Metronidazole May Interact With Other Medications
Metronidazole oral tablet can interact with other medications, vitamins, or herbs you may be taking. An interaction is when a substance changes the way a drug works. This can be harmful or prevent the drug from working well.
To help avoid interactions, your doctor should carefully manage your medications. Be sure to tell your doctor about all your medications, vitamins, or herbs. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist to find out how this drug might interact with something else youre taking.
Examples of drugs that can cause interactions with metronidazole are listed below.
Does Prostatitis Cause Cancer
Although prostatitis can cause you trouble, it does not cause cancer. There is a blood test some doctors use for prostate cancer called the prostate-specific antigen test . If you have prostatitis, your PSA level might go up. This does not mean you have cancer. Your doctor will treat your prostatitis and may check your PSA level again.
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Interactions That Increase Your Risk Of Side Effects
Taking metronidazole with certain medications raises your risk of side effects. This is because the amount of either drug may be increased in your body. Examples include:
- Lithium: Increased side effects are related to raised lithium levels. Your doctor should monitor your lithium levels if you take these drugs together.
- Warfarin or other blood thinners: Increased side effects of these drugs include a higher risk of bleeding.
- Busulfan: If possible, you should avoid taking busulfan with metronidazole. If you do take these drugs together, your doctor may check the amount of busulfan in your body more often.
- Cimetidine: Taking cimetidine with metronidazole may result in higher metronidazole levels in your body and increased side effects.
- Phenytoin or phenobarbital: Taking one of these drugs with metronidazole may reduce your bodys metronidazole levels. This could prevent metronidazole from curing your infection.
Disclaimer: Our goal is to provide you with the most relevant and current information. However, because drugs interact differently in each person, we cannot guarantee that this information includes all possible interactions. This information is not a substitute for medical advice. Always speak with your healthcare professional about possible interactions with all prescription drugs, vitamins, herbs and supplements, and over-the-counter drugs that you are taking.
- the severity of your condition
- other medical conditions you have
- how you react to the first dose
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Why Is This Medication Prescribed
Metronidazole capsules and tablets are used to treat infections of the reproductive system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, heart, bone, joint, lung, blood, nervous system, and other areas of the body. Metronidazole capsules and tablets are also used to treat sexually transmitted diseases . Metronidazole extended-release tablets are used to treat bacterial vaginosis in women. Metronidazole is in a class of medications called nitroimidazole antimicrobials. It works by stopping the growth of bacteria.
Antibiotics will not work for colds, flu, or other viral infections. Using antibiotics when they are not needed increases your risk of getting an infection later that resists antibiotic treatment.
Metronidazole And The Normal Microflora
The normal microflora serve as a reservoir of antibiotic-resistance determinants, where some dissemination of resistance can occur . Virtually all genes in Bacteroides species that encode resistance to antibiotics, including metro-nidazole, have been found on transmissible elements . This transferability may contribute to the spread of resistance thus far, resistance to metronidazole has remained low.
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Put Sex On Hold During And After Chlamydia Treatment
If you were given a single dose of antibiotics to treat your chlamydia, you should not have any kind of sex for a full seven days after the day you took the medicine. If youre taking antibiotics for a week, wait another seven days after the last day of your treatment. Be sure to take all of the medicine that is prescribed for you.
Not having sex for seven days after treatment is important so you dont spread the infection to your partner or partners.
Medication stops the infection and can keep you from spreading the disease, but it wont cure any permanent damage that the infection caused before you started treatment. In women, such damage can include blocking the fallopian tubes, causing infertility.
If you still have symptoms for more than a few days after you stop taking your medicine, go back to see your doctor or other healthcare provider so they can check you again.
How Will I Know If I Have Chlamydia
You can only be certain you have chlamydia if you have a test.
Anyone can get chlamydia. Youre more likely to have it if youre under 25, have a new sexual partner, or more than one sexual partner in the last year, and if you havent used condoms.
You should have a test if:
- you, or a partner, have or think you might have symptoms
- youve recently had sex without a condom with a new partner
- you, or a partner, have had sex without a condom with other partners
- during a vaginal examination, your doctor or nurse says that the cervix is inflamed and/or theres an unusual discharge
- a sexual partner tells you they have a sexually transmitted infection
- you have another STI.
If you live in England, and youre a woman who is under 25 and sexually active, its recommended that you have a chlamydia test when you change sexual partner and once a year.
If youre a man who is under 25 and sexually active, its recommended that you have a chlamydia test once a year if you are not using condoms with new or casual partners.
You could still have chlamydia even if a partner has tested negative. The only way to make sure you dont have chlamydia is to get tested yourself.
If you have chlamydia, youll be encouraged to be tested for other STIs as you can have more than one STI at the same time.
