Macrobid symptoms and conditions

Started Taking Macrobid after for UTI after Bactrim did not help and Cipro made me break out in hives. I've only taken 3 pills and have started getting headaches and waking up with severe neck pain. It's horrible I can hardly turn my head because my neck is so knotted up and stiff. I'm not taking any more because after 3 different antibiotics that have made me feel horrible, I need a break.

I have been prescribed a 20 day course of flagyI. I was prescribed this med for a uterine staph infection caused by an iud...as you can imagine I was ready for any antibiotic that would bring relief. I tried a few antib's (Cipro, Macrobid, Doxycyline) before flagyl while the drs waited for the culture to return from the lab...flagyl brought immediate ( 24 hours) help with the staph but causes metal mouth, a woozy feeling and a strange aching in my feet. In my situation the side effects are worth it...Also the severity of the side effects have been temporary, as the bacteria die off the toxins they leave behind will leave your system and ease the side effects. It is important to replenish your natural bacteria while taking antib with probiotics in yogurt and supplements this helps me with the yeast problems also taking Caprylic Acid and coconut oil have kept yeast under control. Stopping your antib treatment before the course is through can cause a relapse in your symptoms worse than the original illness and can cause antib resistant bacteria...MRSA (bad stuff!!!) I hope this helps you.

5 days on prednisone for sinus/chest infection--JOINT PAIN ever since!!!! (it has been months now).

SO WHAT DO WE DO PEOPLE????? I'm only 26, I had a cold, and now I have chronic joint pain!

I was taking this medication for 10 days and had a rash all over my body and had to stop taking immediately. The one other side effect is dizziness but besides that nothing else. The rash didn't even itch nor was it raised. I'm now on Macrobid so we'll see how that goes.

I had a similar and horrifying reaction to Avelox after taking only ONE PILL. I took one pill and within four hours had to crawl into the room to my husband to get me into the ER. For probably five months I suffered severe reactions all caused by this ONE LITTLE PILL. I couldn't walk or move without pulling muscles and tendons, my tendons felt so stretched that merely moving my leg felt like I would snap my tendon. I literally could NOT WALK or STAND. I also had eye involvement, chest pain, bone pain, shortness of breath, and just extremely odd and random different reactions to this ONE pill and I can only THANK GOD that I did not take more than that. I was told this IS a very rare possible side effect and NEVER to take any FLOROQUINOLONES again. I have the bottle marked POISON - DO NOT TAKE in my counter to remind me never ever to take anything like this again. Luckily, by 6 months and I was able to gain full motion again in my limbs after rehabilitating myself slowly and carefully without pushing myself to cause any further damage. If you have similar reactions DO NOT PUSH YOURSELF, wait and listen to your body, because you can snap tendons like rubber bands. I have also come to find out that this side effect was not as rare as they made it out to be, just do a search "levaquin and muscle pain" "avelox and muscle pain" "floroquinolones serious side effects" - and you will see that you are not alone. This was over 4 years ago when I had my reaction and at that point they statistically knew and had documented that 70,000 people had this severe reaction (not to mention the countless others who probably went undocumented.) Tell everyone you can and everyone you know about this drug. I do. Be careful with Sulfa drugs as well. Many people who cannot take Floroquinolones cannot take Sulfa drugs, and the worst thing about that is, you might take them successfully three or four times and on the fifth - get bad reactions. I can now not take Floroquinolones, Sulfa or Macrobid. Please take care of yourselves, I sympathize with everyones situation. If anyone has any questions, feel free to write me at ****** my name is N. What's worse is you feel CRAZY when you tell people "I took one pill and I can't walk...." But it is a FACT that's what it can do to you!

I have been taking this drug for almost 4 days, 2x a day at 100mg, i have UTI too, i have been feeling weak, terrible headache, nausea, backache and my eyes would be sore. i just don't think this drug is useful at all. And im 3 months pregnant, my morning sickness went off a week ago but when i started using it nausea is terrible plus backache. i agree this drug needs to be out of the market.

Hello Everyone,

Reading your stories has brought tears to my eyes. I have received my first shot two months ago, on October 20th. Since October 24, I have had nothing but struggle. I am 25 years old and have been in good health my entire life. The only thing I have ever had a struggle with was UTIs, approximately 2 times a year. However, they were gone with the first dose of antibiotics, within 24 hours. Couple of years ago, my gynecologist had completely cured me from that annoying disease through a course of medication that I took for two months. That was not a very easy process but I was free at last. I did not have a care in the world. However, my nightmare came back after the first Gardasil shoot. Exactly three days later, I woke up with severe pains in my lower abdomen, as well as all the other common symptoms of a UTI. Honestly, being as careful as I always have been with UTIs, I did not put Gardasil and this infection together. I went to my doctor. She tested me for a UTI, said I had a small presence of bacteria in my urine, and released me with a prescription for Macrobid. After a week of taking the meds, things were not looking up. It has been two months, and things have not gotten better. About two weeks ago I started searching for other causes of this pain that is resisting going away. I have been on three courses of antibiotics and going back to my doc tomorrow, after coming across this discussion. I have never experienced pain like this before, having considered myself a veteran of UTIs. I thank you for sharing your stories and advise everyone to think twice about having these shots or taking your children. I am not going back for another dose of this nightmare! I don't even know when I will feel normal again. Everyday starts with a thought: "Will I feel pain when I go to the bathroom today?" I am now completely sure that Gardasil had everything to do with my recent condition.

