Metronidazole tablets are a reliable assistant in the fight against pathogenic microflora. The tool has antimicrobial activity against many microorganisms, which allows it to fight a wide range of diseases. It is used in many medical fields.

Composition (active substance) of tablets

The medicine contains the active ingredient metronidazole. It belongs to the nitroimidazole group, has an antiprotozoal effect. It is used to treat anaerobic infections and other diseases caused by anaerobic microbes (clostridia and other bacteroids). One tablet may contain 250 mg or 500 mg of the active substance.

Auxiliary components in tablet form: stearic acid, talc, potato starch.

Pharmacological properties and pharmacokinetics

The therapeutic effect of the drug is due to the ability of metronidazole to act on the simplest microorganisms. Due to the fact that the 5-nitro group of the active substance is restored by intracellular proteins of pathogenic microflora, metronidazole acts on the DNA of protozoa and anaerobic cells. As a result, inhibition of nucleic acids occurs, and the cells die.

The pharmacokinetics of metronidazole is divided into 4 periods:

  1. Absorption of substances and their adsorption in the stomach and intestines.
  2. The distribution of the active component throughout the body.It is absorbed into all tissues and biological fluids (blood, bile). Metronidazole derivatives cross the placental tissue barrier. Confirmed information about the ingestion of the active component in breast milk.
  3. Metabolism. Occurs in liver cells by 60%. The main metabolite also has a therapeutic effect.
  4. Excretion of the drug from the body. The half-life of metabolites is 8 hours. The drug is excreted mainly with urine (80%) and feces.

What helps metronidazole?

An antimicrobial drug helps with many diseases in various fields of medicine:

  • suppositories and tablets Metronidazole in gynecology help with infections of the vaginal vault, various abscesses of the organs of the reproductive system (fallopian tubes or ovaries);
  • in neurology for the treatment of severe inflammation of the central nervous system (meningitis);
  • for the treatment of pulmonological infections caused by bacteroids (pneumonia, lung abscess, empyema);
  • in cardiology for the treatment of bacterial endocarditis;
  • in otorhinolaryngology for the treatment of tonsillitis, sinusitis (some forms of diseases);
  • in dentistry;
  • for the treatment of infectious processes of soft tissues and dermis, joints and bones;
  • for the treatment of infectious processes in the abdominal cavity (peritonitis);
  • for the treatment of protozoal infectious processes (leishmaniasis, trichomonas urethritis, amoebic dysentery, balantidiasis);
  • to prevent postoperative infections in surgery, gynecology, urology (especially effective after the intervention of surgeons around the rectal opening);
  • for the treatment of gastric ulcer and duodenal ulcer caused by Helicobacter pylori;
  • for the treatment of invasive pathologies (giardiasis);
  • to heal extensive purulent wounds;
  • to prevent skin infections with eczema, bedsores;
  • for the treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (trichomoniasis, gardnerellosis);
  • to provide a radiosensitizing effect in radiation therapy (to enhance the effect of treatment).

IMPORTANT! Metronidazole is used to treat alcoholism. The drug causes persistent alcohol rejection by the body, so it is often used in drug treatment clinics.

It is not recommended to independently carry out such treatment, since there is a risk of side effects and the body's tolerance to the active substance.

Instructions for use and dosage

The medicine is recommended to be taken regardless of the meal. In this case, it is necessary to drink the tablets with milk or water. You do not need to chew the product (it has a rather bitter taste).

It is necessary to take metronidazole according to schemes that depend on the type of disease and the severity of the course:

  1. With giardiasis, a preparation of 500 mg is prescribed (morning and evening). The course is 5-7 days. 250-375 mg 2 times a day is prescribed for children under 8 years of age. After 8 years, a dose is prescribed, as for an adult.
  2. With aphthous stomatitis, Metronidazole tablets of 500 mg 2 times a day are used. The course of treatment is 5 days.
  3. With trichomoniasis, 250 mg is prescribed (2 times a day), the course of treatment is 10 days. Or 2 times 400 mg each, then the course of treatment is 5-7 days. Women are recommended to combine a tablet with vaginal suppositories. In childhood, appoint: up to 5 years - 250 mg 2 times, up to 10 years - 375 mg 2 times, after 10 years, an adult dosage is prescribed. Treatment can be repeated, but an interval of 3 weeks must be observed between courses.
  4. With alcoholism, 0.5 g of metronidazole is prescribed 1 time per day. The duration of treatment is up to 6 months.
  5. The daily dose of the drug with asymptomatic amoebiasis is 1 g. It is divided into 2 times. The course of therapy is 7 days. In the acute stage, the daily dose (2.25 g) is divided into 3 times. Treatment lasts until the symptoms disappear completely. In chronic amoebiasis, 500 mg are prescribed 3 times a day, the course of therapy is 5-10 days.
  6. To prevent complications in the period after the operation, 750 mg or 1500 mg of the drug is prescribed to patients 3 days before surgery (the dosage is divided into 3 doses).On the second day and on the 7th day, inclusive, patients are given 3 mg in 3 doses.
  7. In ulcer caused by Helicobacter, 500 mg of the drug is prescribed in 3 doses. The course of treatment is 7-8 days.

