KOMPAS.com – Metronidazole is an antibiotic drug that is generally taken by mouth or is called an oral drug.
Quoted from the NHS, metronidazole is used to treat skin infections, rosacea, and oral infections such as gum infections and tooth abscesses.
This antibiotic is also useful for treating bacterial vaginosis and pelvic inflammatory disease.
Apart from that, metronidazole is also used to treat insect bite infections, skin ulcers, wounds, and treat bacterial infections in various body organs such as the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and urinary tract.
Please note, metronidazole in the form of tablets, gel, cream or liquid can only be obtained with a doctor’s prescription.
If used not according to the provisions, metronidazole can have side effects that can worsen or trigger certain conditions in the body.
So, what are the side effects of metronidazole?
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Metronidazole side effects
Elena Yakimova
Illustration of the drug metronidazole. Metronidazole can trigger seizures.
Reporting from MedicalNewsToday, there are a number of side effects that can arise from taking metronidazole.
Common side effects
Common side effects may disappear within a few days or weeks, such as:
- Headache
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach
- Cramps in the stomach
- Constipation
- The mouth smells metallic.
If these symptoms appear, you should immediately communicate with a doctor so that the symptoms do not get worse.
Serious side effects
Serious side effects of metronidazole can threaten a person’s life with seizures and encephalopathy or abnormal brain function.
Symptoms of these serious side effects include:
- Convulsions
- Dizzy
- Headache
- Confusion
- Ataxia or loss of control over one’s own body movements.
Metronidazole consumption warning
Metronidazole can trigger nervous system effects and allergies in a person, here are the details:
Nervous system effects warning
The drug metronidazole can cause certain serious conditions that affect the nervous system, as follows:
- Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage in the hands and feet)
- Encephalopathy (abnormal brain function)
- Meningitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Seizures.
Therefore, contact a doctor immediately if you have these symptoms:
- Pain or numbness in the hands or feet
- Lost memory
- Difficulty focusing
- Fever
- Stiff neck.
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FREEPIK/JCOMP
The drug metronidazole can cause damage to nerves.
Allergy warning
Metronidazole can cause severe allergic reactions or hypersensitivity in someone. Symptoms of a metronidazole drug allergy are as follows:
- Itching
- Red rash
- Peeling skin
- A lot
- Fever
- Shivering.
Immediately contact the nearest doctor if you experience this allergic reaction. If symptoms are severe, go to the emergency room immediately.
Do not take this medication again if a person has previously had an allergic reaction. In some cases, drinking it again can cause death.
Alcohol interaction warning
Someone who wants to take metronidazole needs to stop drinking drinks that contain alcohol, at least for three days before and after.
This is because alcohol can cause side effects when consumed with metronidazole, such as:
- Nauseous
- Vomiting
- Stomach cramps
- Headache
- Flushing (sudden redness and warmth of the face).
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Warnings for certain groups of people
Liver disease sufferers
The liver is known to help process this metronidazole drug. If a person has severe liver disease, the liver may process this drug more slowly.
This will then increase the amount of drug in the body and the risk of side effects in a person.
Kidney disease sufferers
A person’s kidneys help clear this drug from the body. If a person has severe kidney disease, these organs may process metronidazole more slowly.
Thus, metronidazole will increase the amount of drug in the body and the risk of side effects.
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Pregnant mother
Talk to a doctor if a woman is or is planning to become pregnant. Metronidazole should not be taken during the first trimester of pregnancy.
Meanwhile, for the second and third trimesters, this drug should only be used if the potential benefits outweigh the potential risks.
Breastfeeding mothers
Metronidazole can pass into breast milk and cause side effects in the baby.
Therefore, talk to a doctor if you are breastfeeding a child. A person may need to decide whether to stop breastfeeding or stop taking this medication.
Elderly
Older adults’ kidneys and liver may not work as well as they used to. This can cause the body to process the drug more slowly.
As a result, more of the drug stays in the body for a longer time. This increases the risk of side effects.
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2024-01-03 13:30:00
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