Metronidazole

What is metronidazole?

Metronidazole is a medicine called an antibiotic. Antibiotics are used to treat certain types of infections. Metronidazole is sometimes used in other conditions such as Crohn's disease or inflammatory bowel disease.

You may hear metronidazole called by its brand name, Flagyl. Metronidazole comes in tablet, capsule, liquid, and injection forms.

Before giving metronidazole to your child

Tell your doctor if your child is allergic to metronidazole.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist if your child has any of the following conditions. Precautions may need to be taken with this medicine if your child has:

• diseases of the central nervous system, including epilepsy
• blood problems
• heart disease
• liver disease
• thrush or yeast infections

How should you give your child metronidazole?

• Give your child metronidazole for as long as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better.
• Talk to your child's doctor before you stop giving this medicine for any reason.
• Give your child metronidazole at the same times every day, exactly as your child's doctor or pharmacist tells you. Pick times that are easy for you so that you do not miss doses.
• Your child may take metronidazole with or without food. It may be given with food or milk if it upsets your child's stomach.
• If your child is getting liquid metronidazole, measure the dose with the special spoon or syringe that the pharmacist gave you. Shake the bottle of metronidazole well before you give your child each dose.

Metronidazole also comes as a clear liquid which a nurse will give by needle into your child's vein. Usually your child will get this medicine in the nursing unit.

What should you do if your child misses a dose of metronidazole?

• Give the missed dose as soon as you remember.
• If it is almost time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Give the next dose at the regular time.
• Do not give your child 2 doses to make up for 1 missed dose.

How long does metronidazole take to work?

It may take about 48 hours (2 days) before your child begins to feel better. You should continue to give your child the metronidazole for as many days as your doctor or pharmacist tells you, even if your child seems better.

What are the possible side effects of metronidazole?

Your child may have some of these side effects while they take metronidazole. Check with your child's doctor if your child continues to have any of these side effects and they do not go away, or they bother your child:

• dizziness
• headache
• diarrhea
• nausea or vomiting
• stomach pain or cramps
• loss of appetite
• dry mouth, metallic taste in mouth

Call your child's doctor during office hours if your child has any of these side effects:

• numbness, tingling, or pain in hands or feet
• mood changes

Most of the following side effects are not common, but they may be a sign of a serious problem. Call your child's doctor right away or take your child to Emergency if your child has any of these side effects:

• seizures
• swelling of face, lips, tongue, or throat
• severe dizziness
• black, tar-coloured stools
• blood in the urine
• severe rash

What safety measures should you take when your child is using metronidazole?

Metronidazole may make your child feel dizzy. Your child should get out of bed or get up from a sitting position slowly. Your child should sit down or lie down if they feel dizzy.

Metronidazole may cause your child's mouth to feel dry. Sucking a hard, sugarless candy, chewing sugarless gum, or chewing ice chips may make your child feel more comfortable.

This medicine may change the way food tastes, or it may cause a metallic taste in your child's mouth. This will go away after your child stops taking metronidazole.

Taking alcohol-containing medicines (some cough and cold medications may contain alcohol) or drinking alcoholic beverages while taking metronidazole may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, or flushing/redness of the face. Your child should avoid alcohol-containing preparations while taking metronidazole and for at least 3 days after stopping it.

There are some medicines that should not be taken together with metronidazole. It is important that you tell your doctor and pharmacist if your child takes any other medications (prescription, over the counter, or herbal).

What other important information should you know about metronidazole?

• Keep a list of all medications your child is on and show the list to the doctor or pharmacist.
• Do not share your child's medicine with others and do not give anyone else's medicine to your child.
• Metronidazole liquid must be made by a pharmacy. Make sure your pharmacy is able to make metronidazole for your child.
• Make sure you always have enough metronidazole to last through weekends, holidays, and vacations. Call your pharmacy at least 2 days before your child runs out of medicine to order refills.
• Keep metronidazole tablets or capsules at room temperature in a cool, dry place, away from sunlight. Do NOT store it in the bathroom or kitchen.
• Keep metronidazole liquid in the refrigerator. Do not freeze this medicine.
• Do not keep any medicines that are out of date. Check with your pharmacist about the best way to throw away outdated or leftover medicines.
  

Keep metronidazole out of your child's sight and reach and locked up in a safe place. If your child takes too much metronidazole, call the Ontario Poison Centre at one of these numbers. These calls are free.

• Call 416-813-5900 if you live in Toronto.
• Call 1-800-268-9017 if you live somewhere else in Ontario.
• If you live outside of Ontario, call your local Poison Information Centre.