Metronidazole antibiotic or not

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Metronidazole is a broad-spectrum antibiotic

What are antibiotics? These are the drugs that helped change the course of history. Thanks to them, it was possible to save millions of wounded during the Second World War.

Table of contents:

Today, antibacterial drugs are sold in pharmacies (mostly without a prescription) and continue to save people.

But a problem has arisen in the attitude towards them: some take them for any reason without the supervision of a doctor, considering them a panacea, while others are afraid of this word and ignore the prescriptions. In addition, there is misunderstanding regarding some medications and their use.

Is Metronidazole an antibiotic or not?

Medicines that penetrate the bacterial cell and destroy or inhibit the growth and reproduction of the pathogen are called antibiotics.

Therefore, metronidazole is an antibiotic that is active against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms.

The nitro group in its structure, interacting with the DNA of the pathogen, suppresses the production of nucleic acids and causes the death of bacteria. In addition, the active substance is a synthetic derivative of the natural compound azomycin, a waste product of the actinomycetes Streptomyces spp.

Our website offers a free service for checking any drug for antibiotic status. To use it, click on the gear on the right side of the screen:

The medicine was first obtained in France and was initially positioned as an antiprotozoal agent (that is, intended to treat infections caused by protozoa, such as trichomoniasis). The antimicrobial effect was discovered by chance when a patient suffering from trichomoniasis colpitis was cured of gingivitis during antibiotic therapy.

In addition to protozoans, the bactericidal effect extends to obligate anaerobes of the groups Veillonela spp., Bacteroides spp. and Fusobacterium spp., as well as gram-positive peptococci, peptostreptococci, clostridia. It is also successfully used for complex eradication of gram-negative Helicobacter pylori.

The French drug was initially produced under the name “Flagyl”, and after the patent expired it began to be produced all over the world under different brand names. Today, there are several dozen generics from different pharmaceutical companies. Pharmacies sell Metrovagin, Metromed, Metronidazole, Trichopol, Trichosept and other analogues.

Why is the antibiotic Metronidazole prescribed?

The spectrum of antimicrobial activity allows the drug to be used in a wide variety of areas of medicine, so there are several dosage forms that make it easier to use. It is available in the form of tablets containing 250 or 500 mg of active substance, infusion solution, vaginal suppositories (suppositories) or cream, as well as gel for external use (for example, in dentistry called Metrogyl-Denta).

Indications

As mentioned above, the original and main purpose of Metronidazole is antibiotic therapy for protozoal infections. However, the sensitivity of anaerobes and other microorganisms to it significantly expands the list of diseases for which the drug gives a good therapeutic effect:

  • Trichomoniasis and gardnerellosis, and in addition to treatment, it is also used as a prophylactic agent during gynecological operations.
  • Amebiasis and giardiasis are intestinal lesions caused by protozoa, manifested in the form of dysentery, dyspepsia and other gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Localized and generalized inflammation caused by anaerobes (pneumonia, meningitis, sepsis, endocarditis, endometritis, peritonitis, bone and skin infections, as well as abscesses of the brain, liver, abdominal cavity, lungs).
  • Prevention of various postoperative complications associated with the gastrointestinal tract and pelvic organs.
  • Complex eradication of Helicobacter for gastritis, duodenal and gastric ulcers.
  • Alcoholism.

The drug for oral administration is well absorbed and quickly absorbed, distributed throughout the tissues of the body. It is broken down predominantly in the liver, and the main metabolite similarly has an antiprotozoal and antibacterial effect.

Contraindications

Strict prohibitions on use include only hypersensitivity to the drug (and other nitroimidazole derivatives), the first 12 weeks of pregnancy and breastfeeding. In the future, pregnant women can be prescribed Metronidazole, but only if the teratogenic risks are less significant than the woman’s health. Breastfeeding women must express breast milk during treatment to maintain lactation.

In general, the drug is not toxic, but some caution must be exercised if you have a history of certain pathologies:

  • Liver dysfunction. Here, due to the possible cumulative effect, it is necessary to adjust the dose downward.
  • Negative reactions from the hematopoietic organs and nervous system to nitroimidazoles. Treatment should be carried out under constant medical supervision.
  • Predisposition to edema and glucocorticosteroid therapy. Metronidazole itself is not a hormonal drug, but intravenous infusions of its solution due to the sodium salts it contains can aggravate the patient’s condition.

You should also pay attention to compatibility with other medications. For example, preparations of lithium salts, bismuth, indirect anticoagulants, disulfiram, terfenadine, astemizole can cause unwanted side effects. Cimetidine helps increase the concentration of metronidazole in plasma, and phenobarbital decreases it. Alcohol is strictly contraindicated not only during antibiotic therapy, but also for 2 days after its completion.

Side effect

Despite the low toxicity of the drug, allergic reactions in the form of skin rash may occur when using it.