I've been taking Macrobid for almost 2 days now for a UTI and I now have severe, burning, watery diarrhea, stomach pains that almost feel like extreme heartburn, back pain, nausea and recently tonight I have just began spotting. I am 2 months pregnant and I am pissed! If I miscarry and this medication turns up to be the reason why, god help me because my husband and I have been trying to have a baby since last year.

I posted my reactions to Avelox yesterday (they were quite severe) but I would like to add other symptoms that, while less severe, have proven more persistent than the initial and very frightening reaction I had to ONLY ONE PILL of Avelox (see below).

Yesterday I had strange pains in my jaw and left hipbone and I pulled my left forearm muscle with very little movement on my part.

Last night my eyes were spasming followed by brief flashes of red light. When I closed my eyes the spasms continued, but followed by flashes of white light. Today my eyes are sore and seem to have difficulty focusing.

I only took one pill and am still feeling effects two days later. Avelox is a terrible drug and it baffles me that my doctor did not know that these side effects were possible.

I was prescribed Sulfamethoxazole-TMP tablets for a severe UTI that I developed. I was given 10 tablets total--and instructed to take two per day. Within an hour of taking the first tablet, my UTI felt much better, however, the rest of me felt horrible! I got nausea, dizziness, extreme confusion and depression, and stiffness and pain in my neck and shoulders. I continued the medication anyway, b/c I never had sulfur or ANY medicinal allergies. I had difficulty sleeping the next few nights, I would wake up in the middle of the night for no reason. The soreness of my neck and shoulders then extended to my butt and thighs. I can't describe how uncomfortable this was. I was sitting at work literally writhing in pain from what I felt in my legs. (and I blamed it on my poor desk chair!!) This happened on day three of five. Also, while at work I had an "episode" if you will, where I became extremely confused and disoriented, and nearly had a panic attack. It felt like the world was crashing down on me!! It only lasted for 15 minutes or so, but I will not forget the way I felt. All the while, my UTI symptoms were getting better and better. I was completely unable to have a bowel movement...sorry for this information...but it will start to make you worry if you can't poo for 5 days!! Day four of five is what I like to call "The Enlightenment". I was getting in the shower, still dizzy as hell, and noticed that I was very itchy. I looked at my lower back and I was covered in red, itchy bumps. I was say they looked like small mosquito bites, all in a cluster of about 8 on either side of my lower back. I realized then and there that this medication really was ravaging my body like I had feared. I found this site and others online which confirmed that I wasn't crazy...just poisoned. Later that day I was resting on my couch and looked in the mirror and saw that my entire face was covered in a red rash. (and I got a horrific headache) The worst part is you don't really look outwardly sick or anything...you just feel terrible. Everyone I told was very nonchalant about it..."Oh just take some Benadryl". I've lost my faith in the FDA. I stopped this medication one pill shy of my last dose. I am terrified of the possible lasting effects and will never take this drug again!! PLEASE!! NEVER TAKE THIS MEDICATION!! YOU WILL REGRET IT!!

