Severe infections due to anaerobic bacteria (Bacteroides sp, Clostridium sp, etc.)
Forms and strengths, route of administration
500 mg in 100 ml vial or bag (5 mg/ml), for infusion, to be administered over 30 minutes
Dosage
Child 1 month and over: 10 mg/kg every 8 hours (max. 1500 mg daily)
Adult: 500 mg every 8 hours
Duration
According to indication.
Change to oral treatment as soon as possible.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
Do not administer to patients with allergy to metronidazole or another nitroimidazole (tinidazole, secnidazole, etc.).
Do not drink alcohol during treatment(antabuse reaction).
May cause: gastrointestinal disturbances, brownish urine, allergic reactions, headache, dizziness.
Monitor combination with anticoagulants (increased risk of haemorrhage), lithium, phenytoin and ergometrine (increased plasma concentrations of these drugs).
Administer with caution, reduce total daily dose to ⅓ and give once daily to patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Pregnancy: no contra-indication
Breast-feeding: avoid (significantly excreted in milk)
Remarks
Metronidazole is as effective by oral route as by parenteral route.