Other systemic manifestations include dyspeptic disorders (spastic intestinal pain, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, changes in taste perception), reactions from the central nervous system (such as dizziness, headache, convulsions, fainting), hematopoietic disorders.

When applied topically, burning, itching, swelling and hyperemia (redness) of the mucous membranes of the genital organs, and increased urination are sometimes observed. Candidiasis may develop after discontinuation of the drug. When metronidazole is administered intravenously, thrombophlebitis is likely to occur.

Application

The treatment regimen and dosage depend on the type of disease, its severity and the age of the patient. Various dosage forms are used according to instructions and prescriptions. An affirmative answer to the question whether metronidazole is an antibiotic or not requires a responsible approach to the use of the drug (no self-medication) and strict adherence to the doctor’s recommendations.

Pills

Prescribed for children (from the age of two) and adults for amebiasis, giardiasis and anaerobic infections of mild to moderate severity:

  • Amoebiasis. The course of antibiotic therapy is 7 days, one and a half grams per dose for an adult and up to 40 mg per kilogram of body weight per day for a child. You need to take the tablets three times a day.
  • Giardiasis. The disease is treated for 5 days by taking the appropriate dose of the drug 2-3 times. Adults require 0.75-1 grams per day, children, depending on age, from 250 to 500 mg.
  • Anaerobic infections. The daily amount of the active substance, divided into 3 doses, for adults varies between 1-1.5 g, for a child it is calculated based on the recommendation of 20 or 30 mg/kg.

Infusion solution

This dosage form is prescribed in severe cases, when it is impossible to take metronidazole orally or as a prophylaxis before operations on the pelvic and abdominal organs. The duration of treatment and dosage are determined individually by the attending physician in accordance with the nature of the disease and the age of the patient. Typically, adults are prescribed a single administration of 1000 mg of the drug by drip, followed by a further transition to 500 mg three times a day. For children, the required amount is calculated using the formula 7.5 mg per kilogram of weight.

Suppositories and vaginal gel

Used locally for trichomoniasis and nonspecific vulvovaginitis. Suppositories are inserted into the vagina at night, 1 piece per day, and the gel is inserted twice (morning and evening). The duration of antibiotic therapy is 5 days for the gel form and 7-10 for suppositories.

Cream or gel for external use

The duration of the course is from 3 to 6 weeks, the product must be applied to the skin twice a day with an interval of 12 hours. Typically, topical agents are prescribed in combination with systemic drugs (tablets, infusions).

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List of over-the-counter antibiotics + reasons for banning their free circulation

In the forties of the last century, humanity received powerful weapons against many deadly infections. Antibiotics were sold without prescriptions and allowed

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Are Metronidazole tablets an antibiotic?

When prescribing a particular drug, patients in most cases try to study the instructions for use in order to know exactly what they are drinking. However, the available information is not always sufficient to clarify all issues. In particular, this applies to drugs such as Metronidazole. When using it, the question often arises: is it an antibacterial agent or does it belong to another group? In order to answer it, you need to find out what the composition of the medicine is.

What is Metronidazole

First of all, let's try to find out what Metronidazole is, whether it is an antibiotic or not, and how exactly it works. The drug belongs to several groups at once. It has an antiparasitic and antimicrobial effect. It is especially often used in the treatment of a large number of pathologies.

First of all, we note that this is a synthetic product. This is where the answer to the question lies: Metronidazole is an antibiotic or not. The fact is that all antibacterial drugs are of biological origin. Later, semi-synthetic products were created. As for Metronidazole, it is a synthetic drug that has an antibacterial effect.

It was originally created to treat trichomoniasis. It has been actively used for many years. Only later did it become clear that the substance used in the product has a detrimental effect on bacteria. It is due to this that the drug has gained immense popularity.

Properties of the drug

The effect of the drug is explained as follows. Despite the fact that it is not an antibiotic as such, it, like the drugs of this group, affects the nucleic acids that make up the cells of microorganisms. As a result, the division process is disrupted and, as a result, death.

Metronidazole is used only if anaerobic bacteria have been identified as a result of the study.

This drug may be prescribed when the following microorganisms and parasites are detected:

  • streptococci;
  • staphylococci.

It is especially important to emphasize that Metronidazole is actively prescribed even for such serious pathologies as sepsis, peritonitis and abscesses. In addition, the remedy quickly eliminates symptoms of diseases such as thrush, infection after abortion, abscess of internal organs, meningitis, endocarditis, purulent bone lesions. In other words, it does not have to be an antibiotic to cope with dangerous infections.

The study of the drug continues and today some more properties of Metronidazole have been identified. Thus, in particular, it has been proven that it can be used in the complex therapy of peptic ulcer disease. It can also be prescribed after surgical removal of the appendix and complex interventions on the reproductive organs. Of course, in such a situation, the tablets should be combined with other medications, but, nevertheless, the drug is especially important.