Symptoms I have:
NOTES on health since day after I started the Lisinipril.
9-03-07 – started taking Lisinopril
9-05-07 – Saw Dr. for Bladder infection (left urinalysis with doctor). Prescribed a sulfite antibiotic for bladder infection.
9-06-07 – First symptoms began; trouble urinating
9-06-07 – Called Dr. Kuebals office to let them know that I was having trouble urinating. I also asked if they got the lab test (urinalysis) back yet. The nurse let me know that I had strep in my urine (very rare she said) but they will be prescribing me macrobid and to stop the first antibiotic.
9-06-07 – Began taking macrobid
9-11-07 – Unable to urinate at all
More symptoms after a few more days of taking this drug: Heart pounding in my chest, Achy skin, panic/anxiety attacks (hard to catch breath, heavy chest), Cold feet, hot sweats and chills, urinary retention, bladder infections, ultra sensativety (body to the touch), muscle cramps, arms, legs, back and neck feel heavy. I can't even lift my arms to fold clothes they get so heavy.
9-12-07 – went to the ER to get catheterized
9-14-07 – At hospitals request (doctor at hospital) saw a urologist although he thought that this was most likely a cause of the bladder infection and that I might have some swelling around the urethra or he also suggested that it might be caused by a tear or “stretch” in the urethra from not being able to urinate due to the pain of urinating. I didn’t not think that one, because as soon as I was not able to urinate, I knew that I would need a catheter until we figured out what was wrong.
9-14-07 – Removed catheter at urologist office
9-15-07 – Early am – went to ER again to get catheterized as I was still unable to urinate
9-19-07 – Went to CT Scan requested by Urologist
9-20-07 – Nurse removed 2nd Catheter at Urology Office and said to come back by four if I still could not urinate on my own.
9-20-07 – Researched Lisinopril to find UT could be caused by Lisinopril (medications.com) and saw the side effects that some people were having with this drug. Also learned that this was a derivative of venom from a Brazilian snake (thus the symptoms of feeling achy, sick, tired, muscle weakness and urinary retention
9-20-07 – Went back to urologist to let them know that I still could not urinate and they showed me how to self catheretize. Also, as of the evening of 9-19-07 stopped Lisinopril.
Between the ER doctors, my PCP and my Urologist, they have heard me complain about all of these symptoms but they refused to connect them to the Lisinopril.

I was a very healthy 23 yr old female. I cant believe that I finally found someone going thru almost what I am going thru. My name is Liane and My life changed on July 7th, 2007. I went to the hospital for frothy urine. They told me it was a UTI and gave me Levaquin for 7 days. I took it for only 5 days cuz ( I was allergic too) then were gonna start me on macrobid. Mean time my hands,face, and bottom half began to swell up. Me thinking it was from my period but this was different. I work in a jewelery store and once my rings that are a size 6 DID not fit at all I panicked. I had extremely bad back pain, high blood pressure. I did not feel same. On July 13th (Friday) I went to a hospital here in southern california and talked to a doctor and she said.."sweetie u don't have a UTI, I don't wanna scare u but I think that U have a Kidney Disease called Minimal Change Disease"!!!! WHAT!!!! Am I gonna die? She says no but come Monday u need to see a specialist and confirm. Now here is a Lasix pill to help take some of the water weight that u have gained away. Its already about 1:30am on Saturday the 14th. She says u will not sleep cuz u will be urinating all night. I said well anything to help me, i had went from a very healthy 5' 7" 155lbs woman, I worked out in the gym 5 days a week with my boyfriend who is a Police officer and bodybuilder for fun, so me swelling up and devastated me. I took the pill. and went to sleep. Nothing happened to me. That meant something was wrong. Later that day Saturday I felt BAD. My face kept swelling, blood pressure kept going up, heart racing. I went to E.R and told them I felt like I was gonna die, I think I have minimal change disease I need a specialist now. They admitted me for 5 days. My specialist came in and saved my life. I had a ultrasound and kidney biopsy and they confirmed what I already knew. I had Minimal change Disease. I ended up being allergic to Dilaudid, and compozine in the hospital. I was released on the 20th of july. and now began my treatments. 3 x's a day of Prednisone at 20mg each, simvastatin 20mg once a day for high cholesterol now, lasix 20mg once a day, and omeprazole 20mg once a day to prevent ulcers from the Prednisone., I hate the Prednisone. I broke out so much on my face. And its not pimples it bumps. I wake up every morning at 5a.m with nasty heart burn. then wake up every 2 hours after. Doctor told me to take all my meds at once and it helped a bit but still not completely. I too feel bloated in the mid section. I still suffer from edema in my legs down to my ankles. During the day gets worse but once I put my feet up and elevate them I'm OK. I have bad mood swings I don't know how my loved ones put up me. One minute I cry, 20 minutes I'm happy and wanna go out for a walk. This drug is gonna help me but then Do I really need to put myself thru this? But there is not other way. Just thought of sharing my story.

I also was prescribed Macrobid for a UTI and after six days of it I too began itching and had hives and then was hospitalized for 3 days due to the reaction.

After 4 days of Macrobid didn't help my UTI, I was prescribed 750mg of Levaquin per day. On the first day, the doctor had me take a double dose. That night, my left arm was tingling and numb no matter what I did. I woke up suddenly after only an hour of sleep. I tried to stumble to the restroom but could barely stand. My legs were completely weak, my anxiety was through the roof, my heart was pounding and the room was spinning out of control. I couldn't tell if the bedroom was upside down or sideways.

After a trip to the ER, they told me I was reacting to the high does of Levaquin but it wasn't an allergic reaction. They gave me a lot of fluids and sent me home and told me to still take the Levaquin since I had to get rid of the UTI.

The next day, the UTI was much better. I took a 1/2 dose of Levaquin. I had some side effects (weak all over, anxiety, feeling hot, slightly dizzy) but not terrible. I hate to take this stuff but I know it is working. The half dose seems to be enough.

