Metronidazole and Its Use

Metronidazole is a type of antimicrobial drug, used for the treatment of infections. Nitroimidazole antimicrobials are used to treat infections caused by bacteria, by killing the bacteria causing the infection.

This type of medication is commonly used to treat infections that occur in the gastrointestinal tract or reproductive systems, such as vaginal infection in women. It can be used on its own or as part of a combination of other medications. 

Taking Metronidazole

How this drug is taken depends on a number of factors. Dosage and frequency depend on the:

• patient’s age
• condition
• how serious the condition is
• how they react to the first dose

The type of medication can either be immediate release or extended-release and will depend on the treatment condition when choosing which.

For bacterial infections, the dosage is usually 500mg which is taken four times daily for a period of 7 to 10 days. Other infection may require longer treatment durations.

If a patient is known to have kidney or liver disease may process metronidazole more slowly, causing the medication to stay in the body for a longer period of time. In this case, lower doses are more effective as patients will want to prevent a build up of the drug inside their body which can trigger unwanted side effects.

Metronidazole should only be used to treat the correct type of infection as there are risks of cancer associated with this drug. Similarly, to ensure bacteria do not become resistant to the drug, it should only be used to fight infections for the bacteria that is associated with that condition. 

Pregnant women should take the drug with caution. The drug should only be taken if absolutely required, as studies have shown there is no risk to the developing fetus. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid taking the drug to prevent side effects.