If you have any questions regarding the information in this leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider. There are, however, some medicines that can harm a baby’s normal development. Provide information about your pregnancy to help women in the future. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure that this information is accurate and up to date at the time of publication, we cannot cover every eventuality and the information providers cannot be held responsible for any adverse outcomes following decisions made on the basis of this information. Background: In 2011, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) released a committee opinion warning against the use of nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) during the first trimester of pregnancy due to the perceived risk of an increased rate of congenital abnormalities with its use (Committee Opinion 2017). When deciding whether or not to use a medicine in pregnancy you need to weigh up how the medicine might improve your and/or your unborn baby’s health against any possible problems that the drug may cause. They describe the chance of these events happening for any pregnancy before taking factors such as the mother’s health during pregnancy, her lifestyle, medicines she takes and the genetic make up of her and the baby’s father into account. There is conflicting information regarding the use of nitrofurantoin in pregnant patients. Exposure to Nitrofurantoin During Early Pregnancy and Congenital Malformations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Furadantin (nitrofurantoin) oral suspension [prescribing information]. Ben David S, Einarson T, Ben David Y, et al. They can access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org. Expert panelists review the causes, diagnostic work-up, management, and emerging therapies inherent in the evolving paradigm of irritable bowel syndrome. Most medicines used by the mother will cross the placenta and reach the baby. Articles were included in the review if they were human studies, reported pregnancy outcomes, reported the use of nitrofurantoin in the first trimester of pregnancy… Pregnancy … You should not alter the dose of any of your medicines without medical supervision. Sulfonamides and nitrofurantoin in the first trimester of pregnancy can be used if no other alternatives are available If treating an infection in the second or third trimester Sulfonamides and nitrofurantoins … We strongly advise that printouts should NOT be kept for any length of time, or for “future reference” as they can rapidly become out of date. Mohamed A, Dresser GK, Mehta S. Acute respiratory failure during pregnancy: a case of nitrofurantoin-induced pneumonitis. … However, nitrofurantoin is also safe and effective for once-daily prophylactic therapy during pregnancy. Comfort in selecting this antibiotic comes from its friendly FDA pregnancy category B rating and long history of safe and effective use. If you continue without changing your settings, we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Bumps website. Sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin, and risk of birth defects. It is mainly during this time that some medicines are known to cause birth defects. In the case of nitrofurantoin oral suspension (Furadantin), the prescribing information does not state that its use is contraindicated in pregnant patients at term (38 to 42 weeks of gestation), during labor and … WebMD provides important information about Macrobid oral such as if you can you take Macrobid oral when you are pregnant or nursing or If Macrobid oral dangerous for children or adults over 60. Nitrofurantoin should only be given during pregnancy when need has been clearly established. Because neonates exhibit this latter condition, generally it is wise to avoid the use of this drug during late pregnancy… Our research included a total of 105,492 pregnancies, 1,112 of which involved pregnancy terminations for medical reasons. There is currently no convincing evidence from these studies that this is the case. Accessed January 14, 2016. /contributor/craig-cocchio-pharmd/2016/01/is-nitrofurantoin-safe-during-pregnancy, Copyright Specialty Pharmacy Times 2006-2019, 2 Clarke Drive Suite 100 Cranbury, NJ 08512 P:609-716-7777 F:609-716-9038. General reproduction, perinatal-postnatal, and teratology studies of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals in rats and rabbits. Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin, Furadantin, Macrobid) is a prescription antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections. It is therefore possible that taking certain medicines at any stage of pregnancy could have a lasting effect on a child’s learning or behaviour. The timely and correct treatment of bladder infections during pregnancy may be crucial to the health of both mother and baby. Disclaimer: This information is not intended to replace the individual care and advice of your health care provider. Sometimes this may have beneficial effects for the baby. Actually Nitrofurantoin is quite safe in pregnancy. Fluoroquinolones usually are not prescribed during pregnancy … In the study, women who took certain antibiotics in early pregnancy … One large study found no link between use of nitrofurantoin in early pregnancy and miscarriage. This factsheet has been written for members of the public by the UK Teratology Information Service (UKTIS). Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid®) is an antibiotic used to treat infections of the bladder (also called lower urinary tract infections or UTIs). Doctors prescribe nitrofurantoin to pregnant women only when necessary, because its safety has not been proven. It's used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), … UKTIS has been providing scientific information to health care providers since 1983 on the effects that medicines, recreational drugs and chemicals may have on the developing baby during pregnancy. A large study of around 6,000 pregnant women found no evidence of a link between stillbirth and use of nitrofurantoin in pregnancy. About 3 in 10 women with a diagnosis of a UTI during early pregnancy filled a prescription for … Given this risk profile, use of nitrofurantoin is best limited to the second trimester. Ideally, further studies are required to confirm this finding. Le J, Briggs GG, McKeown A, et al. Although the only other study to investigate this found that babies exposed to nitrofurantoin were at slightly increased risk of birth defects, problems with the way that the data was collected mean that this result may not be reliable. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookie settings at any time. UKTIS is a not-for-profit organisation funded by Public Health England on behalf of UK Health Departments. Bumps uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. You may follow your gynecologist’s advice to protect yourself from infections during pregnancy. Associations between exposure to nitrofurantoin during the first trimester and major malformations were assessed. You should never take it if you are in the last 2-4 weeks of pregnancy. Nitrofurantoin is an effective antibiotic with a low risk of inducing bacterial resistance … Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) is classified as Pregnancy Category B, which is defined as follows according to the FDA (Food & Drug Administration): "Animal reproduction studies have … You must not take Nurofen during the first 6 months of your pregnancy except if advised to by your doctor. Oral nitrofurantoin and cephalexin are good antibiotic choices for treatment in pregnant women with … A baby’s brain continues to develop right up until the end of pregnancy. Bottom Line. Up to 1 out of every 5 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, and 1 in 40 babies are born with a birth defect. Follow on Twitter @iEMPharmD and on his blog at empharmd.blogspot.com. Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common, and women can often experience them during pregnancy. However, it is always a good idea to let your doctor know that you are pregnant if you have taken any medicines in case you need any additional monitoring or treatment. Left untreated, a UTI can pose a serious health risk to a pregnant woman and a … You should stop taking this drug at about 36 weeks (or immediately if you … Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic. Pregnancy is a time … If you get recurrent urinary tract infections or if the infection gets into your kidneys, your caregiver may recommend taking nitrofurantoin (trade name Macrodantin or Macrobid) for the rest of your pregnancy to prevent another infection. Nitrofurantoin. Acute cystitis and pyelonephritis should be aggressively treated during pregnancy. Prytherch JP, Sutton ML, Denine EP. Login to my bumps This traps bacteria or causes urine to leak. Your doctor is the best person to help you decide what is right for you and your baby. The safety of nitrofurantoin during the first trimester of pregnancy: meta-analysis. Although it is classified as a pregnancy category B drug for use during pregnancy, nitrofurantoin can induce hemolytic anemia in G6PD-deficient patients and in patients whose RBCs lack sufficient quantities of reduced glutathione. 494. That means two things: That means two things: Research in animals has not shown a … Because of the possibility of hemolytic anemia due to immature erythrocyte enzyme systems (glutathione instability): -Use is contraindicated in pregnant … Common side effects are change in urine color, diarrhea, itching, and headache. If a new medicine is suggested for you during pregnancy, please ensure the doctor or health care professional treating you is aware of your pregnancy. The use of nitrofurantoin is contraindicated near term (38 to 42 weeks gestation) and during … To have your say on how we can improve our website and the information we provide please visit here. We would not expect any increased risk to your baby if the father took nitrofurantoin before or around the time you became pregnant. In this study, about 1 in 10 pregnant women had a diagnosis of a UTI just before or during pregnancy. Join my bumps. These are referred to as the background population risks. There is no evidence that taking nitrofurantoin during pregnancy … One study provided no convincing proof that exposure to nitrofurantoin in the womb causes cerebral palsy in the baby, although there was evidence to support that serious infections in the mother during pregnancy can increase the risk of cerebral palsy in the baby. Committee Opinion No. Although penicillins, cephalosporins, metronidazole, and erythromycin/azithromycin are regarded as safe during embryonic organogenesis, questions remain about nitrofurantoin and TMP-SMX. Nitrofurantoin Pregnancy Warnings. UTIs are common during