IMPORTANT! The metronidazole therapy regimen is prescribed strictly individually. Self-adjustment of the dose is unacceptable, as it can provoke complications and the development of side symptoms.

Pregnancy and lactation

The drug is strictly contraindicated for women in the first trimester of pregnancy. Since it has not been proved whether the medicine has a teratogenic effect on the human fetus, it is better to refuse to take it. In the II and III trimesters, the use of the drug is permissible if the benefit of taking an antiprotozoal agent exceeds the possible harm to the child's body.

Metronidazole and its metabolites pass into breast milk. Therefore, women taking medication should temporarily abandon breastfeeding. After the end of therapy, you can restore HB.

Drug interaction

Some drugs can enhance the pharmacological effect of the drug or provoke undesirable reactions:

  • the use together with Disulfiram (a cure for alcoholism) provokes the development of serious neurological symptoms (disorientation in space, mental disorders);
  • simultaneous administration with sulfonamides enhances the antimicrobial effect;
  • it is not recommended to take an antiprotozoal drug together with alcohol tinctures (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pains are observed);
  • together with indirect anticoagulants, it causes an increase in the action of the latter (an increased time for prothrombin formation is observed);
  • non-depolarizing muscle relaxants are incompatible with metronidazole;
  • simultaneous administration with lithium preparations enhances its toxic effect (symptoms of general intoxication of the body are observed);
  • reception together with Amoxicillin is contraindicated in patients under 18 years of age;
  • concomitant use with cimetidine leads to an increase in metronidazole metabolites in serum, which increases the risk of adverse reactions;
  • when taken together with inducers of microsomal liver enzymes (barbiturates), enhanced excretion of antimicrobial metabolites from blood serum is observed, as a result of which the plasma metronidazole concentration decreases several times.

Contraindications, side effects and overdose

Contraindications:

  • individual intolerance to the components of the drug;
  • allergic reactions to metronidazole or other nitroimidazoles;
  • bearing a child in the first trimester;
  • the period of breastfeeding;
  • organic psychosyndrome, as a result of damage to the GM (including cerebral palsy, epilepsy);
  • leukopenia (history);
  • severe hepatic impairment (if a high dosage is prescribed).

IMPORTANT! With caution, an antiprotozoal agent is prescribed for children under 6 years of age.

Side effects

Side effects from the use of metronidazole (are quite common):

  1. Nervous phenomena: general weakness, dizziness, headache, insomnia, poor coordination of movements. In severe cases - hallucinations, epileptiform attacks, transient.
  2. Gastrointestinal effects: nausea, vomiting, taste change, stool disturbance. Rarely - pancreatitis, glossitis.
  3. Flattening of a tooth of T on the electrocardiogram.
  4. Genitourinary system phenomena: polyuria, enuresis, cystitis. Rarely, candidiasis (with intravaginal use).
  5. Allergic phenomena: hyperemia, itching of the skin, angioedema.
  6. Other reactions: arthralgia.

Overdose

Symptoms: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, impaired coordination, epiprotal.

Treatment: symptomatic therapy, continuous monitoring of vital signs.

Metronidazole Tableted Analogs

When it is not possible to find Metronidazole, or its active component is not suitable for the patient, you can always find good substitutes:

  1. Trichopolum. The best analogue according to patients, as it has a minimal list of side effects. The active ingredient is metronidazole. The producer - "AKRIKHIN", Poland. The cost is about 317 rubles.
  2. Fazizhin. The active substance is tinidazole. It has an antimicrobial and antiprotozoal effect. The producer - "Fareva Amboise", France. The cost is about 300 rubles.
  3. Dasolik. The active ingredient is ornidazole. It has an antiprotozoal effect and antibacterial activity. It is approved for use even in newborns. The manufacturer is San Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., India. The cost is about 250 rubles.
  4. Metrogil. The active ingredient is metronidazole. The tablet form is available in a dosage of 200 and 400 mg. The producer - "Unique Pharmaceutical Laboratories", India. The cost of funds may vary.
  5. Efloran The active ingredient is metronidazole. It has antiulcer and antimicrobial effects. The producer - "Krka", Slovenia. The cost is about 190 rubles.

IMPORTANT! Only the attending physician selects the substitute. The analogue should be effective, not have contraindications for the patient and not cause a strong adverse reaction.

When choosing Metronidazole tablets, patients choose effectiveness and an affordable price. The drug has a powerful antimicrobial effect. Many domestic and foreign companies produce generics, so choosing a tool for everyone is not difficult.

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