Allina Health

Pronunciation:

met-roe-NYE-da-zole

Brand Names:

• Flagyl I.V.
• Flagyl I.V. RTU

Dosage Forms:

• Solution
• Powder for Solution

Warnings:

Metronidazole has been shown to be carcinogenic in mice and rats. Its use, therefore, should be reserved only for conditions for which it is approved .

Classifications:

Therapeutic—

Antibiotic

Chemical—

Nitroimidazole

Uses of This Medicine:

Metronidazole injection is used to treat serious bacterial infections in different areas of the body. It is also used to prevent infections in the intestines before and after surgery for some patients.

Metronidazole belongs to the class of medicines known as antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria or preventing their growth. However, this medicine will not work for colds, flu, or other virus infections.

This medicine is to be administered only by or under the immediate supervision of your doctor.

Before Using This Medicine:

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies—

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Children—

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of metronidazole injection in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Older adults—

No information is available on the relationship of age to the effects of metronidazole injection in geriatric patients.

Pregnancy—

Breast-feeding—

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Other medicines—

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are receiving this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amprenavir
• Dihydroergotamine
• Disulfiram
• Ergoloid Mesylates
• Ergonovine
• Ergotamine
• Methylergonovine

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Amiodarone
• Busulfan
• Fluorouracil
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• Warfarin

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Carbamazepine
• Cholestyramine
• Cyclosporine
• Lithium
• Milk Thistle
• Tacrolimus

Other interactions—

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Ethanol

Other medical problems—

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Edema (too much fluid in the body) or
• Leukopenia (low white blood cells), history of or
• Optic neuropathy (eye disease with vision changes), history of or
• Oral thrush (Candida infection) or
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve disease with pain, numbness, or tingling), history of or
• Seizures, history of or
• Vaginal yeast infection (Candida infection)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Liver disease, severe—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Proper Use of This Medicine:

A nurse or other trained health professional will give you this medicine in a hospital. This medicine is given through a needle placed in one of your veins.

Your doctor will give you a few doses of this medicine until your condition improves, and then switch you to an oral medicine that works the same way. If you have any concerns about this, talk to your doctor.

If you have taken a medicine called disulfiram (Antabuse®) within the last 2 weeks, you should not receive metronidazole until you talk to your doctor. Disulfiram is used to help people who have a drinking problem. If these 2 medicines are used close together, serious unwanted effects may occur.

Precautions While Using This Medicine:

It is important that your doctor check your progress while you are receiving this medicine. This is to make sure that the infection is cleared up. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.

Drinking alcoholic beverages while you are receiving this medicine may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, or flushing or redness of the face. Other alcohol-containing preparations (e.g., elixirs, cough syrups, tonics) may also cause problems. This medicine may also cause alcoholic beverages to taste different. You should not drink alcoholic beverages or take other alcohol-containing preparations while you are receiving this medicine.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dizziness, problems with muscle control or coordination, shakiness or an unsteady walk, slurred speech, or trouble with speaking. These may be symptoms of a serious brain condition called encephalopathy.

Check with your doctor right away if you are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These could be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

Call your doctor right away if you have confusion, drowsiness, fever, a general feeling of illness, a headache, loss of appetite, nausea, a stiff neck or back, or vomiting. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called aseptic meningitis.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects of This Medicine:

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor or nurse immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

More common

Agitation

back pain

blindness

blurred vision

burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the hands or feet

confusion

decreased vision

dizziness

drowsiness

eye pain

fever

hallucinations

headache

irritability

mood or mental changes

nausea

seizures (convulsions)

stiff neck or back

unsteadiness or awkwardness

unusual tiredness or weakness

vomiting

weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

Incidence not known

Black, tarry stools

blistering, peeling, or loosening of the skin

changes in speech patterns

changes in skin color

chest pain

chills

cough

diarrhea

fainting

feeling of warmth

itching

joint or muscle pain

lower back or side pain

pain, tenderness, or swelling of the foot or leg

painful or difficult urination

pale skin

red skin lesions, often with a purple center

red, irritated eyes

redness of the face, neck, arms, and occasionally, upper chest

shakiness and unsteady walk

shortness of breath

slurred speech

sore throat

sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips

trouble with speaking

ulcers, sores, or white spots in the mouth

unsteadiness, trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination

unusual bleeding or bruising

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Incidence not known

Abdominal or stomach discomfort

dry mouth

hives or welts

redness of the skin

skin rash

stuffy nose

unpleasant metallic taste

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.