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Flagyl

(other types of Flagyl)
generic: MetroNIDAZOLE (learn more about brand vs. generic drugs)

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Information on Flagyl

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Learn more about usage, cautions, and possible side effects .

Tablets
Chemical Name: METRONIDAZOLE (me-troe-NI-da-zole)

Common uses
Flagyl 500mg is an anti-infective used to treat infections.

Before using
WARNING: Flagyl 500mg has been shown to cause cancer in animal studies. Do not use Flagyl 500mg if it is not necessary. Use Flagyl 500mg only for the condition for which it is prescribed. Some medicines or medical conditions may interact with Flagyl 500mg. INFORM YOUR DOCTOR OR PHARMACIST of all prescription and over-the-counter medicine that you are taking. DO NOT TAKE FLAGYL 500mg if you are also taking busulfan, an ergot alkaloid (eg, ergotamine), or you have taken disulfiram within the past 2 weeks. DO NOT TAKE FLAGYL 500mg if you are taking an HIV protease inhibitor that contains alcohol (eg, amprenavir solution). Check with your pharmacist if you are unsure if your medicine contains alcohol. ADDITIONAL MONITORING OF YOUR DOSE OR CONDITION may be needed if you are taking amiodarone, barbiturates (eg, phenobarbital), phenytoin, anticoagulants (eg, warfarin), cyclosporine, lithium, or macrolide immunosuppressants (eg, tacrolimus). DO NOT START OR STOP any medicine without doctor or pharmacist approval. Inform your doctor of any other medical conditions including nerve, brain, or blood problems; Crohn disease; a history of liver problems or seizures; allergies, pregnancy, or breast-feeding. USE OF FLAGYL 500mg IS NOT RECOMMENDED if you are in the first 3 months of pregnancy or if you drink alcohol. Contact your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions or concerns about taking Flagyl 500mg.

Directions
Follow the directions for using Flagyl 500mg provided by your doctor. Flagyl 500mg may be taken on an empty stomach or with food. STORE FLAGYL 500mg at room temperature between 68 and 77 degrees F (20 and 25 degrees C), in a tightly-closed container, away from heat, moisture, and light. KEEP FLAGYL 500mg out of the reach of children and away from pets. TO CLEAR UP YOUR INFECTION COMPLETELY, continue taking Flagyl 500mg for the full course of treatment even if you feel better in a few days. Do not miss any doses. IF YOU MISS A DOSE OF FLAGYL 500mg, take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not take 2 doses at once.

Cautions
DO NOT TAKE FLAGYL 500mg if you have had an allergic reaction to it, to another nitroimidazole (eg, tinidazole), or if you are allergic to any ingredient in this product. Laboratory and/or medical tests, including liver function and white blood cell counts, may be performed to monitor your progress or to check for side effects. KEEP ALL DOCTOR AND LABORATORY APPOINTMENTS while you are taking Flagyl 500mg. FLAGYL 500mg MAY AFFECT CERTAIN LAB TEST RESULTS. Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know you use Flagyl 500mg. BEFORE YOU HAVE ANY MEDICAL OR DENTAL TREATMENTS, EMERGENCY CARE, OR SURGERY, tell the doctor or dentist that you are using Flagyl 500mg. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL while you are taking Flagyl 500mg and for at least 1 day after the last dose. Flagyl 500mg may cause dizziness. DO NOT DRIVE, OPERATE MACHINERY, OR DO ANYTHING ELSE THAT COULD BE DANGEROUS until you know how you react to Flagyl 500mg. Using Flagyl 500mg alone, with other medicines, or with alcohol may lessen your ability to drive or to perform other potentially dangerous tasks. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR right away if stomach pain or cramps, severe diarrhea, or bloody stools occur. Do not treat diarrhea without first checking with your doctor. FLAGYL 500mg ONLY WORKS AGAINST BACTERIA; it does not treat viral infections (eg, the common cold). BE SURE TO USE FLAGYL 500mg for the full course of treatment. If you do not, the medicine may not clear up your infection completely. The bacteria could also become less sensitive to this or other medicines. This could make the infection harder to treat in the future. LONG-TERM OR REPEATED USE of Flagyl 500mg may cause a second infection. Tell your doctor if signs of a second infection occur. Your medicine may need to be changed to treat this. BEFORE YOU BEGIN TAKING ANY NEW MEDICINE, either prescription or over-the-counter, check with your doctor or pharmacist. CAUTION IS ADVISED WHEN USING FLAGYL 500mg IN THE ELDERLY because they may be more sensitive to the effects of the medicine. FOR WOMEN: IF YOU PLAN ON BECOMING PREGNANT, discuss with your doctor the benefits and risks of using Flagyl 500mg during pregnancy. DO NOT USE FLAGYL 500mg IN THE FIRST 3 MONTHS OF PREGNANCY. FLAGYL 500mg IS EXCRETED IN BREAST MILK. DO NOT BREAST-FEED while taking Flagyl 500mg.

Possible side effects
SIDE EFFECTS that may occur while taking Flagyl 500mg include appetite loss; constipation; diarrhea; dizziness; headache; metallic taste; nausea; stomach upset; or vomiting. If they continue or are bothersome, check with your doctor. CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY if you experience bloody stools; decreased coordination; increased or decreased urination; numbness, tingling, or burning of your arms, hands, legs, or feet; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe diarrhea; severe or persistent dizziness or headache; sore throat, chills, or fever; speech problems; stiff neck; stomach pain or cramps; vaginal itching, odor, or discharge; vision loss or other vision changes; or white patches in the mouth. AN ALLERGIC REACTION to Flagyl 500mg is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of an allergic reaction include rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; or swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue. This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your healthcare provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Drug interactions
Drug interactions can result in unwanted side effects or prevent a medicine from doing its job. Use our drug interaction checker to find out if your medicines interact with each other. Check drug interactions

If you take too much
If overdose is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms of overdose may include nausea, vomiting, and seizures.

Additional information
If your symptoms do not improve within a few days or if they become worse, check with your doctor. DO NOT SHARE FLAGYL 500mg with others for whom it was not prescribed. DO NOT USE FLAGYL 500mg for other health conditions.

Selected data included with permission and copyrighted by Medi-Span, 2010. This copyrighted material has been downloaded from a Licensed data provider and is not for distribution in professional healthcare settings.
The name and strength of the drug discussed above has been provided for clarity by drugstore.com, inc. and without the express permission of Medi-Span, and Medi-Span makes no representation as to the accuracy of such additional information.