💊 Metronidazole (Metronidazole)
Metronidazole is an oral prescription medicine used to treat certain parasitic infections (such as trichomoniasis and amebiasis) and serious infections caused by anaerobic bacteria. The dose and duration must be set by your doctor or pharmacist. Unnecessary use should be avoided; it should be reserved for the conditions described in the label.
In Arabic: ميترونيدازول
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Vandazole🏭 Upsher-smith Laboratories, LLCDailyMed
Nuvessa🏭 Exeltis USA, Inc.DailyMed
Noritate🏭 Bausch Health US, LLCDailyMed
Flagyl🏭 Pfizer Laboratories Div Pfizer IncDailyMed
Metronidazole Vaginal🏭 Saptalis Pharmaceuticals LLCDailyMed
Metronidazole Vaginal Gel🏭 Aurobindo Pharma LimitedDailyMed✅ What it is used for
- Treatment of confirmed Trichomonas vaginalis infection in females and males
- Treatment of asymptomatic trichomoniasis in females when associated with endocervicitis, cervicitis, or cervical erosion
- Simultaneous treatment of asymptomatic sexual partners to prevent reinfection
- Treatment of acute intestinal amebiasis (amebic dysentery) and amebic liver abscess (does not replace aspiration or drainage of pus)
- Treatment of serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria, including intra-abdominal infections, together with indicated surgical procedures
🧪 Active ingredient
The active ingredient is metronidazole, a synthetic nitroimidazole antimicrobial that treats parasitic and anaerobic bacterial infections.
🌿 Benefits
- Eliminates the trichomonad parasite and relieves symptoms
- Treats amebic dysentery and amebic liver abscess
- Treats serious infections caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria
📝 How to use
- Your doctor or pharmacist determines the dose and duration; do not change it yourself
- Complete the full course prescribed even if symptoms improve
- For trichomoniasis, your doctor may prescribe a one-day or a seven-day regimen depending on your situation
- Sexual partners should be treated at the same time to prevent reinfection
- Avoid alcohol and products containing propylene glycol during treatment and for at least three days after the last dose
💊 Dosage forms
- Tablets 125 mg
- Tablets 250 mg
- Tablets 500 mg
⚠️ Common side effects
- Nausea, sometimes with headache, loss of appetite, and occasional vomiting
- Diarrhea or constipation
- Epigastric distress and abdominal cramping
- A sharp, unpleasant metallic taste
- Dry mouth, furry tongue, glossitis, stomatitis (may be linked to Candida overgrowth)
- Headache, dizziness, insomnia
- Darkened urine (rare, no clinical significance)
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Convulsive seizures
- Encephalopathy (ataxia, dizziness, dysarthria)
- Aseptic meningitis
- Peripheral or optic neuropathy (numbness or tingling of extremities)
- Severe cutaneous reactions such as Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, DRESS, and AGEP
- Reversible neutropenia or thrombocytopenia
- Pancreatitis (rare)
- Acute liver failure in patients with Cockayne syndrome
⛔ Do not use if
- Prior hypersensitivity to metronidazole or other nitroimidazole derivatives
- Cockayne syndrome
- First trimester of pregnancy in patients with trichomoniasis
- Alcohol or propylene glycol–containing products during therapy and for at least three days afterward
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Metronidazole has been shown to be carcinogenic in mice and rats; unnecessary use should be avoided and use reserved for the labeled conditions
- Stop immediately and seek care if severe rash, blistering, peeling, or fever develops
- Stop the drug and report immediately any neurologic symptoms such as numbness, tingling, dizziness, ataxia, or seizures
- Dose should be reduced by 50% in severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C)
- Hemodialysis removes significant amounts of the drug; the doctor may consider a supplemental dose after the session
- When repeat courses are needed, an interval of four to six weeks is recommended, with leukocyte counts before and after re-treatment
🔄 Drug interactions
- Alcohol and propylene glycol–containing products: cause a disulfiram-like reaction (abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, flushing)
- Tell your doctor or pharmacist about all medicines you take; other interactions may exist that are not detailed in the label text provided
🤰 Pregnancy
There are no adequate and well-controlled studies in pregnant women. It is contraindicated in the first trimester for trichomoniasis. Metronidazole crosses the placenta and its effects on human fetal organogenesis are not known. When treatment is needed in pregnancy, the one-day regimen should not be used because it produces higher serum levels that can reach the fetal circulation. Consult your doctor before use.
🍼 Breastfeeding
Metronidazole is present in human milk at concentrations similar to maternal serum levels. Developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be weighed against the mother's need for the drug. A nursing mother may choose to pump and discard milk during therapy and for 48 hours after the last dose, and feed the infant stored milk or formula.
🧒 Children
Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established, except for the treatment of amebiasis. Pediatric dosing is weight-based and must be set by the doctor.
👴 Older adults
Monitoring for adverse events is recommended in elderly patients. Decreased liver function may increase drug concentrations and may require dose adjustment by the doctor.
🌡️ Storage
Store at 20 to 25°C (68 to 77°F) and protect from light. Keep out of reach of children.
⏰ Missed dose
The label text provided does not give specific instructions for a missed dose. Ask your doctor or pharmacist, and do not double the dose on your own.
