This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times during the day. If you need help planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your doctor.
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine.
If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. Bacterial resistance: Misuse of an antibiotic such as metronidazole may lead to the growth of resistant bacteria that will not be killed by the antibiotic.
If this happens, the antibiotic may not work for you in the future. Although you may begin to feel better early in your course of treatment with metronidazole, you need to take the full course exactly as directed to finish ridding your body of the infection and to prevent resistant bacteria from taking hold.
Do not take metronidazole or other antibiotics to treat a viral infection such as the common cold; antibiotics do not kill viruses, and using them to treat viral infections can lead to the growth of resistant bacteria. Birth control: Ingredients in metronidazole vaginal cream may cause condoms and diaphragms to become less effective. Alternative forms of birth control should be considered while using this medication. Blood cell counts: This medication may cause low white blood cell counts, which can mean your immune system is weak.
If you develop a fever, talk to your doctor as soon as possible. Your doctor may also perform blood tests regularly to monitor your blood cell counts if you are taking this medication for a long period of time. Avoid driving or other tasks requiring alertness until you know how this medication affects you. Liver disease: Decreased liver function or liver disease may cause this medication to build up in the body, causing side effects. If you have liver problems, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Your doctor may want to test your liver function regularly with blood tests while you are taking this medication. Neurological side effects: Stop treatment with metronidazole and see your doctor if muscle incoordination, seizures, or numbness or tingling in the hands or feet occur. Pancreatitis: Metronidazole can cause the pancreas to become inflamed. If you have a history of pancreatitis, discuss with your doctor how this medication may affect your medical condition, how your medical condition may affect the dosing and effectiveness of this medication, and whether any special monitoring is needed.
Report signs of pancreatitis such as abdominal pain on the upper left side, back pain, nausea, fever, chills, rapid heartbeat, or swollen abdomen to your doctor immediately. Pregnancy: Metronidazole crosses the placenta and may affect the development of the baby if it taken by the mother while she is pregnant. This medication should not be used during pregnancy unless the benefits outweigh the risks.
If you become pregnant while taking this medication, contact your doctor immediately. Breast-feeding: This medication passes into breast milk.
If you are a breast-feeding mother and are taking metronidazole, it may affect your baby. Talk to your doctor about whether you should continue breast-feeding. Children: The safety and effectiveness of using this medication have not been established for children. However, if you also get stomach tummy pain, or if you have nausea feel sick or feel generally unwell, you should let your doctor know.
Metronidazole may interact with a few medications and herbal supplements, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before starting metronidazole or before starting any new medicines. If you are taking the contraceptive 'pill', the effectiveness of the 'pill' can be reduced if you have a bout of being sick vomiting or diarrhoea which lasts for more than 24 hours.
If this happens, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice about contraception over the following few days. The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers.
Looking for Where to get medical help A health professional or service Patient portals Newsletters View all. Information for healthcare providers on metronidazole The content on this page will be of most use to clinicians, such as nurses, doctors, pharmacists, specialists and other healthcare providers.
For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. It's generally safe to use metronidazole while you're pregnant or breastfeeding. If you're breastfeeding, take care when applying metronidazole cream or gel.
Make sure you do not accidentally get it on your breasts. If this happens, wash off any cream or gel from your breasts before feeding your baby.
Metronidazole cream or gel is not known to cause any problems with other medicines. However, there are some medicines that don't mix well with the tablets, suppositories, liquid or vaginal gel. Tell your doctor before you start taking metronidazole tablets, suppositories, liquid or vaginal gel if you're taking these medicines :. There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements alongside metronidazole. However, some remedies and supplements that come as liquids that you drink may also contain alcohol.
Check the list of ingredients or ask the supplier or manufacturer. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.
Metronidazole is an antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of the bacteria or parasites causing the infection. For most infections, you should feel better within a few days. With serious swelling including dental infections , the medicine will start working within a few days but it may take longer before your symptoms start to get better. For some of the infections that metronidazole is used for, you may only begin to notice an improvement after a week.
When using the cream or gel to treat rosacea, you may have to wait a few weeks before you see any improvement. It's very important that you keep taking metronidazole until the course is finished. Do this even if you feel better. It will help stop the infection coming back. Tell your doctor if you still do not feel better 2 or 3 days after finishing your course of metronidazole. Also tell them if, at any time, you start to feel worse.
Metronidazole does not stop any type of contraception from working, including the combined pill and emergency contraception. However, if metronidazole makes you vomit or have severe diarrhoea, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. If this happens, follow the instructions in the leaflet that comes with your contraceptive pills.
Read more about what to do if you're on the pill and you're being sick or have diarrhoea. Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like metronidazole. This is more common if you're using the vaginal gel.
It happens because antibiotics kill the normal harmless bacteria that help to protect you against thrush. There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking metronidazole will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant.
However, very rarely, some people suffer from drowsiness or blurred vision. Do not drive or ride a bike until you stop feeling drowsy and your vision is clear. Do not drink alcohol while you're taking metronidazole, including for 2 days afterwards.
This gives the medicine time to leave your body. This is important because metronidazole can react with alcohol to cause a number of side effects. These include feeling and being sick, stomach pain, hot flushes, a pounding heartbeat palpitations and a headache. You must not have any alcohol in either your food or drink while taking metronidazole - and for 2 days afterwards. Page last reviewed: 6 December Next review due: 6 December
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