Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
What Are The Effects Of Overdose Of Nitrofurantoin?
Posted on
Wed, 3 Jun 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Wed, 3 Jun 2015
Answered on
Tue, 23 Jun 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : my wife accidentally took 2 100 mg nitrofurantioin caps at the same time instead of 1 twice a day. Is this a problem?
Brief Answer:
She should be ok - this isn't a significant overdose.
Detailed Answer:
The usual dose of nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) for a bladder infection (or perhaps it is was prescribed for something else) is 100mg every 12 hours.
Nitrofurantoin can be prescribed up to a total of 400 mg in a day. Your wife will have ingested 300 mg in 24 hours. So while it was more than intended, it isn't in a toxic range.
I am assuming, if she was to take the nitrofurantoin twice a day, that it is a sustained release preparation such as Macrobid. Otherwise nitrofurantoin preparations that are not sustained release are usually prescribed as 50 -100 mg given 4 x /day.
Regardless, she should be fine as she hasn't taken a toxic dose. She should continue to take the medicine as prescribed.
I hope this information gives you some relief!
She should be ok - this isn't a significant overdose.
Detailed Answer:
The usual dose of nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) for a bladder infection (or perhaps it is was prescribed for something else) is 100mg every 12 hours.
Nitrofurantoin can be prescribed up to a total of 400 mg in a day. Your wife will have ingested 300 mg in 24 hours. So while it was more than intended, it isn't in a toxic range.
I am assuming, if she was to take the nitrofurantoin twice a day, that it is a sustained release preparation such as Macrobid. Otherwise nitrofurantoin preparations that are not sustained release are usually prescribed as 50 -100 mg given 4 x /day.
Regardless, she should be fine as she hasn't taken a toxic dose. She should continue to take the medicine as prescribed.
I hope this information gives you some relief!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
