Metronidazole

Type of Medication: Antibiotic

Indications: Treatment of (proven or suspected) anaerobic infections, C difficile colitis, aspiration pneumonia, dental infection and lung abscess. Also used in combination for H pylori eradication

Side Effects: Unpleasant taste, furred tongue, nausea, GI disturbances,agranulocytosis, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, pancytopenia, peripheral neuropathy, abnormal LFT, cholestatic jaundice, drowsiness, dizziness, headaches, ataxia, myalgia, arthralgia, darkening of urine: hypersensitivity reactions including pruritis, urticaria, rash, angioedema and anaphylaxis.

Route of administration: Adult (Intravenous)

Dose:500 mg tds

Administration: 100 ml of 5 mg/ml infusion or 200 mg/5ml ampoules. Give over 30 to 60 minutes

Route of administration: Adult (Oral)

Dose:400mg tds

Administration: Take with food to reduce nausea. Don’t drink alcohol during course or for 48 hours afterwards

Route of administration: Paediatric (Intravenous)

Dose:7.5 mg/kg every 8 hrs., max: 500 mg tds

Administration:

Route of administration: Paediatric (Oral)

Dose:7.5 mg/kg every 8 hrs, max: 400 mg tds

Examples of some Drug Interactions

Interacting drug: Alcohol

avoid during treatment and 48 hours afterwards. Potential for disulfiram reaction.

Interacting drug: Lithium

increased risk of lithium toxicity

Interacting drug: phenytoin

increased plasma phenytoin concentration

Interacting drug: Warfarin

increases INR