Bacterial Vaginosis treatment Metronidazole
What is Metronidazole?
Metronidazole, an antibiotic, is used in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV). These tablets work by eliminating the bacteria responsible for the vaginal infection.
What is Metronidazole used to treat?
Metronidazole is an antibiotic. It works by eliminating bacteria and parasites responsible for infections throughout the body. Metronidazole is prescribed for various purposes, including:
treating infections in the blood, brain, lungs, bones, genital tract, pelvic area, stomach, and intestines
addressing gum ulcers and other dental infections
managing infected leg ulcers and pressure sores
preventing infections post-surgery
Research shows that metronidazole has a success rate of over 90% in treating BV. Typically, you should experience improvement within a few days of initiating metronidazole treatment. It's important to complete the prescribed course, even if feeling better, to ensure effective and thorough treatment.
Who can and cannot use medicines containing Metronidazole?
Metronidazole is suitable for most people. However, it is not suitable for everyone.
Avoid taking metronidazole tablets if:
you are allergic (hypersensitive) to metronidazole, nitroimidazoles (e.g. tinidazole), or any other of the ingredients
Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, and swelling of your lips, face, throat, or tongue. Seek medical attention immediately if you experience these symptoms.
Warnings and precautions:
Prior to taking metronidazole tablets, discuss with your doctor or pharmacist if you have had or currently have a liver problem, undergo kidney dialysis, or have a nervous system disorder.
Cases of severe liver toxicity/acute liver failure, including fatal outcomes, have been reported with metronidazole in patients with Cockayne syndrome. If affected by Cockayne syndrome, your doctor should monitor your liver function frequently during and after treatment.
Inform your doctor and cease metronidazole if you experience stomach pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fever, malaise, fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, clay-coloured stools, or itching.
Interaction with other medicines:
Inform your doctor if you are taking anticoagulants (blood thinning agents) like warfarin, lithium for mental illness, medicines for epilepsy (phenytoin, primidone, phenobarbital), 5-fluorouracil for cancer, busulfan for leukaemia, ciclosporin for organ transplant rejection prevention, or disulfiram for alcoholism.
Metronidazole tablets and consumption of food and drink:
Refrain from consuming alcohol while taking metronidazole and for 48 hours after completing the course. Alcohol consumption during metronidazole use may lead to unpleasant side effects such as nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, hot flushes, rapid or irregular heartbeat (palpitations), and headache.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding:
Inform your doctor before using metronidazole if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or suspect pregnancy. Metronidazole should not be taken during pregnancy unless deemed absolutely necessary.
If breastfeeding, it is advisable to avoid using metronidazole as small amounts may pass into breast milk. Consult your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines:
While taking metronidazole, you may experience drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, or temporary eyesight problems (blurred or double vision). If any of these effects occur, refrain from driving or operating machinery or tools.
What form does Metronidazole come in?
Metronidazole is available in various forms, including oral tablets, topical creams, and gels. The specific form and dosage depend on the type and severity of the infection being treated.
Metronidazole 400mg tablets contain 400mg of the active ingredient metronidazole. The tablets may be different shape, colour and sizes depending on the manufacturer of the specific tablet.
Frequently asked questions
As with all medications, metronidazole may lead to side effects, although not everyone may experience them. Seek immediate medical attention or consult a doctor if you encounter the following:
swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, face, lips, or throat, accompanied by difficulty swallowing or breathing - this may be indicative of an allergic reaction to metronidazole
a rare but serious side effect known as encephalopathy, characterised by symptoms like fever, stiff neck, headache, hallucinations, and difficulty using limbs or speaking
Additionally, discontinue metronidazole and contact your doctor or seek medical attention urgently if you observe:
skin rashes, including Stevens-Johnson syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis. These may manifest as reddish target-like spots, circular patches with central blisters on the trunk, skin peeling, ulcers in the mouth, throat, nose, genitals, and eyes, often preceded by fever and flu-like symptoms
a red, scaly widespread rash with bumps under the skin and blisters accompanied by fever at the beginning of treatment (acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis)
Promptly inform your doctor if you notice the following side effects:
yellowing of the skin and eyes, potentially indicating a liver problem (jaundice)
unexpected infections, mouth ulcers, bruising, bleeding gums, or severe tiredness, which may suggest a blood problem
severe stomach pain that may radiate to your back (pancreatitis)
Report to your doctor or pharmacist if you observe the following side effects:
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10,000 people):
seizures (convulsions)
mental problems, such as confusion and hallucinations
vision-related issues like blurred or double vision
skin rash and flushing
headache
darkening of the urine
drowsiness or dizziness
muscle or joint pain
liver problems, including life-threatening liver failure (hepatocellular liver injury)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from available data):
numbness, tingling, pain, or weakness in the arms or legs
unpleasant taste in the mouth
furred tongue
nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, or diarrhoea
loss of appetite
fever
depression
pain in the eyes (optic neuritis)
cluster of symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck, and extreme sensitivity to bright light, possibly indicating inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
hearing impairment or loss
ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
recurrent rash or skin discoloration with or without raised areas, typically occurring in the same location with each drug intake
acute liver failure in patients with Cockayne syndrome
Always read the patient information leaflet for metronidazole before taking it.
Studies show that metronidazole is over 90% effective at treating BV. In most cases, you should feel better within a few days of taking metronidazole.
Metronidazole can interact with certain other medications. This includes:
Warfarin and other blood thinning agents
Lithium
medicines used to treat epilepsy
certain medications used to treat cancer
medications used to treat alcohol dependence
ciclosporin
Always inform the prescriber if you are taking any of these medications.