Metronidazole

What is Metronidazole?

Metronidazole is an antibiotic, used in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (a bacterial infection of the vagina).

How does Metronidazole work?

It contains an active ingredient which is an antibiotic, working to kill the bacteria in the affected area.

What are the benefits of taking Metronidazole?

Bacterial vaginosis can be an unpleasant infection that can show itself through unusual vaginal discharge (with a strong fishy smell), particularly after sex. You may notice a change to the colour and consistency of your discharge, such as becoming greyish-white and thin and watery.

Treating bacterial vaginosis with a simple antibiotic will help to restore a woman’s health and make daily life, as well as sex, a lot more pleasant.

How do I use Metronidazole?

Metronidazole is a prescription-only medication. Always follow the advice of your doctor and read the patient information leaflet provided in the medication packet.

Swallow Metronidazole tablets whole with a drink of water - do not crush or chew them. It’s recommended to take these tablets during or just after a meal, and your dose will be decided upon by your doctor, based on the type and severity of the condition you’re trying to treat.

Even if you start to feel better or your symptoms start to clear, you should always complete the full course of antibiotics that you have been prescribed.

Metronidazole dosage

Metronidazole contains an active antibiotic, usually 400mg per tablet. The normal dose when treating bacterial vaginosis is 800mg initially, and then 400mg every 8 hours. Although children won’t be using it for this purpose, this drug is suitable for children when treating other infections and illnesses, and your doctor can advise of the correct dose.

If you use more Metronidazole than you should, then you should contact your doctor immediately. If you forget to take it, but remember a few hours late then take it as soon as possible. However, if you’ve forgotten it and it’s nearly time for your next dose, then leave the forgotten one and carry on as normal.

Side effects & precautions

Before taking Metronidazole, you should always first consult your doctor. You should not take Metronidazole if any of the following apply to you:

• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to metronidazole,
• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to nitroimidazoles (e.g. tinidazole)
• you are allergic (hypersensitive) to any of the other ingredients in this medicine

Your prescription of Metronidazole may also be affected by a number of other factors, so you should make your doctor aware if any of the following apply:

• you have or have ever had a liver problem  
• you are having kidney dialysis
• you have a disease of the nervous system

Like many medications with active ingredients, Metronidazole can affect or be affected by other medicines. Particular medications that you may experience this with include the following:

• Medicines used to thin the blood such as warfarin  
• Lithium for mental illness  
• Phenobarbital or phenytoin for epilepsy  
• 5 fluorouracil for cancer  
• Busulfan for leukaemia (cancer of the blood cells)  
• Ciclosporin – to prevent the rejection of organs after transplant  
• Disulfiram for alcoholism

If you are taking any of the above medications, then you should make your doctor aware so that they can advise whether or not Metronidazole will be the best course of action for you.

If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor for advice before using this medicine. If you are breastfeeding, tell your doctor so that they can advise you. As Metronidazole contains an active antibiotic, it may not be suitable due to the fact that this can be passed into your breast milk.

If you are currently undergoing kidney dialysis, you must take this medicine after your treatment, as the dialysis removes Metronidazole from your blood.

Do not drink any alcohol while you are taking Metronidazole and for 48 hours after finishing your course. Drinking alcohol while using this medication might cause unpleasant side effects, such as feeling sick, being sick, stomach pain, hot flushes, very fast or uneven heartbeat or headache.

The most common side effects of using Metronidazole include:

• Numbness, tingling, pain, or a feeling of weakness, in the arms or legs
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth or furred tongue
• Feeling sick, being sick, upset stomach, stomach pain or diarrhoea  
• Loss of appetite  
• Fever  
• Feeling depressed.

If you do experience one or more of these side effects and they persist or worsen, then inform your doctor right away. You should also contact your doctor immediately if you experience any serious side effects, such as difficulty swallowing or breathing, skin rashes or severe stomach pain.

How do I buy Metronidazole online?

You can safely buy Metronidazole online at UK Meds. You will first need to have an online consultation with a medical doctor before your order will be supplied. The online consultation will ensure that Metronidazole is the right medication for your medical condition.

More Information

• What is Metronidazole used for?