Class: Antibacterial

Manufacturer: Cosmos Limited, Rangwe Rd, Off Lunga Lunga Rd, Nairobi, Kenya.

Dosage Form: Tablet

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Uses:

Nitrofurantoin is used in the treatment of uncomplicated lower urinary-tract infections, including for prophylaxis or long term suppressive therapy in recurrent infection.

Dosage:

Nitrofurantoin is given by mouth usually in a dose of 50 to 100mg four times daily, with food or milk. In uncomplicated infections, 100mg twice daily may be adequate. Treatment is usually continued for 7 days. A usual long-term prophylactic dose is 50 to 100mg at bed time.

Infants over three months of age and older children may be given 3mg per kg body weight daily in 4 divided doses by mouth. For long term prophylactic therapy 1mg per kg once daily may be adequate.

Side Effects:

The most common adverse effects that are encountered with nitrofurantoin involve gastro-intestinal tract. They are dose-related and generally include, nausea, vomiting and anorexia, abdominal pain and diarrhea. Neurological adverse effects include headache, drowsiness, vertigo, dizziness, nystagmus and intracranial hypertension. Hypersensitivity reaction such as skin rashes, urticarial, pruritus, fever, and angioedema may occur. Avute pulmonary sensitivity reactions characterized by sudden onset of fever, chills, eosinophilia cough, chest pain, dyspnea, pulmonary infiltration or consolidation and pleural effusion may occur.

Warnings & Precautions:

Nitrofurantoin should be used with caution in nursing mothers, elderly patients who ma be at increased risk of toxicity, particularly acute pulmonary reactions. All patients undergoing prolonged therapy should be monitored for changes in pulmonary function and the drug should be withdrawn at the first signs of pulmonary damage. Care is required in patients with pre-existing pulmonary, hepatic, neurological or allergic disorders and those with condition (such as anaemia, diabetes mellitus, and electrolyte imbalance, debility or vitamin B deficiency) which may predispose to peripheral neuropathy

Pregnancy & Lactation:

Pregnancy: nitroturantoin has been in extensive clinical use and its suitability in human pregnancy has been documented. The drug should be used at the lowest dose as appropriate for the specific indication, only after careful assessment.

Lactation: breastfeeding as infant known or suspected to have an erythrocyte enzyme deficiency (including G6PD deficiency), must be temporarily avoided, since nitrofurantoin is detected in trace amounts in breast milk.

Drug Interactions:

Nitrofurantoin and the quinolone antibacterials are antagonistic in vitro and should not be used together. The antibacterial activity of nitrofurantoin may be decreased in the presence of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors and other drugs that alklinise the urine. Probenecid or sulfinpyrazone should not be given with nitrofurantoin as they may reduce its excretion. Magnesium trisillicate may reduce the absorption of nitrofurantoin.

Contraindications:

Nitrofurantoin should not be given to patients with impaired renal function. It is also contra-indicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to nitrofurans and in those with deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and in infants less than three months old.

Price: Ksh 500

Notes:

Pack Size: 100s

Ref No: B2123900/22.03