Neural Effects of Nitrofurantoin
- 1 June 1968
- journal article
- clinical trial
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in Archives of Neurology
- Vol. 18 (6) , 680-687
- https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.1968.00470360102010
Abstract
SINCE its introduction in 19521 the hydantoin compound, nitrofurantoin (Furadantin), has proved to be an effective agent for the treatment of many types of organism causing urinary tract infection. Unfortunately, its use has occasionally been associated with sensorimotor neuropathy2-11 which usually has developed in patients with impaired renal function. Some investigators have suggested that this complication is a direct neurotoxic effect of the drug9 or the result of impaired renal excretion of toxic metabolic products.12-15 Others have considered that preexisting systemic disease such as diabetes mellitus has caused subclinical neural damage which is aggravated by nitrofurantoin. A fourth hypothesis, also unproved, is that nitrofurantoin might cause neuropathy by acting as a folic-acid antagonist. Supporting this point of view are reports that neural as well as hematopoietic effects may be produced by depleting the body's stores of folic acid.16-21 Furthermore, megaloblastosis similar to that occurringKeywords
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