Is Macrobid a sulfa drug? (3+ common side effects of this antibiotic) 

By Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
Page last updated: 27/10/2023 | Next review date: 27/10/2025
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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/

 


Dr Natalia Marceli Stephanes (PhD)
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In this blog post, we are going to answer the question, “Is Macrobid a sulfa drug?”. Macrobid is an antibiotic which is used in the treatment and management of various bacterial infections. It is a well-tolerated antibiotic and has some good public reviews. 

This blog will cover everything you need to know about Macrobid and the class of antibiotics it belongs to. We will also talk about the proper way to use this medication and some of the important precautions that should be taken. 

Is Macrobid a sulfa drug?

No, Macrobid (Nitrofurantoin) is not a sulfa drug. It does not contain a sulfonamide moiety in its molecular structure to be classified as a sulfa drug. Macrobid is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of Nitrofuran antibiotics. 

It is considered a prodrug and it’s activated once it enters the bacterial cell present in your body and kills the bacteria by damaging their genetic composition. It actively destroys bacterial cell RNA, DNA, and other components. 

Make sure you only use this medication if prescribed by your healthcare provider. Antibiotics should be used cautiously and unnecessary use should be prevented. 

When you continue to use antibiotics without having a proper reason, your body develops a kind of resistance against them. The same happens when you take antibiotics intermittently when suffering from a bacterial infection. 

Improper dose administration leads to the development of resistance in bacteria and they stop being affected by the antibiotic. No matter how properly you take it now, the antibiotic won’t work. 

This is why you should take this medication and every other medication properly, right on time, and just as directed by your healthcare provider. Although Macrobid is a good antibiotic, it may not work in every other individual. 

Just like we all look different, have different shades of our hair and skin, have different body types, and have different facial features, similarly, every human being has a different physiological composition. Some have more liver enzymes, while others lack some basic ones. 

Some are tough and can bear powerful medications, whereas others may suffer from side effects even after taking the safest medication in the entire world. This is why it is absolutely impossible to predict how your body will react once it is exposed to Macrobid. The dose you take also matters a lot. 

What is the primary use of Macrobid? 

Macrobid is primarily used for the treatment and management of urinary tract infections caused by a number of gram-negative bacteria. Make sure you do not use this antibiotic for other purposes, especially for common colds and flu. 

This is because colds and flu are usually viral in origin. You can not kill a virus using an antibiotic, which is specifically designed to kill bacterial species. Make sure you consult your healthcare provider first before taking Macrobid on your own. 

This medication can be associated with a number of disturbing side effects and it may not work well if you’re not taking it properly. One important thing to remember is to make sure that you complete your antibiotic course once your doctor has prescribed it to you. 

Leaving your antibiotics halfway thinking that you feel better now will not be able to achieve the maximum therapeutic response. This is because the bacteria that you think are dead may just become inactive because of the early attack of the antibiotic. 

If you stop the treatment in the middle of the course, the bacteria can become reactive again and may start to cause symptoms more severe than before. 

This is the biggest cause of antibiotic resistance in people. No matter what you do, the antibiotic just stops working on you someday. Make sure you refrain from leaving your treatment halfway. 

What are the side effects associated with the use of Macrobid? 

Like every other medication on this planet, Macrobid is also associated with some side effects. These side effects can vary from person to person. 

Some people may not develop unbearable side effects, but some people can develop an allergic reaction to Macrobid which can lead to the discontinuation of treatment with this antibiotic. Some of the common side effects associated with the use of Macrobid include:

  • Nausea 
  • Vomiting 
  • Diarrhoea 
  • Dizziness 
  • Upset stomach 
  • Abdominal pain 
  • Headache 
  • Flatulence 
  • Loss of hair
  • Irritability 

Macrobid can also cause some rare and serious side effects which may require immediate medical attention. Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as you can if you suffer from the following side effects:

  • An allergic reaction 
  • Redness of skin 
  • Itching 
  • Burning sensation 
  • Blue-purple patches 
  • Tightness of chest 
  • Wheezing 
  • Hoarseness 
  • Inability to breathe 
  • Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body 
  • Muscle twitching and weakness 
  • Cough 
  • Severe diarrhoea 
  • Confusion 
  • Forgetfulness 

These side effects can vary from person to person. Some people can suffer from side effects that may not have been mentioned here. Make sure you monitor your side effects properly and inform your doctor if you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect. 

Ensuring the proper use of Macrobid is the main key to achieving your desired therapeutic goals. First and the most important thing is to make sure that you are not allergic to Macrobid. 

If you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect right after taking your first ever Macrobid dose, then this med is not a good choice of medication for you. 

To prevent that from happening, you can ask your doctor or pharmacist about the excipients present in the formulation to make sure it does not contain anything that you know you’re allergic to. 

It is also extremely important to inform your doctor about all the meds you have been taking before you take Macrobid. Medications don’t always go well together. 

