In this article, we consider the indications for the use of Metronidazole and reviews.
This drug is a popular drug with a variety of pharmacological effects. It is often prescribed in the treatment of various pathologies. The active substance of this tool was obtained about fifty years ago. Since then, this drug has been actively used in medicine. It is considered a highly active agent that has antibacterial, antimicrobial, antiulcer and, moreover, anti-alcohol effects.
Indications for the use of Metronidazole are described in detail in the instructions.
General information about the medication
The drug is active against a wide list of all kinds of microorganisms and protozoa. It is available in various dosage forms for systemic and local use. This medication has a high penetrating property. The tool has a disulfiram-like effect, against the background of its use, sensitization to alcohol develops and reparative processes are activated. This medication is an antiprotozoal drug with antibacterial activity.
Most often prescribed in tablets and intravenously. Indications for the use of Metronidazole are not known to everyone.
Release form and composition
Available in the form:
- The tablets are yellowish-green in color, flat-cylindrical, with bevel and notch. One tablet contains 0.25 g of the substance metronidazole.
- Cream for external use, in 1 g - 0.01 g of metronidazole.
- Candles intravaginal white-yellow, elongated. In 1 candle - 0.125 g, 0.25 g or 0.5 g of metronidazole. Indications for the use of suppositories "Metronidazole" will be discussed below.
- 0.5% greenish injection. 1 ml contains 5 mg of metronidazole.
Further consider the indications for the use of tablets "Metronidazole".
Indications for use
The presented tool is used in various fields of medicine:
- Application for protozoal infections. This drug is used for extraintestinal amoebiasis, amoebic liver abscess, trichomoniasis, giardiasis, balantidiasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, trichomonas vaginitis and urethritis.
- In the presence of infections of bones and joints, and in addition, against the background of bacterial endocarditis, pneumonia, empyema and lung abscess. This is not all indications for the use of Metronidazole. The instructions describe others.
- In the presence of infections of the abdominal cavity, that is, with peritonitis or against a background of liver abscess.
- In the presence of infections of the pelvic organs, that is, with endometritis, endomyometritis, an abscess of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, and in addition, against the background of infections of the vaginal vault after surgery. Indications for the use of tablets "Metronidazole" should be strictly observed.
- In the presence of infections of the skin and soft tissue.
- In cases of sepsis.
- Against the background of pseudomembranous colitis associated with the use of antibiotics.
- With gastritis or an intestinal ulcer that are associated with the Helicobacter bacterium.
- Against the backdrop of alcoholism. Indications for the use of Metronidazole are very extensive.
- As part of the prevention of a postoperative complication. In particular, this drug is prescribed against the background of surgical interventions on the colon, as well as during gynecological operations.
- When conducting radiation therapy as a radiosensitizing agent. This drug is particularly suitable in cases in which tumor resistance is associated with cell hypoxia.
Indications for the use of candles
Most often, candles are prescribed for:
- vaginitis;
- cystitis;
- urethritis;
- trichomoniasis;
- infectious diseases of the vagina and pelvic organs;
- abscesses of the pelvic organs;
- inflammatory diseases of the ovaries;
- endometritis;
- violation of the microflora of the vagina;
- sexually transmitted diseases.
These are the main indications for the use of Metronidazole in gynecology.
Pregnant women are contraindicated. Only according to the doctor’s testimony can be used in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. During therapy, breastfeeding is stopped.
The metronidazole vaginal gel has similar indications for use as suppositories.
Ointment is prescribed for:
- vulgar and rosacea, bacterial vaginosis (external use);
- wounds and trophic ulcers that do not heal for a long time;
- demodicosis;
- protozoal infections (extraintestinal amebiasis, intestinal amebiasis, amoebic liver abscess, giardiasis, trichomoniasis, trichomonas vaginitis, giardiasis, balantidiasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, trichomonas urethritis, ureaplasma, cystitis);
- infections caused by Bacteroides spp .;
- infections that provoke Clostridium spp., Peptococcus and Peptostreptococcus;
- pseudomembranous colitis;
- ulcer and gastritis associated with Helicobacter pylori;
- for the prevention of complications after surgery;
- during radiation therapy of people with tumors.
