Furagina ApteoMed contains furazidine as the active substance. Furazidine is a nitrofuran derivative that inhibits the growth of bacteria that cause urinary tract infections.

Intended Use

The indication for the use of Furagina APTEO MED is:

• lower urinary tract infection.

Composition

1 tablet of Furagina APTEO MED contains 50 mg of furazidine (Furazidinum).

Excipient with known effect: sucrose in the amount of 13.75 mg.

Dosage

Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as directed by your doctor or pharmacist. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.

• Adults: first day of treatment: 100 mg (2 tablets) 4 times a day; next days: 100 mg (2 tablets) 3 times a day.
• Furagina APTEO MED should be taken orally with meals containing a protein that increases the absorption of the drug.
• The drug is used for 7-8 days. If symptoms worsen or do not improve after 7-8 days, see your doctor.
• Furagina APTEO MED should not be used in children and adolescents.

Contraindications

Do not use Furagina APTEO MED:

• If you are allergic to furazidine, other nitrofuran derivatives or any of the other ingredients of this medicine.
• In the first trimester of pregnancy.
• During term pregnancy (from 38 weeks) and delivery, due to the risk of haemolytic anemia (anemia related to the breakdown of red blood cells) in the newborn.
• In children and adolescents.
• If the patient has renal insufficiency and laboratory tests show a creatinine clearance below 60 ml / min or an increased level of serum creatinine.
• If you have a known polyneuropathy (disorder of the nervous system), for example due to diabetes.
• If you have a deficiency of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (an enzyme involved in the metabolism of red blood cells).

Warnings

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Furagina APTEO MED:

• If you have kidney or liver problems, nervous system disorders, anemia, electrolyte disturbances, vitamin B deficiency and folic acid deficiency, or lung disease.
• If you are diabetic as furazidine may damage the nerves. Peripheral nerve damage has been observed in patients treated with nitrofuran derivatives. In severe cases, this disorder may be irreversible and may be life-threatening. Therefore, Furagina APTEO MED should be discontinued if nervous system symptoms (tingling, numbness, feeling of running currents) occur.
• If you develop fever, chills, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath. These may be signs of acute pulmonary reactions and are sometimes seen in patients treated with nitrofuran derivatives. Treatment should be discontinued immediately if such symptoms occur
• They usually disappear quickly or very quickly after drug discontinuation. In the case of chronic reactions, the severity of symptoms and their reversibility after drug discontinuation depends on the duration of treatment continuation after the first adverse symptoms appear. It is essential to recognize the side effect as soon as possible and stop the medication. Lung dysfunction may be irreversible. Chronic reactions have occurred in patients taking furazidine for more than 6 months. Chronic pulmonary reactions (including pulmonary fibrosis and disseminated interstitial pneumonia) may occur especially in the elderly.
• If the drug is used for a long time. You may then need a blood test to check the number of white blood cells, as well as kidney and liver function.

If you have been diagnosed with an intolerance to some sugars, consult your doctor before taking the drug.

Pregnancy and lactation

• If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine.
• Furagina APTEO MED should not be used in the first three months of pregnancy (1st trimester) or in term-pregnant women and during childbirth. Particular caution should be exercised when used in the last three months of pregnancy (third trimester).
• Furazidine may cause haemolytic anemia in the newborn.
• Furagina APTEO MED should not be used during breastfeeding. Furazidine passes into breast milk and may harm a breastfed baby.

Driving vehicles
There are no data on the effects of furazidine on the ability to drive and use machines. However, some patients may experience side effects that may affect the ability to drive (dizziness, somnolence, visual disturbances).

Overdosage
There are no data on the effects of furazidine on the ability to drive and use machines. However, some patients may experience side effects that may affect the ability to drive (dizziness, somnolence, visual disturbances).

Interactions with other drugs

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, and about any medicines you plan to take. Particular care should be taken when taking the following drugs together.

• Nalidixic acid (antibiotic) – furazidine inhibits its bacteriostatic effect.
•  Aminoglycosides and tetracyclines (antibiotics) – intensify the antibacterial effect of furazidine.
• Chloramphenicol and ristomycin (antibiotics) – increase the toxic effects of furazidine on blood cells.
• Probenecid (in high doses) and sulfi npirazone (drugs that increase the excretion of uric acid in the urine) – reduce the excretion of furazidine and may cause its accumulation in the body, increasing its toxicity and reducing the concentration in the urine, and consequently lead to reduced effectiveness.
• Antacids containing magnesium trisilicate – reduce the absorption of furazidine.
• Atropine – delays the absorption of furazidine, but the total amount of the absorbed substance does not change.
• B vitamins – increase the absorption of furazidine.

Effect on laboratory tests When administering furazidine, urinary glucose results may be false-positive with Benedict’s and Fehling’s solutions. Urine glucose measurements by enzymatic methods are usually normal.

Side effects

Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

Common side effects (affects 1 to 10 patients in 100):

• nausea, excessive gas emission;
• headaches.

Side effects that may affect up to 1 in 100 patients:

• cyanosis, megaloblastic anemia (vitamin B12 or folate deficiency anemia) or haemolytic anemia;
• dizziness, drowsiness, visual disturbances, damage to peripheral nerves (also acute or irreversible, especially in patients with renal failure, anemia, diabetes, electrolyte disturbances, vitamin B deficiency);
• respiratory hypersensitivity reactions:
• acute reactions – manifested by fever, chills, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath, effusion into the chest space, changes in the radiographs of the lungs and an increase in the number of a specific type of white blood cells; they usually disappear quickly or very quickly after drug discontinuation;
• chronic reactions – including pulmonary fibrosis and disseminated interstitial pneumonia; the severity of symptoms and their reversibility after drug discontinuation depends on the duration of continuation of treatment after the appearance of the first adverse effects; once an adverse reaction is identified, treatment must be discontinued immediately; lung function impairment may be irreversible;
• constipation, diarrhea, dyspeptic symptoms (e.g. postprandial fullness, flatulence), abdominal pain, vomiting, inflammation of a salivary gland, pancreatitis, pseudomembranous enteritis;
• alopecia, exfoliative dermatitis, erythema multiforme, Stevens-Johnson syndrome (bullous erythema multiforme);
• fever, chills, malaise, infections with pathogens resistant to furazidine;
• itching, hives, anaphylaxis (sudden local or systemic allergic reactions), angioedema (a disease of the skin and subcutaneous tissue with limited edema), rash;
• symptoms of drug-induced hepatitis, cholestatic jaundice (caused by an obstruction in the drainage of bile), necrosis of the liver parenchyma.

Nitrofuran derivatives may negatively affect the function of the testicles and reduce sperm motility, reduce sperm secretion and lead to unfavorable changes in sperm structure.