Patient/caregiver was educated on the side-effects of using Nitrofurantoin as follows:
Hematologic side-effects
- Prolonged use of Nitrofurantoin can result in deficiency of enzyme systems needed to maintain the integrity of red blood cells. This can result in poor red blood cell integrity, predisposing the cells to lysis, contributing to development of hemolytic anemia.
- Long term Nitrofurantoin intake also can lead to hepatic injury, thus compromising liver function.
- This breakdown of red blood cells, hepatic injury, and altered liver function, secondary to Nitrofurantoin intake, can result in elevated levels of the yellow pigment, bilirubin, in the blood. This can result in signs and symptoms of jaundice, such as, itching, dark urine, yellowing of skin and eyes, nausea and vomiting, poor metabolism, and fatigue. Report any of these findings to your physician, so that, a change in plan of care could be considered.
- Secondary to breakdown of red blood cells and consequent anemia, individuals can also present with pallor of skin, episodes of confusion, dizziness, exacerbated shortness of breath, and compromised endurance.
