MacroBID®

What is MacroBID?

MacroBID is an antibiotic tablet that’s used to tackle UTIs. It contains the active ingredient nitrofurantoin, and it’s one of the preferred treatment options for urinary tract infections, along with Trimethoprim. Each tablet contains 100mg of nitrofurantoin.

MacroBID isn’t used to treat infections outside the urinary tract or bladder.

How does MacroBID work?

The bacteria most commonly responsible for UTIs is called escherichia coli. It’s a naturally occurring bacteria in the human body. It’s also present in our urine, but an infection often occurs when it gains access to the bladder from an external source, and it then begins to multiply.

The two active ingredients in MacroBID, nitrofurantoin monohydrate and nitrofurantoin macrocrystals, stop the bacteria from multiplying and kill it, which clears up the infection.

Cystitis is responsible for nearly 95% of symptomatic urinary tract infections. It’s estimated that between 140 and 175 million urinary tract infections occur annually worldwide.^[1] Cystitis has a number of causes but it’s mostly triggered by a bacterial infection or when there’s an imbalance in the body’s microflora. Sometimes, cystitis is also drug-induced.

What doses of MacroBID are there?

For cystitis treatment, MacroBID is available in a 100 mg dose. You should take one capsule twice a day for seven days.

If you’re still experiencing symptoms of cystitis after completing your course of treatment, you should contact your doctor. This is because continuous use has been linked with the development of kidney stones. A doctor can advise you on what the next steps are, or on alternative treatment options.

How to take MacroBID

• The general advice is that women take two tablets a day for three days, and men take two tablets a day for seven days.
• Take MacroBID orally with food or during mealtimes. This will improve the absorption of the drug by up to 40%.
• Take each tablet at 12 hour intervals.
• As it is an antibiotic, it’s best to take it at evenly spaced times or at the same time each day. This ensures the concentration is high enough to combat the bacteria.
• Try not to take a lesser or larger dose than what your doctor prescribes. Stopping too early will lead to resistance. Also, bear in mind that the drug will no longer be effective if the infection returns.
• If you don’t have any kidney problems, the normal 100 mg dose is suitable. It’s not suitable for children under 12.

How long does it take MacroBID to work?

If your body doesn’t resist the drug, MacroBID should successfully clear the infection within the treatment course. Usually, symptoms of the infection start to disappear within 24 hours.

Even if you feel better before your treatment course is complete, you should still finish it. There may still be bacteria that’s inactive (but still living) in the urinary tract. Failure to complete the course might cause the bacteria to become resistant to the medication. If you have a recurring infection, MacroBID may not be as effective as it was initially.

What should I do if I make a mistake when taking MacroBID?

If you miss a dose, you shouldn’t take a double dose to make up for the one you miss. Instead, take the next dose as normal and continue the full course as before. If you suspect you have overdosed on MacroBID, please seek immediate medical assistance.