What is MacroBID?
MacroBID is an antibiotic tablet that’s used to tackle cystitis. 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 75 mg nitrofurantoin monohydrate and 25 mg nitrofurantoin macrocrystals.
MacroBID isn't used to treat infections outside the urinary tract or bladder.
How does MacroBID work?
The bacteria most commonly responsible for cystitis 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. 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 our clinician. This is because continuous use has been linked with the development of kidney stones. Our clinician can advise you on what the next steps are, or on alternative treatment options.