If necessary, Metronidazole can be used externally to treat wounds, as well as for skin rashes.

Tablets in medicine

The most commonly used tablet form of the drug. After administration, the drug enters the intestines. It is there that it is absorbed and distributed through the bloodstream throughout all tissues. After a certain period of time, it can be detected in urine, saliva, bile, and also in the cerebrospinal fluid. It is important to note that a certain amount of the drug is detected in the peritoneal fluid. The maximum concentration is observed in bone tissue. Excretion is observed through the kidneys and only 20% is excreted through bile.

Tablets are prescribed to both adult patients and children upon reaching twelve years of age. In this case, the dosage is calculated at 7 mg per kilogram of weight. On average, mg is taken per day. At the same time, the frequency of administration and dosage are determined only based on the severity of the condition and the type of pathology.

Children under twelve years of age may also be prescribed this drug. In this case, the dosage is determined at the rate of 8 milligrams per kilogram of weight. Take tablets three times a day. Until three years, the medicine is used extremely rarely, only when the risk of complications is higher than the likelihood of side effects, as well as in situations where other drugs are ineffective.

Tablets should be taken only in their whole form. Chewing or crushing and mixing with water is prohibited.

Candles in treatment

As already mentioned, one suppository contains 500 milligrams of the active ingredient. This form is especially often used in gynecology and for parasitic infections. The main indications are vaginitis, urethritis, especially caused by Trichomonas.

Due to topical application, suppositories are especially quickly absorbed into the surrounding tissues and have an effect on both the reproductive organs and the intestines. The effect is observed after the first administration of the suppository. As a rule, it is prescribed one suppository per day, but in some cases the drug can be used twice a day. The duration of treatment is at least ten days, and to avoid secondary infection, sexual contact should be excluded for the entire period of therapy.

Possible negative consequences

Despite the fact that Metronidazole is not an antibiotic, its use should also be approached with particular caution. Some side effects may occur during treatment. These include:

  • problems with the digestive system, manifested in the form of nausea, vomiting, decreased appetite, cramps and changes in stool;
  • from the nervous system, deviations such as headaches, even migraines, anxiety, sleep disturbances, severe dizziness and decreased sensitivity in peripheral areas are possible;
  • Complaints such as changes in the level of platelets and leukocytes appear extremely rarely.

In some cases, the drug, both in the form of tablets and in the form of suppositories, can cause an allergic reaction. This manifests itself as a rash and itching, but the most dangerous complication in the form of anaphylactic shock cannot be ruled out.

In order to reduce the likelihood of an allergic reaction, you should take the drug only after visiting a doctor. In this case, the specialist must determine the presence of individual intolerance to the components of the product. In addition, you should start taking it with a minimum dose. As for pregnancy, the product is not used in the first trimester. If necessary, tablets can be prescribed at a later date, but only as prescribed by a doctor and under his supervision.

During treatment, it is recommended not to take other medications unless prescribed by a doctor. It is important to remember that sulfonamides can enhance the effect of the drug. Phenobarbital reduces the concentration of the substance in the blood, but lithium preparations, on the contrary, increase it and can cause intoxication. If it is impossible to refuse a particular drug, you should notify your doctor. In some cases, it is enough to adjust the dosage.

The video will talk about drugs for treating parasites:

Metronidazole is not considered an antibiotic, but is often used for the same indications as antibacterial drugs. My husband especially often uses it for exacerbation of ulcers. It was prescribed to me for inflammation in gynecology, and I also often heard that doctors prescribe it for parasites.

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Is Metronidazole an antibiotic?

Is Metronidazole an antibiotic or not? A qualified doctor or pharmacist can help answer this question. Metronidazole is a medicine that is very important for humans.

1 Is the drug Metronidazole an antibiotic or not?

This drug has an antimicrobial and antiprotozoal effect, has a detrimental effect on various bacteria and prevents their reproduction.

The effect of Metronidazole is similar to that of an antibiotic, but it is not an antibiotic.

The drug can block the formation of nucleic acids. And this, in turn, has a positive effect on eliminating infections. Metronidazole can affect various strains, such as:

  • Protea and Clostridia;
  • Giardia;
  • obligate anaerobes that can reproduce in an environment in which there is no oxygen;
  • Trichomonas;
  • amoeba;
  • gardnerella.

2 When is Metronidazole prescribed?

Since the medicine has a fairly wide spectrum of action, it is successfully used in various areas. It is used to treat trichomoniasis, amoeba parasitism, peritonitis, sepsis, giardiasis, abscesses in the peritoneal cavity, gynecological diseases or consequences of operations.

In the cases described above, the drug exhibits antibiotic properties, although it does not have any. But it should be noted that it has gained great popularity in the treatment of diseases such as endometriosis, in the treatment of diseases of the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and in the elimination of sepsis, especially after abortion. It is even used in the fight against thrush.

