Macrobid vs. Augmentin

• Are Augmentin and Macrobid the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Macrobid?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Augmentin?
• What is Macrobid?
• What is Augmentin?
• What Drugs Interact with Macrobid?
• What Drugs Interact with Augmentin?
• How Should Macrobid Be Taken?
• How Should Augmentin Be Taken?

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals) and Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) are antibiotics used to treat urinary tract and bladder infections.

Augmentin is also used to treat other bacterial infections including sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, and infections of the skin.

Macrobid and Augmentin are different types of antibiotics. Macrobid is a nitrofuran antibiotic and Augmentin is a combination of a penicillin-type antibiotic and a beta-lactamase inhibitor.

Macrobid is also used to prevent blood vessel complications in people with certain types of angina (chest pain) or heart attacks called non-Q-wave myocardial infarction or ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Macrobid may cause serious side effects, including:

• nausea,
• vomiting,
• upset stomach,
• diarrhea,
• rust-colored or brownish urine,
• vaginal itching or discharge,
• headaches, and
• gas.

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Macrobid including:

• bloody or watery diarrhea,
• sudden chest pain,
• shortness of breath,
• cough,
• fever or chills,
• numbness or tingling in the hands or feet, or
• easy bruising.

Common side effects of Augmentin include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• Stomach pain
• Skin rash or itching
• White patches in your mouth or throat
• Vaginal yeast infection (itching or discharge)

Rare and severe side effects of Augmentin can include:

• watery or bloody diarrhea;
• pale or yellowed skin, dark colored urine, fever, confusion or weakness;
• easy bruising or bleeding;
• skin rash, bruising, severe tingling, numbness, pain, muscle weakness;
• agitation, confusion, unusual thoughts or behavior, seizures (convulsions);
• nausea, upper stomach pain, itching, loss of appetite, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.  

Macrobid (nitrofurantoin monohydrate/macrocrystals) is an antibacterial drug used to treat urinary tract and bladder infections caused by Escherichia coli or Staphyloccocus saprophyticus strains of bacteria that are sensitive to this drug. Macrobid is available as a generic. Macrobid should not be used for pyelonephritis (kidney infections) or other deep tissue infections such as perinephric abscesses.

Augmentin (amoxicillin/clavulanate) is a combination antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections including sinusitis, pneumonia, ear infections, bronchitis, urinary tract infections, and infections of the skin.

It is not known if Augmentin is safe and effective in children.

Macrobid may interact with probenecid.

Macrobid may also interact with magnesium salicylate or choline magnesium salicylate. .

Augmentin may interact with probenecid.

Augmentin may also interact with allopurinol, blood thinners, or other antibiotics.

Macrobid is available in 100 mg tablets for use in children under 12 years old and adults. Macrobid may interact with magnesium salicylate, choline magnesium salicylate, and probenecid or other gout medications.

For Adults:

• The usual adult dose is one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 250-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. For more severe infections and infections of the respiratory tract, the dose should be one 875-mg tablet of Augmentin every 12 hours or one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin every 8 hours. Adults who have difficulty swallowing may be given the 125 mg/5 mL or 250 mg/5 mL suspension in place of the 500-mg tablet. The 200 mg/5 mL suspension or the 400 mg/5 mL suspension may be used in place of the 875-mg tablet.
• Two 250-mg tablets of Augmentin should not be substituted for one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin. Since both the 250-mg and 500-mg tablets of Augmentin contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (125 mg, as the potassium salt), two 250-mg tablets are not equivalent to one 500-mg tablet of Augmentin.
• The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet should not be substituted for each other, as they are not interchangeable. The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin and the 250-mg chewable tablet do not contain the same amount of clavulanic acid (as the potassium salt). The 250-mg tablet of Augmentin contains 125 mg of clavulanic acid, whereas the 250-mg chewable tablet contains 62.5 mg of clavulanic acid.

For Pediatric Patients

Based on the amoxicillin component, Augmentin should be dosed as follows:

Neonates And Infants Aged under 12 Weeks (under 3 Months)

• The recommended dose of Augmentin is 30 mg/kg/day divided every 12 hours, based on the amoxicillin component. Experience with the 200 mg/5 mL formulation in this age group is limited, and thus, use of the 125 mg/5 mL oral suspension is recommended.

Patients Aged 12 Weeks (3 Months) And Older

• The every 12 hour regimen is recommended as it is associated with significantly less diarrhea. However, the every 12 hour suspension (200 mg/5 mL and 400 mg/5 mL) and chewable tablets (200 mg and 400 mg) contain aspartame and should not be used by phenylketonurics.