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| peace |
 Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:05 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 33
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(the following posts are from email conversations with Gloria who had a bad reaction to macrobid):
Hello..
I read your experience with this drug. Are you ok now? I've taken 4 pills
and feel horrible. Sweaty..and chest pains..and phlemy chest..
w/.b
Thx
Gloria |
Last edited by peace on Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:25 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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| peace |
| Posted: Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:09 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 33
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Hi,
I'm really sorry to hear that you are reacting to Macrobid (nitrofurantoin). I definitely know what it feels like.
Make sure you don't take anymore pills!!! From what you've said, you are definitely having a reaction. It's called a hypersensitivity reaction, and they don't know why, but some people are hypersensitive to the drug, meaning that the drug damages them when it shouldn't. So taking more pills will only make things worse.
I did recover from what happened. My reaction was very severe, however, and it took me a long time to get better. I have posted on a lot of different forums, so I'm not sure what you read. If you read my post called "my personal story", it gives a detailed description of my reaction.
Something else that you should avoid for the next while are saunas, especially infrared saunas - one woman who had a bad reaction to macrobid tried an infrared sauna (a sauna that uses light instead of direct heat) and it made her symptoms much, much worse. It seems like it pushed the drug deeper into her tissues causing more damage. Another woman went into a regular sauna over a week after finishing her prescription, and she also became much, much worse after the sauna.
Be cautious around dyes (like hair dyes). Nitrofurantoin is similar to dyes and some people had bad reactions to dyes.
If you want to try something different to help with preventing bladder infections, something that works really well for me is called D-mannose. It comes in a powder and it is a sugar-like substance that can be found in many foods including cranberries. It is not a drug - its considered a food product and I buy it at a local health food store (not all health food stores carry it, you might want to call around). It can also be found online I think. The way it is supposed to work is that e-coli bacteria (which causes 90% of bladder infections) can stick to the lining of the bladder because they have arm-like projections. That's why they cause so many infections because they can't be just flushed out when we go to the bathroom. But apparently e-coli stick to the D-mannose and will let go of the lining of the bladder and attach themselves to the d-mannose so they can be flushed out. So far everything that I've read about it has been positive, and it works for me. I often take 1 tsp of d-mannose in a glass of water either before or right after "relations" with my husband. And it works really well. Or else when I feel the first twinges of a bladder infection starting, I take 1 tsp of D-mannose in a glass of water every 3 hours for 1-3 days depending on how severe the symptoms are. I took it once a day every day for a month shortly after I had my reaction to macrobid because I was so scared to take antibiotics ever again. I haven't had any bladder infections since I started taking it.
I know this is a lot of information, but after what I went through, I want to be able to share what I learned with other people who have reactions to this horrible drug.
Like I said before, most people recover relatively quickly from their symptoms. (it can take weeks though) I hope you do too. If you would like, you can email me if you want to know anything else about my reaction. Take care of your body, try to give it all the nutrients it needs to help it recover.
I hope you feel better quickly, I hope this information helps.
Peace |
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| Gloria |
| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:32 pm |
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Guest
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Hello..
Thank so SO MUCH for this information. I really appreciate this. I feel ok..I only took 4 pills..how many did you take? After the 1st pill I had burning hands and feet and a greasy face, flushed and red. I felt a cough coming on, I'm never sick. I'm so mad I took those. I have nervous feelings about drugs. I'm 40, very health..jog, eat very well..lots of veggies, no other drugs, no smoking. Now I can't eat..feel confused and dizzy. It's my eyes that are bothering me the most..and the sick stomach. I did sleep very well last night..no more burning of my face, hands and feet.
I hope it goes away soon..I will follow as much as you recommended. Are saying I can't dye my hair now? Oh my God..I'm a blonde..every 6 weeks..should I not do it now.
I should jog more I guess..and drink lots of water?
I'm worried as I read message boards of people losing their moms/dads..due to Macrobid. One lady's husband died from Liver failure.
Oh my God..why do they prescribe this damn drug.
I didn't have a bladder infection afterall..crazy 'I think it's kidney stones trying to come out.
I'm here..at work..email me anytime..I thank you so much
Gloria |
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| peace |
| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:39 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 33
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It's terrible, this drug can affect anyone, regardless of age or health. I was 35 when I took it, and relatively healthy (ate well, pretty active). I took 5 days worth of macrobid (10 pills). I felt tired and dizzy the day after taking the first pill, but thought it was just because I had an infection and was on antibiotics. I even called a pharmacist, and she told me to keep taking it. The other symptoms didn't show up until after I finished my prescription. It was terrfying. How can you protect yourself against something that can cause harm after you finish taking it??
Your symptoms sound almost exactly like the ones I had. Like you, I was very confused and dizzy feeling, and my eyes bothered me as well. I had more problems on top of those, but that's a good sign that the burning feeling on your face, hands, and feet went away already.
I'd be cautious about jogging or exercising too much at first. I started out very slowly, and built up. I was so tired at first, I could only ride the exercise bike for about 10 minutes before being exhausted. I would always have more energy in the mornings, so that's when I would exercise. I was taking karate at the time, and I would have to sit out of half of it because I was too exhausted. Listen to your body, and don't overdo it. If you feel like I did, you are probably very tired and can't do nearly as much as normal.
Once (3 months after I finished my prescription) I had a karate test, so I pushed myself really hard and practiced hard for the two nights before the test; took my test the next morning, which was pretty physically intensive; then the next day went on a long hike with my cousin - and my body paid for it dearly. I got very run down, my glands got so swollen that it was painful to chew and swallow, and I got sores on my tongue. I was sick for over 3 weeks.
