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 [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Nitrofurantoin as follows: Nitrofurantoin is significantly eliminated in the urine, by kidneys. Individuals with history of compromised renal function and reduced urine formation, are at increased risk for toxicity with Nitrofurantoin, secondary to reduced elimination. Individuals in toxicity with Nitrofurantoin can present with anemia, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, neuropathy with tingling and numbness in the extremities, dark urine, yellowing of skin and eyes, [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Nitrofurantoin as follows: Prolonged use of Nitrofurantoin can result in deficiency of enzyme systems (G6PDH), 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. This breakdown of red blood cells can result in elevated levels of the yellow pigment, bilirubin, in the blood, which can [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Nitrofurantoin as follows: Nitrofurantoin use tends to increase the blood sugar levels and can significantly increase the risk for hyperglycemia, especially in diabetics. Blood sugars must be closely watched in diabetic individuals taking Nitrofurantoin, with log maintenance of everyday blood sugars. Diabetic individuals taking Nitrofurantoin for prolonged period of time must be aware of symptoms of hyperglycemia, such as, trouble concentrating, frequent urination, headaches, weakness, [...]

Patient/caregiver was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Nitrofurantoin as follows: Individuals with history of gout and undergoing chemotherapy present with significantly high levels of uric acid and could be prescribed probenecid, to aid the elimination of higher concentrations of uric acid. Nitrofurantoin should be administered cautiously in individuals taking medications for increasing excretion of uric acid, such as, probenecid.  Probenecid slows down the metabolism of Nitrofurantoin in the liver and inhibits the [...]