Can Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole be taken together?
By
Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes PhD is a Pharmacist with expertise in Drugs Administration and Toxicity; Discovery of New Drugs; Cancer Treatment; Biochemical Analyzes and Hematological Analyzes. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes’ Highlights:
- Pharmacist at the Department of Health of Santa Catarina State, Brazil
- PhD with a focus on oncology treatment
- Years of experience in commercial pharmacy
- Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina
Professional Experience:
From her undergraduate studies to her Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Pharmacy, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has participated in numerous scientific studies in the field of oncology and onco-hematology at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Her research has focused on understanding the molecular and biochemical bases of malignant neoplasms and investigating safer and more effective therapeutic alternatives.
Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes has also served as an assistant professor of haematology for undergraduate students at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Additionally, she held the position of professor of Hospital Pharmacy at the Qualificar Technical School in Brazil, where she developed instructional materials for use in the Pharmacy Postgraduate Program at the Leonardo Da Vinci University Center.
In addition to her academic experiences, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes possesses a strong expertise in commercial pharmacy, with in-depth knowledge of medications, their routes of administration, desired effects, adverse effects, and toxicity.
Currently, Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes works as a Pharmacist at the Health Department of Santa Catarina State, where her role entails providing pharmaceutical scientific consulting services to judges.
Education:
- 2016 Bachelor in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2018 Master in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
- 2023 PhD in Pharmacy at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Brazil
The main publications of Dr Natália Marcéli Stephanes are:
Falchetti M ; Delgobo M, Zancanaro H, Almeida K, Das Neves RN, Dos Santos B, Stefanes NM, et al. Bishop Omics-based identification of an NRF2-related auranofin resistance signature in cancer: Insights into drug repurposing. Comput. Biol. Med [Internet]. 2023; 152:106347.
Feuser PM, Matos dos Santos PC, Cordeiro AP, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Maioral MF, Santos-Silva MC, et al. Antineoplastic activity of free 4-nitrochalcone and encapsulated in poly(thioether-ester) nanoparticles obtained by thiol-ene polymerization in two human leukemia cell lines (Jurkat and K562). J Drug Deliv Sci Technol [Internet]. 2022; 67:102924.
Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Walter LO, Perondi DM, Efe FL, Souza LFS, Sens L, et al. Synthesis of chalcones derived from 1-naphthylacetophenone and evaluation of their cytotoxic and apoptotic effects in acute leukemia cell lines. Bioorg. Chem [Internet]. 2021; 116:105315.
Duarte BF, Vieira DSC, Lisboa ML, Stefanes NM, Grando LJ, Santos-Silva MC. Características clínico-epidemiológicas de pacientes portadores de carcinoma de células escamosas de boca. Arquivos Catarinenses de Medicina. 2021; 50(2): 232–245.
Machado V, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Santos-Silva MC, Biavatti MW. Anti-leukemic activity of semisynthetic derivatives of Lupeol. Nat. Prod. Res. 2021; 35(22):4494-4501.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Yunes RA, et al. A novel sulfonamide derivative as a strong and selective apoptotic agent against hematological malignancies. Chem. Pap. 2020; 74:2965–2976.
Bigolin A, Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Cytotoxic mechanisms of primin, a natural quinone isolated from Eugenia hiemalis, on hematological cancer cell lines. Anticancer Drugs. 2020; 31(7):709-717.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Neufeldt PD, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Nunes RJ, Santos-Silva MC. Aldehyde biphenyl chalcones induce immunogenic apoptotic-like cell death and are promising new safe compounds against a wide range of hematologic cancers. Future Med. Chem. 2020; 12(8):673–688.
Perondi DM, Jacques AV, Stefanes NM, Maioral MF, Sens L, Pacheco LA, Cury NM, et al. A novel thiosemicarbazone as a promising effective and selective compound for acute leukemia. Anticancer Drugs. 2019; 30(8):p 828-837.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Argenta DF, Dotto MER, Santos-Silva MC, et al. PEO-chitosan nanofibers containing carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanoparticles loaded with pyrazoline for skin cancer treatment. Eur. Polym. J. 2019; 119:335-343.