In some cases, the drug is used for various general infections. These include:

  • pneumonia or tissue abscess;
  • fight against bacteria in the brain;
  • meningococcus;
  • purulent formations on the skin and bone tissue;
  • endocarditis;
  • the presence of ulcers or gastritis.

But, despite its properties, the drug does not have any effect on bacteria that are part of the aerobic group. These include streptococci and staphylococci.

In some cases, the medicine is prescribed as a prophylactic, when it is necessary to prevent a disease. This is necessary when it is necessary to prevent the development of diseases and inflammatory processes. This mainly concerns diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

The drug is also used by dentists to fight germs and bacteria in the oral cavity. And dermatologists use Metronidazole to treat acne and similar rashes.

When a doctor prescribes a drug, he sometimes explains to the patient whether Metronidazole is an antibiotic or not. However, he explains that the drug is produced as a synthetic substance that has a very wide range of effects.

Thus, Metronidazole is an antimicrobial drug that doctors create to eliminate dangerous types of infections in the human body.

Consequently, when you come to the pharmacy to buy this medicine, you will no longer have to ask the question whether it is an antibiotic or not. The attached instructions will indicate the entire composition, as well as the production method.

3 Forms of release of the drug Metronidazole

Metronidazole comes in several forms. These can be tablets, suppositories, gel or ointment. What form the patient needs is determined by the doctor depending on the patient’s complaints and after examination.

The tablets have very good properties. They are able to quickly penetrate from the intestines into the blood and bone tissue. Thanks to this, they quickly enter all the necessary internal systems of a person.

In this case, the active substance Metronidazole will be detected in all human biological materials, such as bile, saliva, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.

If women take the pills during pregnancy, this substance can also pass into breast milk, passing through the placenta. The medicine is excreted primarily through the kidneys and together with bile.

Medicine in the form of suppositories is prescribed mainly for diseases associated with gynecology. They treat vaginitis, urethritis and other pathological conditions of various types. The effect can be noticed from the first days after the procedures begin.

In its gel form, Metronidazole is used to treat local inflammatory processes in order to treat damaged areas of the skin or damaged mucous membranes.

Sometimes ointment is also in demand. It is usually prescribed to patients during adolescence to eliminate acne. The effect becomes noticeable a week after using the drug.

However, despite the fact that Metronidazole is not classified as an antibiotic, treatment with it can only be carried out after consultation with a doctor. In children under three years of age, the medicine is not prescribed. And at an older age, everything will depend on how severe the disease is and how the infection spreads.

If tablets are prescribed, the dose and treatment regimen are determined by the attending physician.

Usually the course is 10 days. The tablets are taken after meals, chewed and washed down with water.

Candles are also used for 10 days, but sometimes longer. It depends on how severe the disease is.

When using candles, you should abstain from sexual intercourse for a while.

Gel and ointment are used topically. Usually applied to the affected area of ​​skin once a day. Such therapy can take from 1 to 4 months.

Are there any side effects when treated with Metronidazole?

Any therapy should be carried out under the supervision of the attending physician. Since Metronidazole is similar in action to antibiotics and its action is aimed at combating germs and bacteria, in some cases it may have side effects. These include:

  1. Indigestion. Nausea or vomiting may occur.
  2. Disturbance of the nervous system. Migraines, insomnia, and even dizziness may occur.
  3. Platelets and leukocytes in the blood may decrease. This is typical only for the period of time during which the drug is taken.
  4. In some cases, itching, rash or other allergic reactions may occur.

It should be noted that the drug is not prescribed to women in the first months of pregnancy.

Thus, the drug, which is called Metronidazole, is not an antibiotic. However, it works in many ways and kills bacteria. As a result, you should consult your doctor when using this medicine, as side effects may occur with its use.

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Is Metronidazole an antibiotic?

The attending physician and pharmacist will help patients find out whether Metronidazole is an antibiotic or not. This drug is very important for the human body, because it has antiprotozoal and antimicrobial effects, adversely affecting bacteria and preventing them from multiplying. Metronidazole acts as an antibiotic, but is not one. The medicine is able to block the appearance of nucleic acids, which has a positive effect on eliminating the infection. The drug affects such strains as:

  • Protea and Clostridia;
  • Giardia;
  • obligate anaerobes that reproduce in an oxygen-free environment;
  • Trichomonas;
  • amoeba;
  • gardnerella.

Is Metronidazole an antibiotic or not?

Let's take a closer look at how to scientifically prove whether Metronidazole is an antibiotic or not.