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What Happens If Chlamydia Goes Untreated
If a person is not treated for chlamydia, complications may occur. Women frequently develop pelvic inflammatory disease . PID can cause infertility , chronic pelvic pain, tubal pregnancies, and the continued spread of the disease. In men, untreated chlamydia can cause urethral infection and complications such as swollen and tender testicles. Chlamydia infection during pregnancy may result in premature rupture of membranes, preterm delivery and possible tubal pregnancy in a small percent of women. In addition, chlamydia can cause conjunctival and pneumonic infection in the newborn. Persons with a chlamydia infection have an increased chance of getting other infections such as gonorrhea or HIV.
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For Bacterial And Protozoal Infections
Generic: Metronidazole
- Strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg
Brand: Flagyl
- Strengths: 250 mg, 500 mg
Adult dosage
Your dosage and length of treatment depend on your infection type.
Bacterial infections:
- Typical dosage: 500 mg two to four times per day for up to 14 days. However, some infections may require longer treatment.
- Maximum dosage: 4 g per day.
Amoebic infections:
- Typical dosage: 500 mg or 750 mg three times per day for 510 days.
Trichomoniasis:
- Typical dosage: Either 2 grams as a single dose or two divided doses of 1 g each on a single day, or 250 mg three times per day for 7 days.
Child dosage
Amoebic infections:
- Typical dosage: 3550 mg/kg of body weight per day given in three divided doses for 10 days.
Senior dosage
The kidneys and liver of older adults may not work as well as they used to. This can cause your body to process drugs more slowly. As a result, more of a drug stays in your body for longer. This increases your risk of side effects. Your doctor may start you on a lowered dose or a different medication schedule. This can help keep levels of this drug from building up too much in your body.
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What Should I Know About Storage And Disposal Of This Medication
Keep this medication in the container it came in, tightly closed, and out of reach of children. Store it at room temperature and away from light, excess heat and moisture .
It is important to keep all medication out of sight and reach of children as many containers are not child-resistant and young children can open them easily. To protect young children from poisoning, always lock safety caps and immediately place the medication in a safe location â one that is up and away and out of their sight and reach.
Unneeded medications should be disposed of in special ways to ensure that pets, children, and other people cannot consume them. However, you should not flush this medication down the toilet. Instead, the best way to dispose of your medication is through a medicine take-back program. Talk to your pharmacist or contact your local garbage/recycling department to learn about take-back programs in your community. See the FDA’s Safe Disposal of Medicines website for more information if you do not have access to a take-back program.
What Other Drugs Interact With Metronidazole
If your doctor has directed you to use this medication, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.
Severe Interactions of metronidazole include:
Metronidazole has serious interactions with at least 39 different drugs.
Metronidazole has moderate interactions with at least 117 different drugs.
Metronidazole has mild interactions with at least 84 different drugs.
This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Therefore, before using this product, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the products you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share this information with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your health care professional or doctor for additional medical advice, or if you have health questions, concerns or for more information about this medicine.
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When Should Antibiotics Not Be Used
Antibiotics should only be used as prescribed by your doctor. You should not share antibiotics with others, no matter how similar your symptoms are.
Antibiotics are not useful in treating or preventing viral infections, such as colds, flu, and allergies. They may not even be needed for minor bacterial infections in which the bodys immune response can get rid of the bacteria.
While You Are Taking/using Flagyl
Things you must do
Tell your doctor immediately if:
- The symptoms of your infection do not improve or become worse
- You become pregnant
- You are about to start taking any new medicines.
If you get a sore, white mouth or tongue while taking or soon after stopping Flagyl treatment, tell your doctor. Also tell your doctor if you get vaginal itching or discharge. This may mean you have a fungal/yeast infection called thrush. Sometimes the use of Flagyl allows fungi/yeast to grow and the above symptoms to occur. Flagyl does not work against fungi/yeast.
If you are taking/using Flagyl for 10 days or longer, make sure you have any tests of your blood and nervous system that your doctor may request.
If you need to have a blood test while taking/using Flagyl, tell your doctor as Flagyl may affect the results of some laboratory tests.
Tell all doctors, dentists and pharmacists who are treating you that you are taking/using Flagyl.
Things you must not do
Do not drink alcohol or consume any medication containing alcohol while taking/using Flagyl and for at least one day after finishing treatment. The use of alcohol may make you feel very sick, vomit, have stomach cramps, headaches and flushing.
Do not give Flagyl to anyone else, even if they have the same condition as you.
Do not use Flagyl to treat any other medical complaints unless your doctor tells you to.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving or operating machinery until you know how Flagyl affects you.
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Before You Take/use Flagyl
When you must not take/use it
Do not take/use Flagyl if you have ever had an allergic reaction to:
- Flagyl or any other nitroimidazoles
- Any of the ingredients listed here.
Some symptoms of an allergic reaction include skin rash, itching, shortness of breath or swelling of the face, lips or tongue, which may cause difficulty in swallowing or breathing.
