Metronidazole 400mg

Product Description

Metronidazole WHAT METRONIDAZOLE IS & WHAT IT IS USED FOR This belongs to a group of medicines called antibiotics. It works by killing bacteria & parasites that cause infections in your body. It can be used to: Treat infections of the blood, brain, lung, bones, genital tract, pelvic area, stomach & intestines Treat gum ulcers & other dental infections Treat infected leg ulcers & pressure sores Prevent infections after surgery If you need any further information on your illness, speak to your doctor. BEFORE YOU TAKE METRONIDAZOLE Do not take Metronidazole & tell your doctor if: You are allergic (hypersensitive) to metronidazole, nitroimidazoles (e.g. tinidazole) or any of the other ingredients in your medicine (listed in Section 6: Further information). Signs of an allergic reaction include: a rash, swallowing or breathing problems, swelling of your lips, face, throat or tongue. Do not take Metronidazole if any of the above apply to you. If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Metronidazole. Take special care with Metronidazole and check with your doctor or pharmacist before using your medicine if: You have or have ever had a liver problem You are having kidney dialysis (see section 3: ‘ People having kidney dialysis’) You have a disease of the nervous system If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking your medicine. Do this even if they have applied in the past. Cases of severe liver toxicity/acute liver failure, including cases with a fatal outcome, in patients with Cockayne syndrome have been reported with Metronidazole. If you are affected by Cockayne syndrome, your doctor should also monitor your liver function frequently while you are being treated with Metronidazole & afterwards. Serious skin reactions including Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) have been reported with the use of Metronidazole. SJS/TEN can appear initially as reddish target-like spots or circular patches often with central blisters on the trunk. Also, ulcers of the mouth, throat, nose, genitals & eyes (red & swollen eyes) can occur. These serious skin rashes are often preceded by fever and/or flu-like symptoms. The rashes may progress to widespread peeling of the skin & life- threatening complications or be fatal. AGEP appears at the initiation of treatment as a red, scaly widespread rash with bumps under the skin & blisters accompanied by fever. The most common location: mainly localised on the skin folds, trunk, & upper extremities. The highest risk for occurrence of serious skin reactions is within one week, typically, within 48 hours after start of treatment. If you develop a serious rash or another of these skin symptoms, stop taking Metronidazole & contact your doctor or seek medical attention immediately. Tell your doctor immediately & stop taking Metronidazole if you develop: Stomach pain, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, fever, malaise, fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, putty or mastic coloured stools or itching. Taking other medicines Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines. This

Includes:: medicines obtained without a prescription, including herbal medicines. This is because Metronidazole can affect the way some other medicines work. Also, some other medicines can affect the way Metronidazole works. In particular tell your doctor if you are taking any of the following medicines: Medicines used to thin the blood such as warfarin Lithium for mental illness Phenobarbital or phenytoin for epilepsy 5 fluorouracil for cancer Busulfan for leukaemia (cancer of the blood cells) Ciclosporin – to prevent the rejection of organs after transplant Disulfiram for alcoholism If you are not sure, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Metronidazole. Taking Metronidazole with food & drink Do not drink any alcohol while you are taking Metronidazole & for 48 hours after finishing your course. Drinking alcohol while using Metronidazole might cause unpleasant side effects, such as feeling sick (nausea), being sick (vomiting), stomach pain, hot flushes, very fast or uneven heartbeat (palpitations) & headache. Pregnancy & breast-feeding Tell your doctor before using Metronidazole if: You are pregnant, might become pregnant or think you may be pregnant. Metronidazole should not be taken during pregnancy unless considered absolutely necessary. You are breast-feeding. It is better not to use Metronidazole if you are breast-feeding. This is because small amounts may pass into the mother’s milk. Driving & using machines While taking Metronidazole you may feel sleepy, dizzy, confused, see or hear things that are not there (hallucinations), have fits (convulsions) or temporary eyesight problems (such as blurred or double vision). If this happens, do not drive or use any machinery or tools. Tests Your doctor may wish to carry out some tests if you have been using this medicine for more than 10 days.