Given its wide spectrum of action, the drug is used to treat trichomoniasis, amoeba parasitism, peritonitis, sepsis, giardiasis, abdominal abscesses, gynecological diseases or the consequences of surgery. In all these cases, Metronidazole has the properties of an antibiotic, although it is not one. But it is actively used for endometriosis, for the treatment of diseases of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, the elimination of a septic condition, especially after abortion, in the treatment of thrush. Sometimes used for general infections, such as:

  1. Inflammation of the lungs or tissue abscesses.
  2. Destroying bacteria in the brain.
  3. Meningococci.
  4. Purulent inflammation, especially on the skin and bones.
  5. Endocarditis.
  6. Ulcers and gastritis.

At the same time, Metronidazole does not have any effect on streptococci and staphylococci, which are part of the group of aerobic bacteria.

Sometimes the drug is prescribed as a prophylactic to prevent the development of diseases and inflammation, especially in the intestines and stomach. Dentists use Metronidazole to treat germs and infections in the mouth, and dermatologists use it to treat acne.

Rykov Sergey Vladimirovich told how to defeat parasites and worms at home. Read the interview >>

Doctors, when prescribing Metronidazole and explaining whether it is an antibiotic or not, say that the medicine is produced as a synthetic substance with a very wide spectrum of action. Metronidazole is an antimicrobial drug created by doctors to eliminate dangerous infections in the human body. Therefore, when buying gel, tablets, ointment or suppositories at the pharmacy, you don’t have to ask whether it is an antibiotic or not, because the instructions will indicate the composition and method of production.

Antibiotics are natural elements that are extracted from a special type of mushroom, and people invented Metronidazole as a result of long-term chemical and biological tests.

The choice of the form of the drug depends on the disease and the doctor’s prescription.

Metronidazole in the form of vaginal suppositories

Tablets tend to penetrate very quickly from the intestines into the blood and bone tissue in order to get into all the necessary internal systems. The substance metronidazole will be present in biological materials such as saliva, bile, cerebrospinal and peritoneal fluid. If pregnant women take the pills, this substance can also pass into breast milk, passing through the placenta. It is excreted mainly through the kidneys and along with bile.

Suppositories are prescribed in gynecology to treat vaginitis, urethritis, trichomoniasis, and various pathologies. The effect is observed from the first days of the procedure.

Metronidazole in gel form

The gel should be used only for local therapy to treat damaged skin or mucous membranes.

Metronidazole ointment is sometimes used, which is prescribed to adolescents to eliminate acne and pimples. After just 1 week, treatment results begin to appear.

Despite the fact that it is not always clear based on its properties and spectrum of action whether Metronidazole is an antibiotic or not, it can be treated only on the recommendation of a doctor. The drug is not prescribed for children under 3 years of age, but for older people it all depends on the severity of the disease and the spread of the infection. The dosage, if tablets are prescribed, is prescribed by the doctor, who also establishes the dosage regimen.

In any case, they should be consumed only after meals, without chewing and washed down with water.

The course of therapy with tablets, like suppositories, is 10 days, but may be longer.

When treating with candles, it is recommended to completely avoid sexual intercourse.

Metronidazole gel is applied to the skin several times during the day, just like ointment. The treatment period can last from 1 to 4 months.

Side effects and contraindications

Treatment should be strictly under the supervision of a doctor, since Metronidazole, which is not an antibiotic, is still aimed at fighting microbes and therefore has some side effects, namely:

  1. Indigestion may occur, nausea and vomiting, and cramps may occur.
  2. Sometimes the nervous system suffers, resulting in migraines, insomnia, dizziness, convulsions, and fainting.
  3. The number of platelets and leukocytes in the blood may decrease while taking the drug.
  4. Sometimes itching, rash or an increased allergic reaction occurs.

The drug is not prescribed to women in the first trimester of pregnancy.

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Is metronidazole an antibiotic?

Metronidazole is a drug prescribed for the treatment of diseases caused by protozoan microorganisms and microbes. It belongs to the group of antimicrobial drugs. For many patients, the important question is: is the medicine an antibiotic?

What is metronidazole?

The drug is used to treat diseases such as trichomoniasis (including urogenital), nonspecific vaginitis, infections of the abdominal cavity, skin and tissues, sepsis, pseudomembranous colitis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, and is also used as a component in the prevention of postoperative complications during radiation therapy for oncological diseases, since the drug increases the sensitivity of tumors. The dosage of the drug depends on the pathology and the form of the drug. It is produced in the form of tablets (1 piece contains 250 or 500 mg of active ingredient), suppositories (1 piece - 500 mg), solution for infusion (1 ml - 5 mg). There is also metronidazole cream for external use.

The maximum concentration of metronidazole in the blood plasma is observed 1-2 hours after administration, as is the case with antibiotics. The drug cannot be used in the first trimester of pregnancy; in later stages it is allowed to be taken only if the likelihood of benefit to the fetus and mother significantly outweighs the risk. Sometimes, after taking the medicine, the patient may experience side effects: nausea, stomach upset, allergic reactions on the skin, unpleasant taste in the mouth, candidiasis, urinary problems. In some cases, a blood test shows a low level of white blood cells in the blood.