Do not take/use Flagyl if:
- You have evidence of, or have a history of, a blood disorder
- You have, or have ever had, a disease of the brain, spinal cord or nerves
- The expiry date on the pack has passed. If you take/use this medicine after the expiry date has passed it may have no effect at all, or worse, an entirely different effect
- The packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
If you are not sure whether to start taking/using Flagyl, talk to your doctor.
Before you start to take/use it
You must tell your doctor if you have any allergies to any other medicines or any other substances such as foods, preservatives or dyes.
Tell your doctor if you have or have ever had any health problems/ medical conditions including:
- A blood disorder
- An inflammatory disease of the small intestine
- Cockayne syndrome
- You drink alcohol. Do not drink alcohol during treatment with Flagyl
- You plan to become pregnant or breastfeed.
If you have not told your doctor or pharmacist about any of the above, tell them before you start taking/using Flagyl.
Taking other medicines
Can I Take Metronidazole If Im Pregnant Or Breastfeeding
May harm an unborn baby. Do not use metronidazole to treat trichomoniasis during the first trimester of pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you become pregnant.
You should not breastfeed within 24 hours after using metronidazole. If you use a breast pump during this time, throw out the milk and do not feed it to your baby.
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Colloidal Silver And Honey For Chlamydia Prevention
Colloidal silver and honey are two more natural therapies that can help with sexually transmitted illnesses.
Honey includes an enzyme that helps destroy bacteria and can help reduce inflammation and promote healing of syphilitic sores.
In all circumstances, a well-balanced, nutrient-dense diet is recommended to support maximum health and immunity.
Its crucial to have a diet low in trans and saturated fats, sugar, and processed foods.
Warnings For Certain Groups
For people with liver disease: Your liver helps process this drug. If you have severe liver disease, your liver may process this drug more slowly. This would increase the amount of the drug in your body and raise your risk of side effects. Your doctor may lower your dosage of metronidazole or have you take it less often.
For people with kidney disease: Your kidneys help clear this drug from your body. If you have severe kidney disease, your kidneys may process this drug more slowly. This increases the amount of the drug in your body and raises your risk of side effects. Your doctor may lower your dose of metronidazole or have you take it less often.
For pregnant people: Talk with your doctor if youre pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Studies of the drug in pregnant animals have not shown a risk to the fetus. There arent enough studies on pregnant people to show if the drug poses a risk to humans.
Metronidazole should not be taken during the first trimester of pregnancy. For the second and third trimesters, this drug should be used only if the potential benefit justifies the potential risk.
For people breastfeeding or chestfeeding: Metronidazole may pass into breast milk and cause side effects in a child who is nursing. Talk with your doctor if you nurse your child. You may need to decide whether to stop nursing or stop taking this medication.
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How To Use Flagyl
Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor. To prevent stomach upset, take this medication with food or a full glass of water or milk. The dosage is based on your medical condition and response to treatment.
For the best effect, take this antibiotic at evenly spaced times. To help you remember, take this medication at the same time every day.
Continue to take this medication until the full prescribed amount is finished, even if symptoms disappear after a few days. Stopping the medication too early may result in a return of the infection.
Tell your doctor if your condition lasts or gets worse.
How Does Chlamydia Spread
Chlamydia is spread when a person has unprotected sex with an infected person.
Because chlamydial infection often has no symptoms, many people do not realise they have the infection.
Even if you know a person well, you may not be able to tell they have an STI, because people can look healthy and still have chlamydia.
Remember, you can get chlamydia and other STIs from a new sexual partner who has in the past had sex with someone who is infected.
It can also be spread from a long-term partner who has had sex with other people.
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When Are Antibiotics Used To Prevent Infections
While antibiotics are primarily used to treat bacterial infections, they may also be administered in situations where there is a high risk of serious infections. This preventive use is also called prophylaxis.
Prophylactic antibiotics may be prescribed before surgeries or to people vulnerable to serious infections, such as:
- Elderly individuals
Prophylactic antibiotics may also be used in cases of certain wounds or bites.
New Approach Is Both Prevention And Treatment
Our treatment is the first combination therapy, a two-pronged approach, says the lead researcher, Emmanuel Ho, PhD, an associate professor in the school of pharmacy at the University of Waterloo.
The treatment makes use of nanoparticles to deliver treatment to infected cells. The dual approach prevents the majority of chlamydia bacteria from entering cells in the genital tract and then destroys any bacteria that is able to penetrate a cell wall.
In the laboratory, the gene therapy has successfully killed skin cells infected with chlamydia while at the same time protecting healthy cells. Currently, the only ways to prevent transmission of chlamydia are abstinence and the use of latex condoms. There is no vaccine available.
The first part of the therapy is preventive: It delivers a gene that reduces expression of the chlamydia protein on cells. This means that we will be able to prevent or reduce the chlamydia actually binding to cells that it affects, says Dr. Ho.
The second part is treatment that kicks in if the chlamydia is still able to infect the cells after the gene introduction. Were able to elicit a cellular response where cells form a bubble around the chlamydia and then kill it, says Ho.
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