated diarrhea are at increased risk for presentation with this condition and so, must be cautious about using Nitrofurantoin. Discuss with your doctor regarding your history of the same. Report to your doctor regarding any symptoms of Nitrofurantoin associated diarrhea, such as, persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain and cramping, and blood or mucus in the stool.
- Complete the course of the antibiotic that it was prescribed for. Do not give up on the antibiotic, against your doctor’s recommendation, even if the symptoms of UTI are under control.
