METRONIDAZOLE

(me troe NI da zole) Brand: Flagyl, Flagyl 375, Flagyl ER

What is the most significant information I must know about metronidazole?

• Take this medicine for the full predesigned length of time. Your symptoms may improve till the infection is completely cleared. Skipping doses may also magnify your risk of further infection that is resistant to antibiotics. Metronidazole will not treat a viral infection such as the general cool or flu.

• Do not drink alcohol while you are taking metronidazole and for at least 3 days after you stop taking it. You may have unpleasant side effects such as quick heartbeats, warmth or redness under your skin, tingly feeling, nausea, and vomiting.

What is metronidazole?

• Metronidazole is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria in your body.

• Metronidazole is used to treat bacterial infections of the vagina, stomach, skin, joints, and respiratory tract. This medicine will not treat a vaginal yeast infection.

• Metronidazole may also be used for purposes not listed in this medicine guide.

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking metronidazole?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to metronidazole, or if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy. Speak your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during treatment.

• Till taking metronidazole, speak your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:

· liver disease;

· a stomach or intestinal malady such as Crohn's disease;

· a blood cell mess such as anemia (lack of red blood cells) or leukopenia (lack of white blood cells);

· epilepsy or another seizure mess; or

· nerve disorders.

• If you have any of these conditions, you may need a doze adjustment or particular trials to safely take this medication.

• Metronidazole can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing child. Do not use this medicine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

How must I take metronidazole?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.

• Take the extended-release metronidazole tablet (Flagyl ER) on an empty stomach, at least 1 hour till or 2 hours after eating a meal.

• Do not crush, chew, or interrupt an extended-release tablet. Swallow it intact. Breaking the pill may reason too many of the drug to be released at one time.

• To be certain this medicine is not causing deleterious effects, your blood may need to be tested often. Your liver function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.

• This medicine can reason unusual results with determined medical trials. Speak any doctor who treats you that you are using metronidazole.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, numbness and tingling, or seizures (convulsions).

What must I avoid while taking metronidazole?

• Check the labels of any medicines or food commodity you use to create certain they do not contain alcohol.

• Antibiotic medicines can reason diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or bloody, stop taking metronidazole and call your doctor. Do not use anti-diarrhea medication unless your doctor tells you to.

What are the possible side effects of metronidazole?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

· numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;

· white patches or sores internal your mouth or on your lips;

· pain or burning when you urinate;

· diarrhea that is watery or bloody;

· vision problems, pain behind your eyes;

· trouble concentrating, slurred speech, mood or behavior changes, tremors, muscle twitching, seizure (convulsions);

· fever, chills, muscle pain, confusion, headache, sore throat, neck stiffness, heighten sensitivity to easy, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting; or

· severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your person or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the person or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· stomach pain, diarrhea;

· dizziness, loss of balance;

· vaginal itching or discharge;

· dry mouth or unpleasant metallic taste;

· cough, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose; or

· swollen or sore tongue.

• This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may message side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What another drugs will affect metronidazole?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· cimetidine (Tagamet);

· seizure medicine such as phenytoin (Dilantin) or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);

· a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin, Jantoven);

· lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith, others); or

· disulfiram (Antabuse).

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with metronidazole. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about metronidazole.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

Disclaim: Each effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses external of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way must be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safety, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the help of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

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