What is metronidazole?

Metronidazole is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria in your body.

Metronidazole is used to treat bacterial infections of the vagina, stomach, skin, joints, and respiratory tract. This medication will not treat a vaginal yeast infection.

Metronidazole side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction to metronidazole: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. Call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:

• numbness or tingling in your hands or feet;
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
• pain or burning when you urinate;
• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• vision problems, pain behind your eyes;
• trouble concentrating, slurred speech, mood or behavior changes, tremors, muscle twitching, seizure (convulsions);
• fever, chills, muscle pain, confusion, headache, sore throat, neck stiffness, increased sensitivity to light, drowsiness, nausea and vomiting; or
• severe skin reaction -- fever, sore throat, swelling in your face or tongue, burning in your eyes, skin pain, followed by a red or purple skin rash that spreads (especially in the face or upper body) and causes blistering and peeling.

Less serious metronidazole side effects may include:

• stomach pain, diarrhea;
• dizziness, loss of balance;
• vaginal itching or discharge;
• dry mouth or unpleasant metallic taste;
• cough, sneezing, runny or stuffy nose; or
• swollen or sore tongue.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088

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