Advice: the Gram-positive bacterium mobiluncus is highly resistant to metronidazole.

It is important to remember that in the presence of renal failure, dose adjustment is necessary. It is better not to take Metronidazole in case of hypersensitivity, organic lesions of the central nervous system, liver failure, or during lactation. Also, while taking this medicine, you need to monitor the cellular composition of the blood. The drug is absolutely incompatible with alcohol.

Is Metronidazole an antibiotic or not?

Metronidazole is an antibacterial antiprotozoal (prescribed to destroy protozoan microorganisms) drug. The chemical is slightly soluble in water and sparingly soluble in alcohol. Metronidazole belongs to the group “Other synthetic antibacterial agents”, “Medicines for the correction of disorders of alcoholism, toxicity, drug addiction” and is not an antibiotic, but enhances their effect. Also, according to the anatomical-therapeutic-chemical classification (ATC), the drug belongs to antimicrobial drugs for the treatment of diseases:

  • associated with acidity disorders;
  • oral cavity, used to prevent caries;
  • skin;
  • gynecological sphere;
  • also used as a drug for systemic administration.

The medicine is very often prescribed for the treatment of parasitic diseases caused by protozoa, when an antibiotic is not prescribed. Adults and especially children easily become infected with such diseases, often due to poor hygiene. For example, Giardia is transmitted through infected water, unwashed hands, and food that contains parasite cysts.

The mechanism of action of metronidazole is similar to the algorithm of antibiotics. It consists in restoring the 5-nitro group by intracellular transport proteins of microorganisms and protozoa. It interacts with the DNA of the pathogen, slows down the synthesis of their nucleic acids, which causes death. Helminthic diseases are treated with other drugs to which they are highly sensitive (albendazole, metronidazole, praziquantel, etc.). Diethylcarbamazine is most often used to treat filariasis, a tropical helminthiasis caused by the roundworm filariae.

Since metronidazole is active against many bacteria (Trachomatis vaginalis, Giardia, Clostridia), it is often used together with antibiotics, although it does not belong to their groups. Mycoplasma in women can also be successfully treated with this drug. The percentage of patients resistant to this drug is very low.

Based on this active ingredient, many drugs have been developed for the treatment of diseases of various natures: Metronidazole, Trichopolum, Metron, Deflamon, Klion, Rozeks. It is important to remember that metronidazole has very low activity against aerobic microorganisms, facultative anaerobes.

Metronidazole is one of the most effective drugs for treating many infections caused by protozoan microorganisms and bacteria. The drug belongs to the group of antimicrobial drugs and is not an antibiotic, but enhances its effect. The medicine is available in different forms. The dosage regimen and dosage depend on the disease, the patient’s age, and the presence of concomitant diseases.

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Is Metronidazole an antibiotic or not, and what is it prescribed for?

Today, the pharmacology market offers many medications, which even professionals cannot always navigate. Of course, the ability to understand the “medicinal jungle” will be needed, first of all, by the doctor. But the patient should also have a general understanding of the medications prescribed to him. After all, we are talking about his health. And today we will talk about a fairly common drug belonging to the group of antiprotozoals and antimicrobials, which is used to treat infections. We will talk about Metronidazole.

What is Metronidazole?

From the characteristics of the drug, it is difficult for the average person to understand whether Metronidazole is an antibiotic or not. Metronidazole is a drug with a variety of pharmacological effects, which is obtained artificially.

It, like antibiotics, has an antimicrobial effect, but antibiotics are substances of either a biological or semi-synthetic nature. This, in fact, is the difference. Separately, I would like to note that WHO has included Metronidazole in the list of drugs recognized as vital.

Metronidazole: pharmacological action of the drug

Why is Metronidazole prescribed? It was already mentioned above that it is a drug that has antimicrobial and antiprotozoal effects, in other words, Metronidazole is able to act on the simplest organisms: lamblia, trichomonas, amoebas, etc. For this reason, it is prescribed for the treatment of diseases such as giardiasis, trichomoniasis, amoebic dysentery and etc.

Indications for use:

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  • infectious diseases of bone tissue and joints;
  • infections of the central nervous system, including meningitis, accumulation of pus in the brain;
  • inflammation and abscess of the lungs;
  • preventive measures after surgery;
  • irradiation of cancerous tumors: increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to radiation.

Contraindications and side effects

So, if you have been prescribed this drug, you should inform your doctor about the following pathological conditions:

  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
  • pronounced liver or kidney failure;
  • nervous system disorders;
  • leukemia, anemia and other diseases of the hematopoietic system.

Metronidazole during pregnancy and lactation

Separately, I would like to say about the prescription of Metronidazole during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This drug should not be prescribed in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. And in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters it is prescribed with great caution, and only in cases where the threat to the woman’s life exceeds the expected risk to the unborn child.