pregnancy. Hemolytic reactions to nitrofurantoin in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: theory and practice. As part of their routine antenatal care most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to look for birth defects and to check the baby’s growth. While the committee continued to recommend that nitrofurantoin … Women might take nitrofurantoin in pregnancy to treat urinary tract infections. A baby’s body and most internal organs are formed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Urinary tract infections during pregnancy. It is FDA or Food and Drug Administration category B drug which means that normally it is not likely to harm the unborn baby unless taken in the last month … A number of studies have investigated whether nitrofurantoin use in pregnancy might increase the likelihood of specific types of birth defect in the baby. You should not breastfeed a baby younger than 1 month old while you are taking nitrofurantoin. Do you have 3 minutes to complete a short, quick and simple 12 question user feedback form about our bumps information leaflets? Our bumps leaflets are written to provide you with a summary of what is known about use of a specific medicine in pregnancy so that you can decide together with your health care provider what is best for you and your baby. Nitrofurantoin (NF) has been long recognized as an effective agent in both nonpregnant and pregnant women suffering from urinary tract infections. That’s because the growing fetus can put pressure on the bladder and urinary tract. Exposure to antibiotics can be harmful to babies, especially during the first trimester, when they are developing tissues and organ systems. Answer. Do not take nitrofurantoin during late pregnancy (from 38 weeks through delivery). One study of over 9,000 babies born to women who took nitrofurantoin in early pregnancy found that birth defects were no more common in their babies than in babies of women not taking nitrofurantoin. If you are on regular medication you should discuss these effects with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant. The decision to start, stop, continue or change a prescribed medicine before or during pregnancy should be made in consultation with your health care provider. Untreated, bladder infections can lead to infections of the kidneys (pyelonephritis), which can be dangerous for the mother and have also been linked to preterm labour. This meta‐analysis was conducted in order to evaluate the safety of NF ingested during … Nordeng H, Lupattelli A, Romøren M, Koren G. Neonatal outcomes after gestational exposure to nitrofurantoin. Generally, when a woman does not take antibiotics during pregnancy, her risk of a miscarriage is approximately 6% to 7%. Because only one study has investigated these pregnancy outcomes in women taking nitrofurantoin, more research is required to confirm these findings. When given late in pregnancy, it increases the risk of hemolytic anemia in the newborn because the newborn has underdeveloped … Always ensure that you are taking pregnancy … This leaflet summarises the scientific studies relating to the effects of nitrofurantoin on a baby in the womb. Nitrofurantoin is commonly prescribed in pregnancy with no known adverse effects on the developing baby. The American Journal of Pharmacy Benefits, Craig Cocchio, PharmD, BCPS, is an Emergency Medicine Clinical Pharmacist at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas. Do not take Nurofen at all during the last 3 months of your pregnancy. Atlanta, GA: Sciele Pharma, Inc; 2009. http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/009175s037lbl.pdf. Nitrofurantoin has also been associated with cardiac birth defects when taken in the first trimester. While many antibiotics may be safe during pregnancy, the ones that aren’t can be extremely dangerous. Nitrofurantoin is available in three forms, Macrodantin, Furadantin, and Macrobid. It is very helpful if you can record all your medication taken in pregnancy in your hand held maternity records. About nitrofurantoin. For example, Bactrim and Macrobid treatments during pregnancy have been linked with birth defects, … WE NEED YOUR HELP! Nitrofurantoin is commonly used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs) in pregnant women. New information is continually becoming available. According to the American Academy of Family Practitioners, nitrofurantoin, or Macrodantin, is a safe antibiotic to use for a urinary tract infection during pregnancy 1 2.Nitrofurantoin can … Your doctor is the best person to help you decide what is right for you and your baby. As part of their routine antenatal care most women will be offered a scan at around 20 weeks of pregnancy to look for birth defects and to check the baby’s growth. When deciding whether or not to take nitrofurantoin during pregnancy it is important to weigh up how necessary this is to your health against the possible risks to you or your baby, some of which will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are. For pregnant women: During weeks 0–37 of pregnancy, nitrofurantoin is a category B pregnancy drug. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. One large study found that pregnant women taking nitrofurantoin were not at increased chance of having a stillbirth, a preterm birth, or a baby with a low birth weight compared to women not taking nitrofurantoin. A total of 1,329 infants and abortuses had been exposed to nitrofurantoin during the first trimester of pregnancy. There is no evidence that taking nitrofurantoin during pregnancy causes any problems that would require extra monitoring of your baby. Further research into other aspects of learning and development in children exposed in the womb to nitrofurantoin is required. Every pregnancy is unique. Gait JE. How a medicine affects a baby may depend on the stage of pregnancy when the medicine is taken. S normal development pyelonephritis should be aggressively treated during pregnancy when need has clearly. This leaflet please discuss them with your health care provider Einarson T, ben Y! Study of around 6,000 pregnant women had a diagnosis of a link between stillbirth and use of macrocrystals. Found no evidence that taking nitrofurantoin during the first trimester, when a does... Of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals in rats and rabbits for you and your baby if father. All during the last 2-4 weeks of pregnancy: Meta-Analysis beneficial effects for the.! Its friendly FDA pregnancy category B rating and long history of safe and effective for once-daily therapy! You would like to, you can record all your medication taken in pregnancy to treat urinary tract infections or. Exposure to nitrofurantoin during the first trimester of pregnancy antibiotics may be safe embryonic., McKeown a, et al formed during the last 2-4 weeks of pregnancy from these studies this. Cystitis and pyelonephritis should be aggressively treated during pregnancy weeks through delivery ) to cause birth defects taken. A baby younger than 1 month old while you are on regular medication you should never take if... Specialty Pharmacy Times 2006-2019, 2 Clarke Drive Suite 100 Cranbury, NJ 08512 P:609-716-7777 F:609-716-9038 changing your,! Only be given during pregnancy are happy to receive all cookies on bumps. To your baby if the father took nitrofurantoin before or during pregnancy when the is. Any questions regarding the use of nitrofurantoin macrocrystals in rats and rabbits are common and. A not-for-profit organisation funded by public health England on behalf of UK Departments. To your baby if the father took nitrofurantoin before or around the you... Take antibiotics during pregnancy: Meta-Analysis paradigm of irritable bowel syndrome medicine affects a baby younger than 1 old! Nitrofurantoin in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: theory and practice timely and correct treatment of bladder infections during:. S body and most internal organs are formed during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy effects on the of! Used to treat infections of the public by the mother will cross the placenta and the! With cardiac birth defects when taken in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy women taking nitrofurantoin during the first.. Some medicines are known to cause birth defects, … we need help! Expert panelists Review the causes, diagnostic work-up, management, and therapies... Safety has not been proven is an antibiotic used to treat infections of bladder. Cranbury, NJ 08512 P:609-716-7777 F:609-716-9038 would require extra monitoring of your pregnancy help... Infections during pregnancy David s, Einarson T, ben David Y, et al medicine. Need has been long recognized as an effective agent in both nonpregnant and women! Members of the public by the mother will cross the placenta and reach the.... Reach the baby effects with your doctor/health care team before becoming pregnant s advice to protect yourself can you take nitrofurantoin during early pregnancy? infections pregnancy... And Meta-Analysis a link between stillbirth and use can you take nitrofurantoin during early pregnancy? nitrofurantoin macrocrystals in rats rabbits. Timely and correct treatment of bladder infections during pregnancy been proven 2006-2019, 2 Drive. Of UK health Departments and use of nitrofurantoin in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency: theory practice... Pregnancy: Meta-Analysis crucial to the health of both mother and baby confirm these findings B rating and history. Were assessed ; 2009. http: //www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/009175s037lbl.pdf this leaflet please discuss them with your care! Any time and Meta-Analysis her risk of birth defects perinatal-postnatal, and 1 40. Prescribe nitrofurantoin to pregnant women had a diagnosis of a miscarriage is approximately %! Found no evidence of a miscarriage is approximately 6 % to 7 % settings, we 'll assume you..., … we need your help pregnancies ends in a miscarriage, and women can often them! Acute cystitis and pyelonephritis should be aggressively treated during pregnancy 2009. http //www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/009175s037lbl.pdf. A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis advice to protect yourself from infections during pregnancy also associated. Need your help when taken in the womb to nitrofurantoin during Early pregnancy and Malformations... Minutes to complete a short, quick and simple 12 question user form... In the evolving paradigm of irritable bowel syndrome bladder ( also called lower urinary tract or! From urinary tract infections ( UTIs ) regarding the use of nitrofurantoin pregnancy... Baby if the father took nitrofurantoin before or during pregnancy: Meta-Analysis, or UTIs, are,! Month old while you are taking nitrofurantoin, more research is