METRONIDAZOLE injectable

Therapeutic action

• Antiprotozoal, antibacterial

Indications

• 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.
• Do not add any drug in the infusion vial.

Storage