Indications for use of Metronidazole ointment are detailed in the instructions.
Contraindications
The drug has a number of different contraindications, including:
- The development of a history of leukopenia in patients.
- The presence of organic lesions of the nervous system.
- The development of liver failure.
- The first trimester of pregnancy, and in addition, lactation.
- The presence of hypersensitivity to the components of the drug.
Moreover, this does not depend on the indications for use. "Metronidazole" should be taken by pregnant women with caution during the second and third trimester. Also, to refrain from treatment with its help is in the presence of kidney or liver failure.
Drug dosage
We reviewed the indications for the use of Metronidazole. But how to use it correctly? Tablets are taken orally, during or immediately after a meal. In addition to water, this medicine can be washed down with milk. It can not be chewed.
As part of the treatment of trichomoniasis, 250 milligrams of the drug is used twice a day for ten days. Or you can use the drug at 400 milligrams for eight days. It is advisable for women to additionally prescribe Metronidazole in the form of vaginal suppositories. If necessary, you can repeat the course or increase the daily dose to 1 gram. Between treatment courses, a break of three weeks is made with a follow-up laboratory test.
In the treatment of giardiasis, 500 milligrams are used twice a day for five days. In the presence of giardiasis, 15 milligrams per kilogram of weight are used for five days. In the presence of asymptomatic amoebiasis, the daily dose is 1 gram for five days. And against the background of chronic amoebiasis, the daily dose is 1.5 grams in three doses for five days. In the presence of an acute form of amoebic dysentery, patients are usually prescribed 2.25 grams in three divided doses until the symptoms cease.
With the development of liver abscess, the maximum daily dose is 2.5 grams in two divided doses for four days in combination with antibiotics and other methods of therapy. With balantidiasis, patients are prescribed 750 milligrams three times a day for six days. Against the background of ulcerative stomatitis, adults are prescribed 500 milligrams twice a day for four days. And in the presence of pseudomembranous colitis, they drink 500 milligrams up to four times a day.
In the treatment of anaerobic infections, the maximum daily dose is 2 grams. In the treatment of chronic alcoholism, patients are prescribed 500 milligrams per day for up to six months. As part of the prevention of infectious complications, 750 milligrams is prescribed in three doses four days before the upcoming operation, or once 1 gram after the operation. Two days after the operation, when it is allowed to take the medicine inside, take 750 milligrams per week. In case of severe renal impairment, the daily dosage of the drug should be reduced by half.
Side effects during treatment with Metronidazole
The digestive system very often reacts to taking this medicine with diarrhea, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, intestinal colic, constipation, a metallic taste in the mouth, dryness, glossitis, stomatitis and pancreatitis.
The nervous system may be accompanied by dizziness, impaired coordination of movements, ataxia, confusion, irritability and depression. Also, the nervous system, while using this medication, can respond with increased excitability, weakness, insomnia, headaches, convulsions, hallucinations and peripheral neuropathy.
As an allergic reaction, urticaria can be provoked along with a skin rash, flushing of the skin, nasal congestion, fever and arthralgia. The genitourinary system can respond with dysuria, cystitis, polyuria, urinary incontinence and candidiasis. Also, staining of urine in brown is not excluded. Among other side effects, neutropenia and leukopenia are possible.
"Metronidazole" and its drug interaction
This medicine is able to enhance the effect of indirect anticoagulants, which leads to a significant increase in prothrombin production time. Similarly to Disulfiram, the Metronidazole drug can cause ethanol intolerance. Simultaneous use with "Disulfiram" can lead to the development of all kinds of neurological symptoms. Therefore, the interval between the appointment of these drugs should be at least two weeks.
