Yashoda Hospitals > Medicine FAQS > Metronidazole

Metronidazole: Frequently Asked Questions Answered

What Is Metronidazole?

Metronidazole belongs to a class of antibiotics, nitroimidazole. As an antibiotic, it suppresses the growth and spread of bacterial infections. You can only avail the medicine with a prescription from a registered medical doctor. It comes in multiple forms, like:

Tablet: Oral intake.
Gel: Topical application.
Cream: Ointment.
Liquid: Drinkable or as a suppository.
The injectable form, available in hospitals.

What Are the Uses of Metronidazole?

As an antibiotic, metronidazole helps treat and prevent bacterial and parasitic illnesses. It is used in:

Bacterial vaginosis and trichomonas vaginal infections.
Bacterial infection in liver, stomach, bloodstream, lungs, or heart.
Skin infections, like rosacea, skin ulcers, wounds, and sores.
Mouth infections, like a dental abscess, inflamed, and infected gums.
Pelvic inflammatory diseases: PID commonly occurs when infection-carrying bacteria travels up to a woman’s reproductive organs, primarily from the vagina or cervix.

Not all bacterial infections require metronidazole. Always consult your doctor before going for any medications.

Bacterial vaginosis and trichomonas vaginal infections.
Bacterial infection in liver, stomach, bloodstream, lungs, or heart.
Skin infections, like rosacea, skin ulcers, wounds, and sores.
Mouth infections, like a dental abscess, inflamed, and infected gums.
Pelvic inflammatory diseases: PID commonly occurs when infection-carrying bacteria travels up to a woman’s reproductive organs, primarily from the vagina or cervix.

Not all bacterial infections require metronidazole. Always consult your doctor before going for any medications.

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What Are the Side Effects of Metronidazole?

Side effects are uncommon from the usage of creams or gels, except vagina gel but might arise with tablets and suppositories.

Common side effects:

Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Confusion and light-headedness

Serious side effects:

Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (sclera). It can be an indicator of gallbladder infection.
Painful urination
Mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, and bruising. It can indicate blood abnormalities.
Blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light, and double vision in critical cases.
Numbness in extremities.
Improper speech, trembling, and seizures.

One must stop the medication if neurological side effects are visible. Consult doctors at Yashoda Hospitals for an expert medical opinion.

Common side effects:

Nausea and vomiting
Diarrhea
Confusion and light-headedness

Serious side effects:

Yellow discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes (sclera). It can be an indicator of gallbladder infection.
Painful urination
Mouth ulcers, bleeding gums, and bruising. It can indicate blood abnormalities.
Blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light, and double vision in critical cases.
Numbness in extremities.
Improper speech, trembling, and seizures.

One must stop the medication if neurological side effects are visible. Consult doctors at Yashoda Hospitals for an expert medical opinion.

What is Metronidazole

Uses of Metronidazole

Side effects of Metronidazole

References

Disclaimer: The information provided herein is accurate, updated and complete as per the best practices of the Company. Please note that this information should not be treated as a replacement for physical medical consultation or advice. We do not guarantee the accuracy and the completeness of the information so provided. The absence of any information and/or warning to any drug shall not be considered and assumed as an implied assurance of the Company. We do not take any responsibility for the consequences arising out of the aforementioned information and strongly recommend you for a physical consultation in case of any queries or doubts.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Metronidazole

Metronidazole can cross the placental barrier and enter fetal blood circulation. Usage of metronidazole during the first trimester of pregnancy is considered hazardous. Do remember to always inform your physician if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy.

UTI is an abbreviation for urinary tract infection. Although there is no scientific basis that metronidazole can cause UTI, one of the severe side effects is painful urination. In addition, doctors do not prefer oral metronidazole as it may compromise the treatment of UTI.

You can start seeing changes in your body within a few days of the metronidazole oral dose. Inflammation might start subsiding, but symptoms may take a week or two to stabilize. For creams and gels, your skin will show improvement within a few weeks. Wait for the complete course of medicine to finish. Stopping in the middle can develop your chances of contracting an infection in the future.

If you are on blood thinners, metronidazole can increase the risk of abnormally heavy bleeding. If the medication cannot be avoided, your doctor will decrease the blood thinners. One of the harsh side effects of metronidazole includes bleeding from gums.

Metronidazole oral tablets can take a few days to a week to show results. During a dental abscess, you might see improvement in swelling within one day, but symptoms may take time to resolve. However, gel and creams might take a few weeks to work.

No, you must complete the course of metronidazole as prescribed by the doctor unless any harmful side effects appear. Leaving the dose halfway can increase the risk of getting the infection later.

People have reported depression, trouble sleeping, and insomnia as side effects of metronidazole. With its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, metronidazole can affect our central nervous system with high doses. It can lead to confusion, irritability, and insomnia in some cases.

No, metronidazole is an antibiotic medicine used for treating bacterial infections. A similar-sounding drug, miconazole, is an antifungal medication.

Doctors do not recommend the usage of vagina gel during periods or menses. Although there is no solid scientific evidence to support irregular menstrual cycles due to antibiotics, it is avoided for safety.

Metronidazole is known to have a half-life of eight hours and takes nearly forty-four hours or approximately two days to be cleared from the body's system.