🆘 Overdose
Single oral doses up to 15 g have been reported in suicide attempts and accidental overdoses, with nausea, vomiting, and ataxia. There is no specific antidote; management is symptomatic and supportive. Seek emergency care or a poison center immediately.
💰 Price & brands in your area
🏛️ Official price in Palestine — Ministry of Health price list:
| Product | Company | Pack | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| METROZOLE 125MG/5ML 120 ML SYRUP METRONIDAZOLE BENZOYL 125MG/5ML | BPC | 120 ML | 19 ₪ |
| Metro Suspension Metronidazole Benzoate 125mg/ 5ml | Sama Pharmaceutical. Co. | 120 ml | 20 ₪ |
| METRO TAB 500 Metronidazole | Sama Pharmaceutical. Co. | 20 Tablets | 20 ₪ |
| METROZOLE 500 MG CAPLET METRONIDAZOLE | BPC | 20 tab | 20 ₪ |
| Metro-S suspension metronidazole Benzoate 200mg/5ml | Sama Pharmaceutical. Co. | 120 ml | 25 ₪ |
| Nedomet gel Metronidazole | Beit Jala | 30 g | 30 ₪ |
| NYSTAZOL VAGINAL OVUL METRONIDAZOLE + NYSTATIN | BPC | 10 Ovules | 30 ₪ |
📍 Find the nearest pharmacy
Your location is used only in your browser to show nearby pharmacies — we don't store it.
Open in Google Maps👨⚕️ For healthcare professionals
Mechanism of action
Synthetic nitroimidazole antimicrobial (2-methyl-5-nitro-1H-imidazole-1-ethanol). Well absorbed orally, with peak plasma concentrations 1–2 hours after dosing; less than 20% protein bound. Eliminated mainly in urine (60–80%) and feces (6–15%), via side-chain oxidation and glucuronide conjugation. Average elimination half-life is about 8 hours. Both the parent compound and the hydroxyl metabolite have in vitro antimicrobial activity.
Labeled dosing
General adult dosing per the label: Trichomoniasis in females: 2 g as a single dose or two 1 g doses in one day, or 250 mg three times daily for 7 days. Acute intestinal amebiasis: 750 mg orally three times daily for 5–10 days. Amebic liver abscess: 500 mg or 750 mg orally three times daily for 5–10 days. Anaerobic infections: usual oral adult dose 7.5 mg/kg every 6 hours (about 500 mg for a 70-kg adult), maximum 4 g per 24 hours, usual duration 7–10 days. Pediatric amebiasis: 35–50 mg/kg/24 hours in three divided doses for 10 days. The final dose is determined by the doctor or pharmacist. Reduce the dose by 50% in severe hepatic impairment (Child-Pugh C); consider supplemental dosing after hemodialysis.
- The one-day regimen should not be used in pregnant patients for whom alternative treatment has been inadequate
- For repeat courses, allow 4–6 weeks between courses, reconfirm the trichomonad, and obtain total and differential leukocyte counts before and after re-treatment
- In mixed aerobic/anaerobic infections, add antimicrobials appropriate for the aerobic component
- Indicated surgical procedures should be performed alongside therapy in anaerobic infections
- Boxed warning: carcinogenic in rodents; avoid unnecessary use
- Reports of breast and colon cancer in Crohn's disease patients treated with high doses for extended periods; no cause-and-effect established; Crohn's disease is not an approved indication
🎓 Key points for students
- Class: nitroimidazole antimicrobial
- Indications: trichomoniasis, amebiasis, anaerobic infections
- Disulfiram-like reaction with alcohol and propylene glycol
- Most serious neurologic effects: seizures, encephalopathy, aseptic meningitis, peripheral and optic neuropathy
- Severe cutaneous reactions: SJS, TEN, DRESS, AGEP
- Contraindications: hypersensitivity, Cockayne syndrome, first trimester (trichomoniasis)
- Reduce dose 50% in Child-Pugh C; consider supplemental dose after hemodialysis
- Darkened urine is rare and clinically insignificant
EME runs your whole clinic: appointments with WhatsApp reminders, patient files, finance & inventory, a patient portal and a members-price medical store — with your data isolated and protected.
Try EME free How we protect your data❓ FAQ
Can I drink alcohol while taking metronidazole?
No. It causes a disulfiram-like reaction (abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache, flushing). Avoid alcohol and propylene glycol–containing products during treatment and for at least three days after the last dose.
Why does my sexual partner need treatment too?
Trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted infection, and treating the partner at the same time prevents reinfection.
Is metronidazole safe in pregnancy?
It is not used in the first trimester for trichomoniasis, and there are no adequate, well-controlled studies in pregnant women. Consult your doctor before use.
Which symptoms mean I should stop the drug and call my doctor right away?
Numbness or tingling in the limbs, severe dizziness, unsteadiness or slurred speech, seizures, or a severe rash with blisters, peeling, or fever. Stop the drug and seek medical care immediately.
Is the metallic taste normal?
Yes, a sharp, unpleasant metallic taste is a common side effect. Sores or white patches in the mouth may signal Candida overgrowth and should be reported to your doctor.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2026-05), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-10.