Brand Names

How to Use

If this drug upsets your stomach, it may be taken with meals or a snack. If stomach upset - nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea continues, check with your family doctor. If you are taking the extended-release formulation, you must try to take it an hour before or two hours after your meal.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep taking this drug for the full time of treat , even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you stop taking this drug too soon, your symptoms may return.

In some kinds of infections, this drug works best when there is a constant amount in the blood To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Always it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times, day and night . For example, if you are to take 4 doses a day, the doses must be spaced about 6 hours apart. If this interferes with your sleep or other daily activities, or if you need help in planning the best times to take your drug, check with your health care professional.

Dosage

The number of capsules or tablets that you take depends on the strength of the drug. Always the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses and the length of time you take the drug depend on the medical problem for which you are taking metronidazole .

• For oral dosage forms - capsules, tablets:
  • For bacterial infections:
    • Adults and teenagers Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 7.5 milligrams - mg per kilogram - kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight, up to a maximum dose of 1 gram, every six hours for at least seven days.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 7.5 mg per kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight every six hours; or 10 mg per kg - 4.5 mg per pound every eight hours.
  • For amebiasis infections:
    • Adults and teenagers 500 to 750 mg three times a day for five to ten days.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 11.6 to 16.7 mg per kg - 5.3 to 7.6 mg per pound of body weight three times a day for ten days.
  • For trichomoniasis infections:
    • Adults and teenagers A single dose of 2 grams; or 1 gram two times a day for one day; or 250 mg three times a day for seven days.
    • Children Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 5 mg per kg - 2.3 mg per pound of body weight three times a day for seven days.
• For oral dosage form - extended release tablets:
  • For bacterial vaginosis:
    • Adults and teenagers 750 mg once a day for seven days.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.
• For injection dosage form:
  • For bacterial infections:
    • Adults and children over 1 week of age Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 15 mg per kg - 6.8 mg per pound of body weight one time to start, then 7.5 mg per kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight injected into a vein every six hours for at least seven days.
    • Preterm infants Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 15 mg per kg - 6.8 mg per pound of body weight one time to start, then 7.5 mg per kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight, injected into a vein, every twelve hours starting forty-eight hours after the first dose.
    • Full-term infants Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 15 mg per kg - 6.8 mg per pound of body weight one time to start, then 7.5 mg per kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight, injected into a vein, every twelve hours starting twenty-four hours after the first dose.
  • For treat before and during bowel surgery:
    • Adults and teenagers Dose is based on body weight. The usual dose is 15 mg per kg - 6.8 mg per pound, injected into a vein, one hour before surgery, then 7.5 mg per kg - 3.4 mg per pound of body weight, injected into a vein, six hours and twelve hours after the first dose.
    • Children Use and dose must be determined by your family doctor.

Missed dose If you miss a dose of this drug, take it as soon as possible. This will help to keep a constant amount of drug in the blood. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage To store this drug:

• Keep out of the reach of children.
• Store away from heat and direct light.
• Do not store the capsule or tablet form of this drug in the bathroom, near the kitchen sink, or in other damp places. Heat or moisture may cause the drug to break down.
• Do not keep outdated drug or drug no longer needed. Be sure that any discarded drug is out of the reach of children.