DO NOT TAKE MacroBID

• if you are allergic to Nitrofurantoin, other medicines containing nitrofurantoin or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• if you have a disease of the kidneys which is severely affecting the way they work (ask your doctor if you are not sure)
• if you are in the final stages of pregnancy (labour or delivery) as there is a risk that it might affect the baby
• if you have porphyria (blood disorder)
• if in patients with G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency
• if in infants under three months of age
• if you are breast feeding a baby with suspected or known deficiency in an enzyme called G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase).

Tell your doctor if you are not sure about any of the above.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse before taking MacroBID:

• if you have diabetes
• if you are suffering from any illness causing severe weakness
• if you have anaemia (a decrease in red blood cells causing pale skin, weakness and breathlessness); a lack of vitamin B or abnormal levels of salts in your blood (your doctor will be able to advise you)
• if you have a history of allergic reactions
• if you have any problems with your kidneys.

The above conditions may increase the chance of developing a side effect which causes damage to the nerves, altered sense of feeling, like pins and needles.

• if you lack an enzyme (body chemical) called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, which causes your red blood cells to be more easily damaged (this is more common in black people and people of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern or Asian origin. Your doctor will know)
• if you have any disease of the lungs, liver or nervous system. If you need to take MacroBID for a number of months, your doctor may want to regularly check how your lungs and liver are working
• if you have false positive results on testing your urine for glucose
• if you have urine coloured yellow or brown
• If you experience fatigue, yellowing of the skin or eyes, itching, skin rashes, joint pain, abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, dark urine, and pale or gray-colored stools. It may be symptoms of liver disorder.

Other medicines and MacroBID:

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. If they are taken with MacroBID their effect or the effect of MacroBID may be changed.

In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Antacids for indigestion (e.g. magnesium trisilicate)
• Medicines for gout (e.g. probenecid or sulfinpyrazone)
• Medicines for raised pressure in the eye (glaucoma), such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g. acetazolamide)
• Medicines which make the urine less acidic (e.g. potassium citrate mixture)
• Medicines for infections, known as quinolones
• Typhoid vaccine, which is given for the prevention of typhoid.

If you are in doubt about any of these medicines ask your doctor or pharmacist.

MacroBID with food and drink:

MacroBID capsules should be taken at meal times with food or milk. This will help to avoid stomach upset and also to help the absorption.

Pregnancy and breast-feeding:

If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.

As far as it is known MacroBID may be used in pregnancy.

However it should not be used during labour or delivery because there is a possibility that use at this stage may affect the baby.

If you want to breast feed, please consult with your doctor first.

Driving and using machines:

MacroBID may cause dizziness and drowsiness. You should not drive or operate machinery if you are affected this way until such symptoms go away.

MacroBID contains lactose:

This medicine contains lactose and sucrose (sugars). If you have been told by your doctor that you are intolerant to some sugars and have to avoid them, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.