Faith asked
Is Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) safe to take at 6 weeks pregnant?
Answer
Macrobid (nitrofurantoin) is classified as Pregnancy Category B, which is defined as follows according to the FDA (Food & Drug Administration):
"Animal reproduction studies have failed to demonstrate a risk to the fetus and there are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women."
Current evidence regarding the safety of Macrobid during pregnancy is mixed but it is not believed to have teratogenic effects.
While most guidelines don't explicitlu recommend Macrobid as the first line therapy for antibiotic treatment, it is considered okay to use as a first-line alternative if other antibiotics aren't tolerated or can't be used for whatever reason.
However, there is a fairly major precaution with Macrobid in regard to use in the month prior to delivery.
Macrobid should not be used in the last month of pregnancy due to an increased risk of hemolytic anemia in newborns, which is a condition in which the red blood cells are destroyed and removed from the blood prematurely. For this reason, Macrobid is also not recommended for use in neonates under one month of age.
Summary
Macrobid is classified as a pregnancy category B medication and is considered a first line antibiotic alternative during pregnancy, up to the last month of gestation.
