How Effective is Flagyl & What are Its Side Effects?

You should complete your flagyl dose as prescribed by your doctor. Your condition may get better before the infection is completely eliminated. When you skip or fail to complete doses, you will be risking yourself of becoming resistant to antibiotic drugs.

Flagyl which is also called metronidazole is an antibiotic medicine. Flagyl or metronidazole is utilized to effectively combat bad bacteria in our bodies. This medicine is prescribed in treatment of bacterial infections of the skin, vagina, joints, stomach and the respiratory tract.

Flagyl or metronidazole is not used in treatment of vaginal yeast infection.

• Flagyl is not used to treat viral infections like flu or common cold.
• You should not use alcohol while on flagyl treatment. Even after stopping taking flagyl you should wait for at least 3 days before you start consuming alcohol.
• You may also experience weird side effects like tingling feeling, vomiting, skin redness and warmth, nausea and fast heartbeats.

Flagyl is a trade name for metronidazole. Flagyl is an antibiotic drug that can be utilized in treating anaerobic infections brought by protozoa or bacteria. Anaerobic refers to micro-organisms that can survive without air.

Flagyl or metronidazole is used in effective treatment of a wide variety of infections like those that appear inside the gastrointestinal tract, the abdomen, genitourinary area, deep in the skin layers, inside joints or bones, in the blood, in the lower respiratory tract and heart, and in the central nervous system.

• You can take flagyl on empty stomach or during a meal.
• Do not take alcohol during the course of your flagyl intake even up to 72 hours after completing your flagyl dosage.
• Take flagyl or metronidazole for the period and the amount your doctor has prescribed for you.
• Take flagyl or metronidazole only when prescribed by a physician to clear infections brought by susceptible bacteria. Wrong use of this medicine can build up resistance against antibiotic drugs.
• You should seek medical help if your skin changes its color and when you feel pain, numbness or sensitivity in your toes and fingers.
• The effectiveness and response of flagyl is excellent. Peak levels of this medicine are attained after 1 or 2 hours of dosing. But it may take two days for the symptoms to start subsiding.

Do not take flagyl or metronidazole if you suffer allergic reactions to it, or when in your 3 months of pregnancy. Inform your doctor if you are or plan to be pregnant when taking flagyl or metronidazole.

Before you start your flagyl or metronidazole dose, inform your physician you experience allergic reaction to certain medicines or when you have:

• Nerve disorder
• Liver problems
• Blood cell disorders such as leupokemia or anemia
• Intestinal or stomach diseases like crohn’s disease
• Other convulsion disorders or epilepsy.
• If you suffer from any of the above conditions, you may require a specialist test or adjustment to keep you safe when taking flagyl.
• Flagyl can get into breast milk and hurt your nursing baby. Do not take this medicine before consulting your doctor when breastfeeding.

Common side effects of flagyl or metronidazole are:

• Diarrhea and stomach pain
• Feeling dizzy and losing balance
• Vaginal discharge or itching
• A disgusting metallic taste or dry mouth
• Sneezing, coughing or having a stuffy and running nose
• Sore or bulging tongue.

Seek immediate medical assistance if you experience allergic reactions to flagyl such as breathing difficulties, hives and swelling of your lips, throat, tongue or face.

You need to contact your physician if you experience these severe side effects of flagyl or metronidazole:

• Tingling and numbness of your feet and hands
• Sores or white marks on your lips or in your mouth.
• Burning sensation or pain when urinating.
• Diarrhea which is bloody or watery.
• Pain in your eyes and vision problems.
• Unclear speech, concentration problems, changes in behavior or mood, seizure, muscle twitching and tremors.
• Confusion, chills, muscle pain, fever, sore throat, headache, nausea, stiff neck, vomiting, drowsiness and high sensitivity to light.
• Serious skin reaction which includes sore throat, fever, burning sensation in your eyes, swelling of your tongue or face and a painful skin which results to purple or red rashes which scatters on your upper body or face, causing blisters and peeling.

Patients of between 18 and 60 years who have no any other medical condition, and are not using other medicines may get the following side effects when using flagyl or metronidazole:

• Common side effects like disgusting metallic taste, nausea and headache, nerve damage of the toes and fingers (peripheral neuropathy) and diarrhea.
  In rare cases seizure may occur.
• Flagyl interacts with alcohol beverages and may cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, flushing and headaches. Stop alcohol consumption when using flagyl.

Flagyl or metronidazole is a very effective and strong antibiotic used in treatment of anaerobic infections. You should avoid taking alcohol when using flagyl until three days after stopping your dose.