Understanding Metronidazole and its side effects

Metonidazole is a medication used for healing protozoan or anaerobic bacterial infections such as bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, anaerobic bacteria, intestinal amoeba infections, giardiasis, pelvic inflammatory disease etc. The medication is available in the form of pills, vaginal gel, facial gel and cream and as rectal suppositories. Despite these positive points, it’s hard to overlook Metronidazole side effects.

Metronidazole is carcinogenic in case of rats and mice. The medication has a repulsive metallic taste difficult for some people to withstand, but it can be lessened it’s taken with juice. Metronidazole side effects on gastrointestinal system comprise:

·         Vomiting;

·         Nausea;

·         diarrhea and dyspepsia;

·         Rash and itching;

·         Giddiness;

·         yeast infections;

·         furry tongue;

·         headache and pain in the joints;

·         swelling in the face or tongue;

·         blistering or peeling of the skin;

·         seizures;

·         low count of the white blood cells;

·         aseptic meningitis (a non-infectious inflammation of the lining of the central nervous system);

·         allergic reactions like toxic epidermal necrolyises and Steven’s Johnson Syndrome;

This medication is not recommended for alcoholics since there may be side effects like sweating, hypertension, flushing and at times your life can also be in grave danger.

The patients are advised not to consume the medicine with live BCG vaccine, disulifarm (Antabuse), and few of the HIV drugs such as tipranavir, ritonavir and lopinavir and busulfan. When prescribed this medicine by the doctor, one should make sure to inform him of any other medicine you might be taking currently. Metronidazole should also be shunned away from ethanol, diazoxide, warfarin.

All you should know about side effects of Metronidazole

Metonidazole is a medication which is commonly used for treatment of protozoan or anaerobic bacterial infections. It is used for various infections such as bacterial vaginosis, trichomoniasis, anaerobic bacteria, intestinal amoeba infections, giardiasis, pelvic inflammatory disease etc. It is available in the form of pills, vaginal gel, facial gel and cream and as rectal suppositories. No doubt, it is a very effective medication but we cannot overlook the side effects of Metronidazole.

Metronidazole is carcinogenic in case of rats and mice. The medication has an abhorring metallic taste which is very difficult for some people to withstand but it can be lessened if the medication is taken with juice. The effects on gastrointestinal system comprise vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and dyspepsia but these effects are less common. Some of the more frequent side effects of Metronidazole include rash, itching, giddiness, yeast infections, furry tongue, headache and pain in the joints. It can also cause fever, sore throat, severe skin reaction, burning in your eyes, pain in the skin, swelling in the face or tongue, sometimes followed by a rash which may spread and cause blistering or peeling of the skin.

It is also advised to the patient to avoid alcohol if you have been prescribed Metronidazole by your physician. If alcohol is taken, there may be Antabuse like effect which leads to sweating, hypertension, flushing and at times your life can also be in grave danger. The side effects related to its use can be life threatening also. Such side effects include seizures, low count of the white blood cells, aseptic meningitis (a non-infectious inflammation of the lining of the central nervous system), and at times allergic reactions like toxic epidermal necrolyises and Steven’s Johnson Syndrome.

There are also possibilities of drug interactions while taking Metronidazole so it is advised to the patient to never ever take it with live BCG vaccine, disulifarm (Antabuse), and few of the HIV drugs such as tipranavir, ritonavir and lopinavir and busulfan. Whenever you are prescribed Metronidazole by your physician tell him about any other medication which you might be taking currently. It should also be avoided with ethanol, diazoxide, warfarin and other less common medications. You should always check the manufacturer’s information booklet for possible drug interactions.