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Nitrofurantoin Neuropathy
Author(s) -
Yiannikas C.,
Pollard J. D.,
McLeod J. G.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
australian and new zealand journal of medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.596
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1445-5994
pISSN - 0004-8291
DOI - 10.1111/j.1445-5994.1981.tb03521.x
Subject(s) - medicine , nitrofurantoin , pathological , peripheral neuropathy , renal function , drug , gastroenterology , diabetes mellitus , antibiotics , pharmacology , endocrinology , ciprofloxacin , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
Four cases of severe peripheral neuropathy directly attributable to nitrofurantoin are reported. The neuropathy was not dose‐related and not necessarily associated with abnormal renal function. Recovery was slow, and neither severity nor recovery was related to the total dose of the drug. The pathological changes seen on light microscopy and electron microscopy were those of acute, severe axonal degeneration. It is emphasised that nitrofurantoin is a neurotoxic drug and should not be prescribed to the elderly nor to anyone with impairment of renal function.