Metronidazole is an antibiotic that is commonly used to treat infections of the gut. It may also be used for the treatment of certain parasitic infections and bacterial vaginal infections. Metronidazole may also be applied on the skin to treat skin conditions such as rosacea.
Common side effects include:
Very rarely, Metronidazole may cause severe side-effects that are generally reversible once the medication is stopped. Stop this medication and seek medical advice immediately if you develop any of these symptoms below.
Liver injury with symptoms such as:
The symptoms of a drug allergy include one or more of the following. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should stop your medicine immediately and see your doctor.
Inform your healthcare professional if:
Avoid consuming alcohol during the course of antibiotics and for three days after completion of antibiotics. Drinking alcohol with Metronidazole causes an unpleasant reaction which may present with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, palpitations (fast heart rate), hot flushes, headaches.
Oral Metronidazole
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to the time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your usual timing. Do not take two doses at the same time to make up for the missed dose.
Pack this medication into a black trash bag and seal it tightly before throwing into the rubbish chute or bin.