“Cimetidine” can inhibit the metabolism of “Metronidazole”, which can lead to an increase in its concentration in the blood serum and increases the risk of side effects. The simultaneous administration of Metronidazole with drugs that stimulate microsomal oxidation enzymes can accelerate the elimination of this drug, as a result of which its plasma concentration will decrease. Therefore, Metronidazole with Phenobarbital and Phenytoin should not be given at the same time.
In the case of simultaneous administration with lithium preparations, an increase in the concentration of this element in blood plasma is possible, in connection with this, the development of symptoms of intoxication is not excluded. It is not recommended to combine it with non-depolarizing muscle relaxants. Sulfanilamides are able to enhance the antimicrobial effect of the drug Metronidazole.
Indications for use of this tool are very serious.
special instructions
During the treatment period, ethanol is contraindicated, since a disulfiram-like reaction is possible, which will manifest itself in spastic abdominal pains, as well as symptoms of nausea, vomiting, headache and a sudden rush of blood to the face.
In combination with amoxicillin, Metronidazole is not recommended for the treatment of patients under the age of eighteen. Against the background of long-term treatment, it is necessary to monitor the state of the blood. In the presence of leukopenia, the ability to continue treatment depends on the risk of an infectious process. The occurrence of ataxia, dizziness, and any other deterioration in neurological status requires immediate discontinuation of treatment with this drug. It should be borne in mind that the presented drug is able to immobilize treponemas, leading to false positive results of the Nelson test. Metronidazole may stain urine in a dark color.
As part of the treatment of trichomonas vaginitis in women, as well as in the treatment of urethritis in men, one should refrain from sexual activity. In this case, the simultaneous treatment of both sexual partners is mandatory. Such treatment should not be discontinued during menstruation. After treatment of trichomoniasis, a control test should be performed for three subsequent cycles.
Next, we find out what people write about the treatment with this drug in their reviews, which happened to take it.
Reviews about the drug "Metronidazole"
Online reviews about this drug are mostly positive. First of all, patients like that this drug, against the background of its high effectiveness, is quite affordable, since its cost is only from fifty to one hundred rubles.
People write that this medication is effective even in the presence of latent infections that are in the inactive phase. They say that during its administration they don’t feel anything special and did not notice any adverse reactions to this drug by their own example.
Quite often, gynecologists prescribe it to women for the treatment of bacterial vaginitis. It is noted that in this case, after three days of treatment, an unpleasant odor disappears, and on the fifth day of treatment, pathological secretions completely disappear. Women write that Metronidazole helps to completely get rid of vaginitis in just ten days.
As part of the treatment of appendicular infiltrate, it is reported that Metronidazole can cope with painful symptoms in just eight days, while patients have normalized temperature and become much easier. But in their reviews, people caution that when using this drug to treat a particular disease, it is advisable to take preparations with bifidobacteria in parallel so that there are no problems with stool during treatment.
Not all people who took this drug managed to avoid side effects. For example, some say that against the background of treatment with Metronidazole, they experienced nausea several times and their kidneys started to hurt. In addition, some people in their comments complain that this medication “planted” a liver on them, against which not only nausea arose, but also lost appetite, bloating and serious dysbacteriosis developed.
But, nevertheless, even those patients who suffered greatly due to side effects, say that thanks to Metronidazole they still managed to get rid of this or that problem. For example, it is noted that in the treatment of demodicosis there are a lot of adverse reactions, but when the therapy is completed, the inflammation on the face ceases to appear, and the skin stops itching and blushing.
It is very effective, according to reviews, "Metronidazole" in gynecology. Indications for use are different - from inflammatory diseases of the ovaries to endometritis.
I must say that the opinions on this drug on the Internet are very different. To summarize, it should be noted that most people write about him, that this tool helps a lot in the presence of intestinal infections, and in addition, against the background of bacterial pathologies of the genital organs. One of the main advantages of this medicine is that the product is not only quite effective, but also affordable, since it actually costs a penny. Among its main shortcomings, people very often complain about the fact that Metronidazole tablets have a very bitter taste. A large number of all kinds of side effects are also displeasing.