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Furadonin in pregnancy
Last reviewed: 03.07.2025
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Furadonin is a commonly used medicine that eliminates urinary tract infections. Some specialists allow taking Furadonin during pregnancy in short courses, although the instructions for the drug state that it is prohibited to use it during this period.
Is Furadonin safe to use during pregnancy?
Furadonin is a nitrofuran. It has antimicrobial properties, inhibiting bacteria that cause inflammation of the urinary tract. Nowadays, there are more effective antibacterial drugs, but Furadonin is still prescribed in some cases. This usually happens when it turns out that the microflora that caused the inflammation is insensitive to other drugs. Bacteria usually get used to Furadonin quite slowly. But, since this drug can pass through the placenta and affect the fetus, it is often prohibited to use it during pregnancy.
But Furadonin is not an extremely toxic drug - in terms of its effect on a child, it is classified as category B. This letter is used to mark drugs that, when tested on animals, have been found to pose a risk to the baby, but clinical studies have not shown this or the effect has been poorly studied.
Type B drugs are allowed to be used during pregnancy, although the instructions for the drug indicate that it cannot be used during gestation, since the risk of negative impact on the fetus still exists. In practice, it is used, but only after a preliminary microbiological analysis (bacterial culture) of urine has been carried out - this helps to identify the cause of the infection, as well as the sensitivity of these microorganisms to antibacterial drugs.
Indications Furadonin in pregnancy
Pregnant women often have inflammation of the urinary tract, since immunity decreases during this period of time, and also because the circulatory system of the urinary tract is located next to the intestines, as a result of which pathogens can penetrate from it into the urinary system along with the blood. In addition, the growing uterus presses on the organs of the urinary system. As a result of all this, pregnant women often suffer from pyelonephritis and cystitis.
Furadonin is indicated for the treatment of inflammation and infectious diseases of the urinary tract in pregnant women, but only when it turns out that the bacteria that caused the inflammation do not respond to treatment with less toxic drugs.
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Release form
The medicine is available in the form of tablets of 50 or 100 mg. There are 10 tablets on a blister. There are 2 blisters in a package.
Pharmacodynamics
An antibacterial drug from the nitrofuran group, which destroys the membrane of bacterial cells and also prevents protein synthesis in them, thus providing a bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect. It actively affects both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria (streptococci and staphylococci, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enterica with Salmonella schottmuelleri, and in addition Escherichia coli and Proteus, as well as enterobacter and Shigella sonnei).
Dosing and administration
The medicine is taken orally with water. The dosage for an adult is 0.1-0.15 g 3-4 times a day. The maximum single dose is 0.3 g, and no more than 0.6 g is allowed per day. The treatment course lasts 7-10 days if the patient has an acute urological infection.
Furadonin in the first weeks and early stages of pregnancy
Furadonin should never be used in the first 12 weeks. More precisely, in the period from the 2nd to the 12th week inclusive. It is during this period that the fetus is most vulnerable to the influence of various drugs, because it is then that its main tissues and organs are formed.
Furadonin during late pregnancy
The use of Furadonin after the 12th week is permitted only with a doctor's prescription. The specialist must assess the risk of using the drug and compare it with how critical the inflammation of the urinary tract and kidneys is for the body.
Side effects Furadonin in pregnancy
The use of Furadonin may cause the following side effects in pregnant women:
- Respiratory system: cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, and pulmonary edema; attacks may become more frequent in patients with bronchial asthma;
- Gastrointestinal tract: loss of appetite, vomiting with nausea, pain and discomfort in the upper abdomen, as well as diarrhea; sometimes toxic liver damage occurs, as a result of which hepatitis develops;
- CNS and peripheral NS: dizziness along with headaches, neuritis, and general lethargy;
- Circulatory system: decreased immunity due to a decrease in the number of leukocytes, increased bleeding due to a decrease in the number of platelets, as well as various types of anemia;
- Allergies: skin rashes (eg, urticaria), angioedema;
- Skin: toxic reaction in the form of a rash;
- Others: fever with joint pain (flu-like sensation) and the development of a secondary infection.
Interactions with other drugs
Combination with antacids (which contain E553a), as well as nalidixic acid, can reduce the antibacterial properties of Furadonin.
In addition, the drug is prohibited to be combined with fluoroquinolones. Medicines that interfere with the process of tubular secretion (reducing the saturation index of the substance nitrofurantoin in the urine), reduce the antimicrobial effect of Furadonin, and also increase its toxicity (since the concentration of the active substance of the drug in the blood increases).
Shelf life
The shelf life of the medicine is 4 years.
Furadonin can be used during pregnancy only with the permission of a doctor.
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Attention!
To simplify the perception of information, this instruction for use of the drug "Furadonin in pregnancy" translated and presented in a special form on the basis of the official instructions for medical use of the drug. Before use read the annotation that came directly to medicines.
Description provided for informational purposes and is not a guide to self-healing. The need for this drug, the purpose of the treatment regimen, methods and dose of the drug is determined solely by the attending physician. Self-medication is dangerous for your health.