Skip to main content
HomeDrug Comparisons
Drug bottle and Pill

Compare Urispas vs. Nitrofurantoin

Head-to-head comparisons of medication uses, side effects, warnings, and more.

Key takeaways

Flavoxate (Urispas) and Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) are both used to address urinary issues, but they serve different purposes and belong to different drug classes. Flavoxate, an anticholinergic and antispasmodic, helps relieve urinary symptoms like painful urination and bladder control issues but does not treat the underlying infection. It must be taken 3 to 4 times a day and is not recommended for people over 65. On the other hand, Nitrofurantoin, a nitrofuran antibiotic, treats and prevents urinary tract infections (UTIs) by killing bacteria in the urinary tract. The capsule form is typically taken twice a day with food and the oral suspension form is taken four times daily with food. While Flavoxate can cause drowsiness and blurred vision, Nitrofurantoin may turn your urine dark yellow or brown and can cause nausea and headaches. Nitrofurantoin is also not suitable for people with severe liver or kidney problems and should be avoided in the last weeks of pregnancy. Both medications have generic versions available, making them more affordable options.

  • Flavoxate
    Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)
  • Flavoxate
    Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid)

  • Summary of Urispas vs. Nitrofurantoin

    Summary for Anticholinergic / Antispasmodic
    Prescription only

    Flavoxate treats urinary symptoms that you experience when you have a urinary or prostate infection. It cannot cure the infection on its own, but it can be used together with an antibiotic for treatment of an infection.

    Summary for Nitrofuran antibiotic
    Prescription only

    Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) is an antibiotic used to treat or prevent a urinary tract infection (UTI). Some side effects include nausea, headache, and gas. It can also make your urine turn dark yellow or brown. Nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) doesn't have many interactions with other medications. There's a lower-cost generic version of nitrofurantoin (Macrobid) available.

  • Indications of Urispas vs. Nitrofurantoin

    Indications for
    •Relieves urinary symptoms, such as painful urination, urinary urgency, frequency, loss of bladder control, frequent urination at night, and lower stomach pain, that you experience with urinary and prostate infections
    Indications for
    •Treatment or prevention of urinary tract infections

  • Pros and Cons of Urispas vs. Nitrofurantoin

    Pros and Const for Anticholinergic / Antispasmodic
    Pros
    •Works quickly (in 55 minutes) to relieve your urinary symptoms
    •Available as a lower-cost, generic medication
    Cons
    •Only treats your urinary symptoms (not your infection), so it must be taken with another medication to treat your urinary or prostate infection
    •Taken 3 to 4 times per day
    •Generally not recommended in people 65 years and older
    •Cannot be used for people with active bleeding in their stomach
    •Hasn’t been studied in children less than 12 years old so it’s unclear if it’s safe or even works for them
    Pros and Const for Nitrofuran antibiotic
    Pros
    •Works well to treat and prevent UTIs
    •Available as both a capsule and a flavored oral suspension
    •Safe to take if you're allergic to other antibiotics like penicillin or sulfa medications (e.g., Bactrim, Septra (sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim))
    Cons
    •Might need to take up to four times a day (depending on the formulation)
    •Can interact with certain types of antacids, travel vaccines, and lab tests
    •Can harm your lungs, liver, and nerves if taken for a long period of time

  • Common Side Effects of Urispas vs. Nitrofurantoin

    Common Side Effects for
    Common Side Effects for
    •Nausea (8%)
    •Headache (6%)
    •Gas (2%)

  • Warnings of Urispas vs. Nitrofurantoin

    Common Side Effects for
    •Changes to your vision
    Common Side Effects for
    •Lung damage
    •Liver damage
    •Nerve damage (neuropathy)
    •Breakdown of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia)
    •Severe diarrhea

  • Prices with our coupons for Urispas vs. Nitrofurantoin

    Learn more about Flavoxate
    Learn more about Nitrofurantoin

Compare other Overactive Bladder and Urinary Tract Infection drugs

Urispas vs ElmironUrispas vs NitrofurantoinAmoxicillin vs PenicillinAugmentin vs AmoxicillinAugmentin vs BactrimAzithromycin vs AmoxicillinBactrim vs AmoxicillinBactrim vs CefdinirBactrim vs CiproBactrim vs ClindamycinBactrim vs KeflexCefdinir vs AmoxicillinCephalexin vs AmoxicillinDoxycycline Hyclate vs AmoxicillinDoxycycline vs BactrimErythromycin vs AmoxicillinFlagyl vs BactrimFosfomycin vs NitrofurantoinLevaquin vs BactrimMacrobid vs BactrimMacrodantin vs BactrimMalarone vs BactrimMetronidazole vs AmoxicillinMinocycline vs BactrimNitrofurantoin vs AmoxicillinNitrofurantoin vs BactrimNitrofurantoin vs ElmironPenicillin vs BactrimSivextro vs BactrimSpectracef vs Bactrim
View More

Browse medications

View All

Research prescriptions and over-the-counter medications from A to Z, compare drug prices, and start saving.