So take it easy. Definitely exercise, I really think it helped me recover, but do it at a reasonable rate for how you are feeling. And make sure you are getting lots of protein.
I don't think you necessarily need to stop dying your hair, but if I were you, I'd wait a long time before you dye it again. Maybe do the patch test that they recommend before taking it next time. I don't think that everyone who reacts to macrobid has a problem with dyes, but one woman I talked to dyed her hair and had a horrible reaction.
I drank a lot of water!! But I didn't have a choice - if I didn't drink lots, my body would feel really distressed and horrible. When I first woke up in the morning, I felt terrible until I drank a lot of water. I do think that it is a good thing to drink lots of water.
I wish that I could say conclusively that the things that I did (eating well, etc) helped me to recover. I might have gotten better anyways, I can't say for sure. I'm glad I did what I did, because I was so severe, and now I am back to myself. The only thing left is that my legs fall asleep a bit more than usual if I sit for a while, and I get really tired for the first few days of my period. Don't be surprised if you suffer a setback when you get your period. I would start to feel a little better, then BAM - I'd feel horrible again. Then I realized that it happened everytime I got my period.
It slowly got better and better, but brace yourself that it might take some time before you are feeling like yourself again.
What has your doctor said about the reaction? I'm curious. I hope you have a reasonable doctor who will believe that macrobid can cause this.
I'm glad that you are already feeling a bit better. Most people recover a lot faster than I did. Make sure you be easy on yourself, and try not to get stressed out too much. I did, and I noticed that after I decided to focus on getting better (instead of focusing on what was wrong), that I started to get better faster.
take care,
peace |
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| Gloria |
| Posted: Sun Jul 23, 2006 5:43 pm |
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Guest
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Hello,
Thx so much again..
I'm still at work..I was starting to feel better..but I seem to have come down with the sniffles and feel a cold or chest cold coming on..I'm in a bit of tears (to myself) here..I have to go to emergency again on the way home. The telehealth pharmacist that called me back today..says she's concerned with my lungs, that I should get an xray.
I'm so scared..my God.
What if I get pneumonia or something..I don't feel very well right now..very hot and sweaty. The hospital thinks I'm anxious.. I feel something different now..like congestion or watery head..strange feeling
My periods are brutel as it is..pms..
what reaction did that women have with the hair dye..not trouble breathing
or anything did she? |
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| peace |
| Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:26 pm |
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Site Admin
Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 33
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Hot and sweaty -
I would get an xray to see if they can see anything, but macrobid can cause lung problems like that. I was really short of breath, my chest felt congested. Hot and sweaty could easily be the macrobid too. I would get hot and sweaty, and then sometimes I would get horrible chills. Anxiety was another thing that I felt from macrobid. I had head pressure with my reaction. My head would feel "heavy or full" it's hard to explain, then I would lay down for a while and it would go away. I can't believe you went to work feeling how you are feeling. In the mornings I would always feel a bit better, but then by the afternoon, I would feel like hell again. Hang in there!
I've gotto go, let me know how it goes. |
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| Gloria |
| Posted: Sun Jul 30, 2006 2:30 pm |
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Guest
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Hi there.
I went to emerg last, got a lung xray..lungs, blood pressure and blood oxygen levels are good they said. I had hives all over my legs again last night and was very weezy. That's my only complaint..weezing. Not sure if I should get an anti-histimine. Seems it's worse now then before. I'm at work again now..If it gets bad I'll leave early. I slept well all night but my eyes felt infected..when I woke up this morning they felt like glue.
Yesterday morning at 7:00 was 24 hours it was out of my system...today hopefully might be better. I cannot believe how this drug has affected me. I got one hive after the first pill...I must be crazy to have kept keeping them.
Thanks for the emails..I feel better after I read them.
See how the day goes
Have a good one. |
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| peace |
| Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2006 4:24 am |
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Site Admin
Joined: 13 Dec 2004
Posts: 33
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Hi!
It's not a nice thought to think that you might get worse before you get better, but try not to get too discouraged if you do feel a bit worse over the next week or two. Hopefully you won't, but be prepared, and know that it happens with this drug. Be easy on yourself and know that you aren't going to feel better over night. It will potentially take weeks or months to become completely better. I don't want to tell you this to scare you, I want to do the opposite - prepare you to be ready to accept it because otherwise you will get very discouraged. I'm not surprised that the hives are worse now than before. This drug is like that. I got more symptoms over 3 weeks after I stopped taking it. Prepare yourself for doctors telling you that "this drug can't do that" or "the drug should be out of your system and can't be affecting you anymore". Most doctors have never dealt with a macrobid drug reaction. They can't possibly know everything about every drug. So don't let the doctors scare you either. Even though it can take some time, most people recover completely from your symptoms. Especially since you are younger and in good shape.
That is very good news about your visit to emerg. I don't know much about antihistamines. I know that it helped temporarily take away itching in other people who took macrobid. But if the hives or itching aren't bothering you too much, I'd probably stay away from any other drugs for the time being.
Also, don't beat yourself up about taking 4 pills. There is no way you could have known that this could happen. Don't dwell on that, just focus on being positive about getting better. I did the same thing - I was mad at myself for finishing my prescription even though I was tired and dizzy. But it doesn't do any good.
Take it day by day, and hour by hour.
Let me know how things go |
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