It is also recommended to stop breastfeeding while taking the drug, since Metronidazole penetrates well into breast milk, which is unsafe for the baby’s health. In addition, it makes the taste of milk bitter, and the child himself may refuse to breastfeed.

Side effects:

  • nausea and diarrhea;
  • intestinal colic;
  • decreased appetite;
  • dry mouth;
  • unpleasant metallic taste in the mouth;
  • headache and dizziness;
  • depression, which may be accompanied by insomnia;
  • irritability and mild excitability;
  • convulsions.

What else do you need to know about Metronidazole?

This medicine is available in pharmacies only with a doctor's prescription. It should be taken for the recommended period and not stopped at the first signs of improvement in the clinical picture or disappearance of symptoms of the disease. Firstly, this does not mean that you have recovered from the infection. And secondly, irregular use of the drug can develop bacteria resistance to it. In this case, getting rid of the disease will be much more difficult.

It is important to know that Metronidazole will not help with influenza, ARVI, colds, or vaginal fungal infections.

Metronidazole and alcohol

Drinking alcoholic beverages simultaneously with Metronidazole is prohibited. Alcohol accelerates the absorption of medicine from the digestive tract, which leads to an overdose and the development of such body reactions as:

  • nausea and severe vomiting;
  • intense headache;
  • diarrhea;
  • sharp pain in the abdomen;
  • allergic reactions on the skin;
  • difficulty breathing;
  • decreased blood pressure and increased heart rate;
  • feeling of fear.

There are cases where the simultaneous use of alcohol and Metronidazole led to complete cessation of breathing and death. You can drink alcohol no earlier than 48 hours after the last dose of the drug.

Metronidazole and alcoholism treatment

It is on the side effects of the simultaneous use of Metronidazole and alcohol that the treatment regimen for alcoholism with this drug is based. A patient with chronic alcoholism develops a persistent aversion to alcoholic beverages after suffering similar reactions in the body.

But doctors do not recommend carrying out such treatment at home, since the symptoms can be so severe that the patient will need urgent medical attention.

Dosage of the drug

The dosage and regimen for taking the drug can only be prescribed by a doctor, after conducting a preliminary examination of the body and studying the clinical picture of the disease. Take the medicine strictly as recommended by your doctor and try not to miss the appointment time. If you do miss a dose of medication, you do not need to take a double dose of the drug, as this can cause serious side effects.

Metronidazole analogs

Today, the pharmacy can offer you many analogues of this drug, for example:

Which of these analogues is best suited for treatment for you, only the attending physician, familiar with the medical history, can say. Therefore, you should not self-medicate and prescribe yourself such serious drugs - this is fraught with disastrous consequences for the body.

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Is Metronidazole an antibiotic or not?

Is Metronidazole an antibiotic or not? Most likely, the question arises because many people think this drug is something new and not very well known. In fact, the drug entered medical practice back in 1960, and after it others appeared: tinidazole, ornidazole, secnidazole and ternidazole (for topical use). All of them, including metronidazole, belong to the group of synthetic nitroimidazoles - antimicrobial drugs (AMPs) that have selective activity against bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa.

Action of the medicine

Most medical reference books describe metronidazole as an antibiotic - a synthetic derivative of the natural substance azomycin, produced by Streptomyces spp. Being a drug from the antibiotic group, it directs its bactericidal “weapon” at anaerobic microorganisms, blocking DNA transformation and protein synthesis in the microbial cell, which ends in its death. When administered, it is quickly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. The drug is metabolized in the liver through oxidation and glucuronidation (removal of toxic and potentially toxic substances from the body). Up to 80% of metronidazole is excreted from the body through the kidneys unchanged and as metabolites, and with feces, % of the dose. The spectrum of antibacterial effects of metronidazole is quite wide: it is active against most anaerobes that are more resistant to other AMPs, including:

  • bacilli of gram-positive bacteria;
  • anaerobic gram-positive cocci;
  • Helicobacter;
  • gardnerella vaginalis;
  • bacteroides (gram-negative anaerobic rod-shaped bacteria);
  • Trichomonas;
  • dysenteric amoeba;
  • intestinal lamblia, etc.

Facultative anaerobes and some aerobic microorganisms are not sensitive to it, therefore, with a heterogeneous flora of these bacteria, metronidazole is used in combination (synergistically) with other antibiotics that effectively act on them. The advantages of metronidazole include increasing the sensitivity of tumor cells to ionizing radiation, stimulation of reparative (restorative) processes and disulfiram-like reactions.

Application of the drug in medical practice

Diseases caused by the microorganisms listed earlier are quite serious, sometimes dangerous. Metronidazole should be used only if the diagnosis is established:

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  • eradication (destruction) of H. pylori;
  • pseudomembranous colitis;
  • purulent inflammation (sepsis, including after childbirth);
  • respiratory tract infections;
  • aspiration and necrotizing pneumonia;
  • diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and abdominal cavity;
  • CNS lesions (brain abscess, meningitis);
  • trophic leg ulcers and bedsores;
  • endocarditis;
  • gynecological infections (bacterial vaginosis, septic abortion, childbed fever, consequences of hysterectomy or cesarean section);
  • postoperative infections, etc.

