GENERIC NAME:
METRONIDAZOLE - ORAL (meh-troh-NID-uh-zole)
BRAND NAME:
Flagyl
IMPORTANT NOTE:
This is a summary and does not contain all possible information about this product. For complete information about this product or your specific health needs, ask your health care professional. Always seek the advice of your health care professional if you have any questions about this product or your medical condition. This information is not intended as individual medical advice and does not substitute for the knowledge and judgment of your health care professional. This information does not contain any assurances that this product is safe, effective, or appropriate for you.
METRONIDAZOLE - ORAL
(meh-troh-NID-uh-zole)
COMMON BRAND NAME:
Flagyl
Before taking Flagyl
Do not use this medication if you are allergic to metronidazole, or if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.
Before taking Flagyl, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- liver disease;
- a stomach or intestinal disease such as Crohn's disease;
- a blood cell disorder such as anemia (lack of red blood cells) or leukopenia (lack of white blood cells);
- epilepsy or other seizure disorder; or
- nerve disorders.
If you have any of these conditions, you may need a dose adjustment or special tests to safely take this medication. Flagyl can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
What are the side effects?
The most serious side effects from Flagyl are seizures and tingling or numbness in the extremities (arms, legs, hands, and feet). If you experience these symptons, stop taking Flagyl and call your doctor immediately.
Other side effects include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. See the Flagyl side effects page for a complete list.
Who should not take Flagyl?
Pregnant women in their first trimester should not take Flagyl for vaginal infections. People with an allergy or sensitivity to metronidazole should also not take Flagyl.
Flagyl should be used under the close supervision of a physician by anyone with liver disease.
Yeast infections may worsen while taking Flagyl
MISSED DOSE:
If you miss a dose, take as soon as remembered; do not take if it is almost time for the next dose, instead, skip the missed dose and resume your usual dosing schedule. Do not double the dose to catch up.
STORAGE:
Store at room temperature away from moisture and sunlight. Do not store in the bathroom.
PRECAUTIONS
General
Patients with severe hepatic disease metabolize metronidazole slowly, with resultant accumulation of metronidazole and its metabolites in the plasma. Accordingly, for such patients, doses below those usually recommended should be administered cautiously.
Known or previously unrecognized candidiasis may present more prominent symptoms during therapy with Flagyl (metronidazole) and requires treatment with a candidacidal agent.
Prescribing Flagyl in the absence of a proven or strongly suspected bacterial infection or a prophylactic indication is unlikely to provide benefit to the patient and increases the risk of the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
