Nitrofurantoin 100mg Prolonged-Release Capsules
A 3-day course of nitrofurantoin 100mg prolonged-release capsules (6 capsules) for an uncomplicated UTI in women aged 18–64. Includes an online consultation reviewed by a UK pharmacist prescriber, with your answers checked against your NHS record. Full refund if not suitable.
£14.99
Nitrofurantoin 100mg prolonged-release capsules are the first-choice antibiotic in the UK for an uncomplicated urinary tract infection (UTI, often called cystitis) in women. You can request nitrofurantoin online through our UTI consultation. A UK pharmacist independent prescriber reviews every answer, checks it against your NHS Summary Care Record or with a short call, and only then supplies a 3-day course. If treatment isn’t right for you, you get a full refund.
Medically reviewed by Hassan Khan MPharm, Pharmacist Independent Prescriber, Bury Healthcare Online (GPhC-registered pharmacy 1126145). Last reviewed 6 October 2026.
How to get nitrofurantoin online
- Start your consultation. Press Start Consultation and answer a short set of questions about your symptoms, health and medicines (about 5 minutes).
- Prescriber review. Our prescriber checks your answers against your NHS record (with your consent) or calls you, and confirms your identity with a quick online ID check. They may suggest trimethoprim instead if it is safer for you.
- Treatment sent to you. Once approved, your 3-day course is dispatched from our GPhC-registered pharmacy in Bury, and your GP is sent a short summary.
Price: £14.99 for a 3-day course (6 capsules), including the consultation. Delivery is charged at checkout.
UTI treatment through NHS Pharmacy First
Women aged 16 to 64 with a suspected UTI can also be assessed and treated through the NHS Pharmacy First service at a local pharmacy, including Bury Healthcare Pharmacy, 46 Walmersley Road, Bury (0161 222 1024). The consultation is free. If you normally pay for prescriptions, the standard NHS prescription charge applies to any medicine supplied. Our online service is for people who would rather order privately and have their treatment delivered.
What is nitrofurantoin used for?
Nitrofurantoin is an antibiotic that treats bacterial infections of the bladder. It concentrates in the urine, where it stops the bacteria that cause most UTIs from growing. NICE guidance (NG109) recommends it as the first-line treatment for a lower UTI in women who are not pregnant, usually as one 100mg prolonged-release capsule twice a day for 3 days.
Typical UTI symptoms are pain or burning when you pass urine, needing to go more often or more urgently, needing to pass urine at night, cloudy urine and pain low in the tummy. Read more about urinary tract infections.
Who can use our online UTI service?
Our online service is for women aged 18 to 64 with symptoms of an uncomplicated lower UTI for less than 7 days. It is not suitable, and you should see your GP, a Pharmacy First pharmacy or NHS 111 instead, if you:
- are male, pregnant, could be pregnant, or are breastfeeding
- are under 18 or 65 or over
- have a fever, shivering, pain in your back or side, are being sick, or can see blood in your urine
- have had 2 or more UTIs in 6 months or 3 or more in 12 months, or had antibiotics for a UTI in the last 4 weeks
- have kidney disease or reduced kidney function, a urinary catheter, kidney stones, or a weakened immune system
- have G6PD deficiency or porphyria, or have had a reaction to nitrofurantoin before
How to take nitrofurantoin
| Dose | How often | How long |
|---|---|---|
| One 100mg prolonged-release capsule | Twice a day, about 12 hours apart | 3 days (6 capsules) |
- Take each capsule with food or milk. This helps it work and reduces stomach upset.
- Swallow the capsule whole with a drink of water.
- Finish the whole course, even if you feel better sooner.
- Avoid antacids that contain magnesium trisilicate while taking it, as they reduce how much is absorbed.
Side effects
Most people have no problems. The most common side effects are feeling sick, loss of appetite and headache. Nitrofurantoin often turns urine dark yellow or brown; this is harmless and goes away after the course. Antibiotics can sometimes cause thrush.
Stop taking it and get medical help straight away if you have chest pain, a cough or difficulty breathing, a skin rash with swelling, numbness or tingling in your hands or feet, yellowing of the skin or eyes, or severe diarrhoea. This is not a full list: always read the patient information leaflet supplied with your medicine.
How to store nitrofurantoin
Keep the capsules in the original packaging, below 25°C, and out of the sight and reach of children.
Frequently asked questions
How long does nitrofurantoin take to work on a UTI?
Can I drink alcohol while taking nitrofurantoin?
Can I take paracetamol with nitrofurantoin?
Does nitrofurantoin contain penicillin?
Why has my urine changed colour?
Can I get UTI antibiotics online in the UK?
What if nitrofurantoin isn’t suitable for me?
Important safety information
Nitrofurantoin is a prescription-only medicine. It is only supplied after a prescriber has reviewed your consultation and decided it is appropriate. This page is a summary and does not replace the patient information leaflet. If you feel very unwell, call 999. For urgent advice, contact NHS 111.