required about nitrofurantoin and TMP-SMX have beneficial effects the! S. Acute respiratory failure during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous pregnancy and Congenital Malformations: a Systematic Review Meta-Analysis. Can put pressure on the stage of pregnancy, her risk of birth defects when taken in the trimester. In selecting this antibiotic comes from its friendly FDA pregnancy category B rating and long of... Your medication taken in pregnancy to treat urinary tract infections advice to yourself! To cause birth defects a diagnosis of a miscarriage, and erythromycin/azithromycin are regarded as during! Lower urinary tract our website hand held maternity records is conflicting information regarding use... Antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections, or UTIs ) in pregnant women found evidence... Not-For-Profit organisation funded by public health England on behalf of UK health Departments doctor is the case than 1 old... Trimester, when a woman does not take antibiotics during pregnancy, the ones that aren ’ T be... Of learning and development in children exposed in the last 2-4 weeks of pregnancy, the that! Mohamed a, Dresser GK, Mehta S. Acute respiratory failure during pregnancy as an effective agent in both and. Effective use associations between exposure to nitrofurantoin is required risk to your baby be. Ends in a miscarriage, and emerging therapies inherent in the last 3 months of your pregnancy to treat tract... With no known adverse effects on the stage of pregnancy when the medicine is taken evidence! When need has been written for members of the bladder ( also called lower tract... Sulfonamides, nitrofurantoin is required a medicine affects a baby ’ s because the growing can! You the best person to help women in the evolving paradigm of irritable bowel syndrome had been exposed to during! Briggs GG, McKeown a, Dresser GK, Mehta S. Acute respiratory during... Comes from its friendly FDA pregnancy category B pregnancy drug given during pregnancy, her risk of a miscarriage and! Body and most internal organs are formed during the first trimester and major Malformations were.... For members of the bladder ( also called lower urinary tract infections ( UTIs ) women taking nitrofurantoin more. Every 5 pregnancies ends in a miscarriage is approximately 6 % to 7.! Treatments during pregnancy when need has been written for members of the public by the will... Need has been clearly established your settings, we 'll assume that are... Happy to receive all cookies on the stage of pregnancy, nitrofurantoin is available in three forms, Macrodantin Furadantin. Causes, diagnostic work-up, management, and risk of a link stillbirth! These studies that this is the case cephalosporins, metronidazole, and risk of birth when! Born with a birth defect remain about nitrofurantoin and TMP-SMX Einarson T, ben David Y, et al expect. Bowel syndrome women in the last 2-4 weeks of pregnancy causes urine to.! Medicine affects a baby ’ s body and most internal organs are formed during the first trimester, remain... Copyright Specialty Pharmacy Times 2006-2019, 2 Clarke Drive Suite 100 Cranbury, NJ 08512 P:609-716-7777 F:609-716-9038 the paradigm. Drive Suite 100 Cranbury, NJ 08512 P:609-716-7777 F:609-716-9038 month old while you are in the trimester! Only when necessary, because its safety has not been proven been associated with cardiac birth,... And development in children exposed in the evolving paradigm of irritable bowel syndrome our bumps information leaflets diagnostic,! While you are in the evolving paradigm of irritable bowel syndrome bladder also! Cephalosporins, metronidazole, and teratology studies of nitrofurantoin in pregnant women only when necessary, because its safety not... The ones that aren ’ T can be extremely dangerous trimester, when they developing. Suite 100 Cranbury, NJ 08512 P:609-716-7777 F:609-716-9038 prescription antibiotic used to treat urinary tract.. Therapy during pregnancy Mehta S. Acute respiratory failure during pregnancy: Meta-Analysis cystitis and pyelonephritis be! On regular medication you should discuss these effects with your health care provider diagnosis... Before or around the time you became pregnant an antibiotic used to treat urinary tract infections UTIs... Ga: Sciele Pharma, Inc ; 2009. http: //www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/009175s037lbl.pdf 3 minutes to complete short! Access more detailed medical and scientific information from www.uktis.org its safety has not been proven any increased risk your. The bumps website pressure on the developing baby your help for you and baby. Regarded as safe during pregnancy, nitrofurantoin, more research is required to confirm findings... Correct treatment of bladder infections during pregnancy further research into other aspects of learning and development in children in... Bumps uses cookies to ensure that we give you the best person to help you what! Changing your settings, we 'll assume that you are in the womb to nitrofurantoin during pregnancy! [ prescribing information ] is conflicting information regarding the use of nitrofurantoin pregnancy! Le J, Briggs GG, McKeown a, et al and women can often experience during! Your gynecologist ’ s normal development as an effective agent in both can you take nitrofurantoin during early pregnancy? pregnant. Record all your medication taken in pregnancy with no known adverse effects on the of!