The medicine is prescribed in combination with various drugs to prevent relapses of gastric ulcers associated with H. pylori. In dentistry, it is prescribed for acute periodontal infection, acute gingivitis, endodontic pulp gangrene, and is used for skin diseases: acne, seborrhea, eczema, mixed infections of the facial skin, perioral dermatitis. However, this medicine will not “work” for colds, flu, and some other viral infections.

Veterinary medicine uses this drug as an antibiotic in the treatment of tropical fish infected with flagellates, and rabbits with symptomatic Encephalitozoon cuniculi infection.

Therapeutic dosage

The dose of the drug is selected by the attending physician individually for each patient, depending on his general condition and the specifics of the disease. The following information contains average dosing rates. If the prescribed dosage differs from what is written in the text, you should under no circumstances change it without the advice of your doctor. The fact is that much in treatment depends on the total number of drugs taken by patients, the amount of metronidazole, the duration of use and time intervals between doses, and the method of introducing it into the body.

Dosing of oral dosage forms (capsules or tablets) depends on the diagnosis:

  • Amebiasis is a parasitic infection:
  1. 1 adults and children over 12 years old were given 750 mg three times a day for days;
  2. The 2nd dose for children under 12 years of age is based on body weight, determined by the doctor at the rate of mg per kilogram of body weight, divided into 3 doses per day for a decade.
  • Bacterial infection:
  1. 1 dose for adults and adolescents is usually 7.5 mg) per kilogram of body weight every 6 hours for a day (not more than 4000 mg per day);
  2. 2 dose for children is determined by the doctor.
  • Trichomoniasis is a genitourinary disease:
  1. 1 Adults and adolescents may be offered a single dose of one 2 g tablet or 1 g twice daily, or 250 mg three times daily for 7 days;
  2. 2 when using the capsule, the dosage of inayamg is twice a day for 7 days;
  3. 2 dose for children is determined by the doctor.
  • Bacterial vaginosis:
  1. 1 for adults and children over 12 years of age, the dose is 750 mg once a day for 7 days;
  2. 2 dose for children is determined by the doctor.

Treatment of infections caused by anaerobic bacteria can be carried out by intravenous infusion (500 mg every 8 hours for a week). Skin lesions are treated by applying a thin layer of gel with the drug to the skin twice a day. In dentistry, 10% metronidazole ointment is used for inflammatory processes in the oral cavity, periodontium, and dental pulp. In patients with kidney function problems, no dose adjustment is performed. In patients with liver failure, it decreases to 1/3.

Indirect reactions to pills

Side effects when using metronidazole once again emphasize the need for careful selection of the dose, taking into account the characteristics of the individual patient’s body and the presence of chronic diseases. The attending physician must certainly know them when calculating the dosage of the drug. The most common side effects when taking metronidazole include:

  • loss of appetite;
  • metallic taste in the mouth;
  • nausea, vomiting;
  • diarrhea, discomfort in the gastrointestinal tract;
  • damage to the oral cavity by yeast-like fungi Candida;
  • allergies, urticaria, rash;
  • swelling of the nasal mucosa;
  • headaches and dizziness;
  • leukopenia, thrombocytopenia;
  • mental disorders, depression;
  • drowsiness or insomnia;
  • vaginal dryness, vaginal thrush;
  • myalgia, arthralgia, hepatitis, jaundice, etc.

Contraindications for use

When prescribing metronidazole, it is always important to know how sensitive the patient is to the ingredients of nitroimidazole derivatives. It is not recommended to use it in the first trimester of pregnancy and breastfeeding. In the second and third trimester, it can be administered only when the possible benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn child.

Caution is also necessary in case of blood pathologies, for example, with leukopenia (decrease in the number of white blood cells). Patients who are in the process of treating neurological disorders (numbness or tingling in the extremities or convulsions) should use metronidazole with the greatest caution. During the process, the state of the blood should be constantly monitored, especially if treatment lasts more than a decade. The period is extended in exceptional cases requiring repeated treatment with the drug.

The consequences of using metronidazole may be oral candidiasis or vaginal candidiasis, which will require appropriate treatment. Taking this drug may affect the results of certain laboratory tests; for example, spectrophotometric determination of AST, ALT, LDH, glucose and triglycerides. When using metronidazole topically on the skin, avoid exposure to sunlight and artificial sources of UV radiation. If skin irritation occurs, do not use the drug.

We emphasize once again that you cannot prescribe metronidazole yourself. Only an accurate diagnosis, sensitivity test and consultation with a doctor will determine the need and possibility of its use.

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