Rengifo AFC, Stefanes NM, Toigo J, Mendes C, Santos-Silva MC, Nunes RJ, Parize AL, et al. A new and efficient carboxymethyl-hexanoyl chitosan/dodecyl sulfate nanocarrier for a pyrazoline with antileukemic activity. Mater. Sci. Eng. C [Internet]. 2019; 105:110051.
Maioral MF, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Zatelli GA, Philippus AC, Falkenberg MB, Santos-Silva MC. Miconidine acetate, a new selective and cytotoxic compound with synergic potential, induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in leukemia cells. Invest. New Drugs. 2019; 37:912–922.
Srefanes NM, Toigo J, Maioral MF, Jacques AV, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Perondi DM, Ribeiro AAB, et al. Synthesis of novel pyrazoline derivatives and the evaluation of death mechanisms involved in their antileukemic activity. Bioorg. Med. Chem. 2019; 27(2):375-382.
Maioral MF, Bodack CN, Stefanes NM, Bigolin A, Mascarello A, Chiaradia-Delatorre LD, Yunes RA, et al. Cytotoxic effect of a novel naphthylchalcone against multiple cancer cells focusing on hematologic malignancies. Biochim. 2017; 140:48-57.
You can view some of Dr Natália’s work below and links to her professional profile below.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Natalia-Stephanes
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliamarceli/
Can Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole be taken together?
Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole can be taken together if prescribed by your healthcare provider. This combination is often used safely by a lot of people.
Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic that is used to treat a variety of bacterial infections (1). Fluconazole, on the other hand, is an antifungal agent (2). Although the combination is considered safe, there are still important considerations.
Furthermore, people are different and they may have different factors affecting their health. What works for one may not work for another.
Potential benefits of taking Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole together
Taking Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole together may offer benefits in managing certain types of infections. Nitrofurantoin is commonly used to treat urinary tract infections (UTIs), while Fluconazole is often prescribed for fungal infections, particularly those caused by yeast (1,2).
When used in combination, these medications can address both bacterial and fungal infections simultaneously, providing comprehensive treatment. This can be especially helpful if a person has a UTI that is complicated by a secondary fungal infection (1,2).
However, it’s important to note that the simultaneous use of these medications should only be done under the guidance of a healthcare provider.
They will consider factors such as the specific type of infection, the severity of symptoms, and any potential interactions or contraindications before recommending the combination.
Potential risks of taking Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole together
Taking Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole together may pose some potential risks and considerations. Both medications can interact with other drugs, affecting their efficacy or increasing the risk of side effects (1,2).
Additionally, they may have specific contraindications or precautions, especially for individuals with certain medical conditions or who are taking other medications.
One possible risk is that the combination may lead to an increased risk of adverse effects. Nitrofurantoin is hepatotoxic and Fluconazole causes lung toxicity, which is why these meds are not prescribed to people who have compromised hepatic or respiratory functions (3).
It’s crucial to inform your healthcare provider about all the medications you are taking, including over-the-counter and herbal supplements, to avoid any potential drug interactions.
Furthermore, there is a potential for drug resistance to develop when antibiotics like Nitrofurantoin are used inappropriately or unnecessarily in combination with other medications. This can reduce the effectiveness of these drugs in treating infections over time.
To minimize risks, always follow your healthcare provider’s instructions for taking Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole together. Be sure to inform them of any other medical conditions you have and medications you are using to ensure they are safe to take in combination.
Final words
To sum up, Nitrofurantoin and Fluconazole can be taken together if prescribed by your healthcare provider for managing specific infections. While this combination offers benefits in treating both bacterial and fungal infections, it is essential to be cautious about potential risks.
To ensure safe and effective use, always follow your healthcare provider’s guidance and inform them of all medications you are taking to avoid interactions and reduce the risk of adverse effects.
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References
1.-
Squadrito FJ, del Portal D. Nitrofurantoin. 2023 May 29. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 29262089. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470526
2.-
Govindarajan A, Bistas KG, Ingold CJ, Aboeed A. Fluconazole. 2023 May 23. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2023 Jan–. PMID: 30725843. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537158
3.-
Linnebur SA, Parnes BL. Pulmonary and hepatic toxicity due to nitrofurantoin and fluconazole treatment. Ann Pharmacother. 2004 Apr;38(4):612-6. doi: 10.1345/aph.1D306. Epub 2004 Feb 13. PMID: 14966256. Available from: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14966256/
