Experimental and clinical pharmacokinetics of nitrofurantoin in the early period of life.

The investigation of pharmacokinetics showed age-dependent rate of nitrofurantoin elimination in rats. Nitrofurantoin half-life of 0.41 hr in adults was prolonged to 0.95 hr in 2-weeks-old rats. Nitrofurantoin excretion rate was decreased in children younger than 2 years. Older children excreted in urine 44.32 +/- 16.07 and younger 25.07 +/- 5.7 per cent of the given dose of nitrofurantoin, indicating the lower capacity for nitrofurantoin elimination via kidneys.