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What Are The Effects Of Overdose Of Nitrofurantoin?

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Posted on Tue, 23 Jun 2015
Question: my wife accidentally took 2 100 mg nitrofurantioin caps at the same time instead of 1 twice a day. Is this a problem?
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (19 minutes later)
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!
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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What Are The Effects Of Overdose Of Nitrofurantoin?

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!