Metronidazole can be highly effective for the treatment of both bacterial and parasitic infections. It can treat infections all throughout the body, including the entire respiratory system, much of the reproductive system, much of the gastroenterological system and in the skin and joints. Just about anywhere you need infection combated, Metronidazole is going to be effective.
It won’t be able to get rid of every infection you have, though. If you are suffering from the flu, a cold virus or a yeast infection, then you will have to use something else to treat those.
You may need to take it for about 10 days. Simply taking it for a few days won’t be enough to completely get rid of the infection. It’s best to take it under advice from a doctor, as it can seem like the medication has cleared up your bacterial infection only for that same infection to return after you stop taking the drug. That’s because even though the symptoms and visible signs of infection may have cleared, there may still be some lingering presence of that infection in your body. Taking the drug for the entire 10-day course ensures that the infection clears up completely and does not return.
If you skip doses, you can help the infection to become immune to the drug. However, if you forget to take a dose, you don’t want to take an extra dose to make up for it. It’s best to just take the next dose at its scheduled time. If you take too much of this drug, then you can suffer from dizziness, nausea, vomiting, numbness and seizures.
It is important that you avoid drinking alcohol while taking this drug. You should not drink any until at least three days after you stopped taking Metronidazole. Combining it with alcohol can cause vomiting, liver damage, hypertension and an increased heart rate, among other symptoms.
Simply taking the medication can cause side effects as well. These include dizziness, nausea, tingling sensations, numbness, vision problems, chills, fever, confusion and much more. If you start to experience any side effects while taking the drug, talk to your doctor. If your symptoms are severe, you should seek medical help right away, particularly if you experience any allergy symptoms (itchiness, breathing difficulties, rashes or swelling of the tongue).
