What is Flagyl?
Flagyl is a drug that acts on infections caused by anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. Flagyl acts in bactericidal manner- it destroys protozoa, Trichomonas vaginalis, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Balantidium coli) and anaerobic bacteria.
Flagyl is used for the prevention of postoperative infections caused by anaerobic bacteria, especially from the species of the Bacteroides and anaerobic streptococci, in treatment of septicemia, bacteraemia, peritonitis, brain abscess, necrotizing pneumonia, osteomyelitis, puerperal sepsis, pelvic abscess, urogenital trichomoniasis in men and women, bacterial vaginosis, all forms of amebiasis, decubitus wounds, eradication.
What you need to know before taking Flagyl:
Do not take this medicine if you have hypersensitivity to metronidazole or other nitroimidazole derivatives.
If you have liver or kidney disease, tell your doctor, because in this case it may be necessary to reduce the dose. A regular clinical check up is necessary if you are using Flagyl longer than 10 days. If you need long-term treatment, the doctor should keep in mind that there is a possibility of peripheral neuropathy and leukopenia. Both phenomena are usually reversible. It is recommended to regularly control the number of leukocytes and to be under a constant supervision of a medical specialist. Large doses of metronidazole can cause transient seizures. Caution is needed with patients with acute and chronic forms of severe diseases of the peripheral and central nervous system, because there is a risk of worsening of neurological symptoms. Caution is advised with acute diseases of central nervous system (except for brain abscess). Metronidazole and its metabolites may have a mutagenic potential for glandular breast cells. Patients should be warned of the possibility of dark discoloration of urine.
Possible side effects of Flagyl:
Like all medicines, Flagyl can have side effects. Side effects are usually mild and include digestive disorders, nausea, unpleasant taste in the mouth and thickened tongue. Headache, drowsiness, dizziness, confusion, hallucinations, allergic reactions such as skin rash (which may be severe), itching and swelling around the eyes and mouth occur rarely. The sudden shock of an allergic reaction that leads to the loss of consciousness is rare. A reduced number of white blood cell that can increase the risk of infection or bleeding, occurs rarely. During intense and/or prolonged therapy with metronidazole, you may feel muscle weakness (e.g.difficulty in standing on tiptoe), as well as tingling sensations in the hands and feet or toes and transient epileptic seizures. If you feel unwell or if you experience any side effects not mentioned, tell your doctor or pharmacists.