This drug causes nausea, diarrhea and dizziness. Even though I stopped taking it, I have headaches and dizziness. It's terrible!!!!

I am a 53 year old RN, who is pretty much up to date on medications. I have been given Levaquin IV for Crohn's flare ups, but since my surgery 4 years ago, I have been fine. I have taken it orally once before, no problems. Last week after being on Macrobid for a few days and it not working, my pcp Rx this. I almost immediately started having a gerneralized adverse reaction, shortness of breath, elevated pulse and dizziness, felt as if I would faint. It passed, and as I wasn't expecting a reaction, I was certain I was not imagining it. I went to this site and was pretty concerned, but continued taking it as I know the power of suggestion and usually dismiss "drug paranoia". Big mistake! I now have pain all over my body. All the major muscle groups are hurting. Bruising all over my legs, and insomnia. Since I already take an RX for sleep, I'm sure it is the Levaquin. I pray I do not get worse, as this is bad enough. I'm sure my PCP will tell me I'm nuts, Docs are the absolute worse. I should probably go see the nurse practitioner, might have a better chance with a nurse. Just adding my 2 cents, and if I keep one other person from taking it this is worth the time, though I work on line all the time, with no problems, my wrists are hurting as well! In the past I had a reaction to Cipro, but nothing ever this bad. The new bugs out there are all becoming immune to regular antibiotics, and if you have a UTI like I have you can get pretty desperate. DON"T EVER take this for a simple sinus infection! I would rather have headaches all day. Sinus infections eventually clear up.

I started taking Levaquin for UTI on June 25th. I've had recurring UTIs since 1998 and since then have been on macrobid, bactrim, and cipro. I still had some macrobid and bactrim left, so I took a dose before I went to the ER on June 25th. I waited four hours before they saw me, and when I told the doctor about the antibiotics I've been on, he concluded that they probably weren't working for me anymore. So he prescribed a 7-day round of Levaquin, once a day. It's now the 29th, and just yesterday I woke up with my feet aching and today I woke up with aching hands. I've also experienced the frequent urination, but assumed it was due to the UTI until I saw this site. I have three more pills left, and am having a hard time deciding whether I should finish them or not. I'm frustrated and desperate to end my recurring UTIs, as I've had issues with them for MANY years, but at the same time, I don't want to have more health problems added by taking Levaquin. It's like being a cancer patient, suffering the consequences of chemo/radiation. Sure, it'll kill some cancer cells, but it'll also damage your other organs. I lost my father that way. I don't want to go through the same thing with this UTI issue and the antibiotics I've been taking for years. Sometimes I just want to stop them altogether, and look for natural cures instead. I feel like it's done a lot of damage to me already. And every doctor I see (and I've seen about 12 by now) tells me the same thing, and just gives me a bottle of pills to "shut me up." I wish they would actually do tests that look internally (ultrasounds, cystoscopy) to determine what the actual problem is instead of stuffing me full of antibiotics. No one should be getting recurring UTIs this often.

I have been taking Macrobid for almost a week and have Extreme nausea also and the worse case of Diarehea I have ever had in my life, I have lost 8 Lbs in a week. I have had very little sleep because even at night I am waking up to use the restroom between 5-8 times. I have tried to talk to my Dr but all the responce I get is that its a normal side effect and after a few days the side effects will deminish. Urgh! frustrating!!

I was prescribed 500mg once daily for 7 days for a UTI. At first I thought it was really good because I always react terribly with the weirdest of any possible side effect. In spite of digestive problems, I experienced none with Levaquin and that was simply amazing.

On the third day, I had a hint of bad taste. Nothing to concern me. On the fourth day, I took a niece to the movie and she leaned on mein a way that caused me to lean to my right , straining the left upper leg. The fifth day, the back of that left thigh was so stiff it was difficult to get out of bed, but I attributed it to the way I sat (though it seemed a bit much for that). The pain did not subside all day. I woke this morning and was so incredibly stiff that it was horribly painful to get out of bed. The pain had spread to an area about three times as large as what was hurting yesterday. It became so stiff while at work that I was barely able to walk. Getting out of my chair was excrutiating. It finally dawned on me to check side effects, and this is how I discovered that my notion that the Levaquin was the culprit was on target. By the time I left work, the pain has spread further and tonight it is even more intense, but my doctor has said not to take the remaining dose. I don't know yet whether the Levaquin did or didn't work for it's purpose because it also allowed for a secondary infection that is giving me some of the same problems. Now I am treating taking Macrobid again (which my digestive tract will not like) as well as treating the secondary infection. At this point, I don't know whether the pain in the left upper leg (all of it now, not just the back of the thigh) will get better on it's own or not. I'm keeping fingers crossed.