Metronidazole Information
Pronunciation
(met roe NYE da zole)
What is this drug used for?
• It is used to treat infections.
• It is used to prevent infections during bowel surgery.
• It may be given to you for other reasons. Talk with the doctor.
Frequently reported side effects of this drug
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Constipation
• Lack of appetite
• Abdominal cramps
• Abdominal pain
• Joint pain
• Decreased sex drive
• Injection site irritation
• Metallic taste
Other side effects of this drug: Talk with your doctor right away if you have any of these signs of:
• Infection
• Liver problems like dark urine, fatigue, lack of appetite, nausea, abdominal pain, light-colored stools, vomiting, or yellow skin
• Change in balance
• Dizziness
• Passing out
• Headache
• Trouble speaking
• Seizures
• Thrush
• Vaginal pain, itching, and discharge
• Vision changes
• Irritability
• Depression
• Confusion
• Loss of strength or energy
• Trouble sleeping
• Burning or numbness feeling
• Aseptic meningitis like headache, fever, chills, severe nausea or vomiting, stiff neck, rash, sensitivity to lights, fatigue, or confusion
• Signs of a significant reaction like wheezing; chest tightness; fever; itching; bad cough; blue skin color; seizures; or swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Medication Safety Issues
Sound-alike/look-alike issues:
MetroNIDAZOLE may be confused with mebendazole, meropenem, metFORMIN, methotrexate, metoclopramide, miconazole
Storage/Stability
Oral: Store at 15°C to 25°C (59°F to 77°F). Protect the tablets from light.
Injection: Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Protect from light. Avoid excessive heat. Do not refrigerate. Do not remove unit from overwrap until ready for use. Discard unused solution.
Adverse Reactions
>10%:
- Central nervous system: Headache (18%)
- Gastrointestinal: Nausea (10% to 12%)
- Genitourinary: Vaginitis (15%)
1% to 10%:
- Central nervous system: Metallic taste (9%), dizziness (4%)
- Dermatologic: Genital pruritus (5%)
- Gastrointestinal: Abdominal pain (4%), diarrhea (4%), xerostomia (2%)
- Genitourinary: Dysmenorrhea (3%), urine abnormality (3%), urinary tract infection (2%)
- Infection: Bacterial infection (7%), candidiasis (3%)
- Respiratory: Flu-like symptoms (6%), upper respiratory tract infection (4%), pharyngitis (3%), sinusitis (3%)
Frequency not defined:
- Cardiovascular: Chest pain, facial edema, flattened T-wave on ECG, flushing, palpitations, peripheral edema, syncope, tachycardia
- Central nervous system: Aseptic meningitis, ataxia, brain disease, cerebral lesion (reversible), chills, confusion, convulsions, depression, disulfiram-like reaction (with alcohol), drowsiness, dysarthria, hypoesthesia, insomnia, irritability, malaise, numbness, paresthesia, peripheral neuropathy, psychosis, seizure, vertigo
- Dermatologic: Erythematous rash, hyperhidrosis, pruritus, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, urticaria
- Endocrine & metabolic: Decreased libido
- Gastrointestinal: Abdominal cramps, abdominal distress, anorexia, constipation, decreased appetite, dysgeusia, glossitis, hairy tongue, pancreatitis (rare), proctitis, stomatitis, vomiting
- Genitourinary: Cystitis, dark urine (rare), dyspareunia, dysuria, urinary incontinence, urine discoloration, vaginal dryness, vulvovaginal candidiasis
- Hematologic & oncologic: Agranulocytosis, eosinophilia, leukopenia, neutropenia (reversible), thrombocytopenia (reversible, rare)
- Hepatic: Increased liver enzymes, jaundice, severe hepatotoxicity (patients with Cockayne syndrome)
- Hypersensitivity: Anaphylaxis, hypersensitivity
- Immunologic: DRESS syndrome, serum sickness-like reaction (joint pains)
- Local: Inflammation at injection site (IV), injection site reaction
- Neuromuscular & skeletal: Arthralgia, muscle spasm, myalgia, weakness
- Ophthalmic: Abnormal eye movements (saccadic), nystagmus, optic neuropathy
- Renal: Polyuria
- Respiratory: Dyspnea, nasal congestion, rhinitis
- Miscellaneous: Fever