Some meds are highly incompatible with one another. Some meds are incompatible in terms of the side effects as they all cause the same kind of side effects that may become too much for you to bear. This is why you should inform your doctor if you have been taking anything like:

  • Other antibiotics 
  • Vitamin or mineral supplements 
  • Antidepressants 
  • Anti-anxiety medications 
  • Antihistamines 

Make sure you properly give us your medical history and inform your doctor if you have any kidney, liver, heart, or metabolic diseases. Your doctor may not prescribe you Macrobid if there is any chance of the drug producing a negative impact on your pre-existing diseases. 

It is also very important to inform your doctor if you’re pregnant or trying to get pregnant. Your doctor may adjust the dose or look for the safety concerns of using this medication by pregnant mothers. 

It is also important to inform your doctor if you’re a breastfeeding mother. Always make sure to monitor the side effects Macrobid is causing in you and try to manage them properly. 

Conclusion 

In this blog post, we have discussed whether or not Macrobid is a sulfa drug. We have learned that it’s not as the drug does not contain a sulfonamide moiety in its molecular structure to be classified as a sulfa drug. 

Macrobid is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of Nitrofuran antibiotics. It is considered a prodrug and it’s activated once it enters the bacterial cell present in your body and kills the bacteria by damaging their genetic composition. 

It actively destroys bacterial cell RNA, DNA, and other components. Make sure you only use this medication if prescribed by your healthcare provider. Antibiotics should be used cautiously and unnecessary use should be prevented.

FAQs: is Macrobid a sulfa drug

Is Macrobid in the sulfa family?

No, Macrobid does not belong to the sulfa family. It does not contain a sulfonamide moiety in its molecular structure to be classified as a sulfa drug. Macrobid is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of Nitrofuran antibiotics. 

It is considered a prodrug and it’s activated once it enters the bacterial cell present in your body and kills the bacteria by damaging their genetic composition. It actively destroys bacterial cell RNA, DNA, and other components. Make sure you only use this medication if prescribed by your healthcare provider. Antibiotics should be used cautiously and unnecessary use should be prevented.

What antibiotic can you take for UTI if allergic to sulfa? 

You can take Nitrofurantoin if you can’t take sulfa drugs or are allergic to it. Macrobid is primarily used for the treatment and management of urinary tract infections caused by a number of gram-negative bacteria. Make sure you only use this medication if prescribed by your healthcare provider. Antibiotics should be used cautiously and unnecessary use should be prevented.

What class of antibiotic is Macrobid?

Macrobid is an antibiotic that belongs to the class of Nitrofuran antibiotics. It is considered a prodrug and it’s activated once it enters the bacterial cell present in your body and kills the bacteria by damaging their genetic composition. It actively destroys bacterial cell RNA, DNA, and other components. Antibiotics should be used cautiously and unnecessary use should be prevented. When you continue to use antibiotics without having a proper reason, your body develops a kind of resistance against it. 

What drugs should be avoided with sulfa allergy?

When you’re allergic to one sulfa drug, you should steer clear of the entire class of these antibiotics. You should also stay away from any medication which has sulfonamide moiety in its chemical structure. Make sure you use only those medications which are recommended by your healthcare provider. Report immediately to your doctor if you exhibit any sign of an allergic reaction or any unusual side effect. 

What are the common side effects of Macrobid? 

Some of the common side effects associated with the use of Macrobid include:

  • Nausea 
  • Vomiting 
  • Diarrhoea 
  • Dizziness 
  • Upset stomach 
  • Abdominal pain 
  • Headache 
  • Flatulence 
  • Loss of hair
  • Irritability 

What are the serious side effects of Macrobid? 

Macrobid can also cause some rare and serious side effects which may require immediate medical attention. Make sure you reach out to your healthcare provider as soon as you can if you suffer from the following side effects:

  • An allergic reaction 
  • Redness of skin 
  • Itching 
  • Burning sensation 
  • Blue-purple patches 
  • Tightness of chest 
  • Wheezing 
  • Hoarseness 
  • Inability to breathe 
  • Swelling or tenderness in different parts of the body 
  • Muscle twitching and weakness 
  • Cough 
  • Severe diarrhoea 
  • Confusion 
  • Forgetfulness

What should you not take with Macrobid? 

Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider and inform him about the following drugs if you’re taking them before using Macrobid:

  • Other antibiotics 
  • Vitamin or mineral supplements 
  • Antidepressants 
  • Anti-anxiety medications 
  • Antihistamines 

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References

1.-

National Library of Medicine – Nitrofurantoin https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a682291.html#:~:text=Nitrofurantoin%20is%20in%20a%20class,killing%20bacteria%20that%20cause%20infection.

2.-

Nitrofurantoin – An overview https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/nitrofurantoin#:~:text=Mechanism%20of%20action,bacteria%20present%20in%20acid%20urine.