What if metronidazole gel doesn work

Sometimes, allergic reactions can be serious and require medical attention. If you have any of these side effects, stop taking metronidazole right away and call your doctor. If you have trouble breathing, call Stevens-Johnson syndrome: Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a rare but serious skin disorder.

Symptoms can appear in this order:. Stevens-Johnson syndrome is a medical emergency. If you have flu-like symptoms, call your doctor. If you have a painful rash that spreads and blisters or shedding of the top layer of your skin, call or go to the nearest emergency room immediately.

Neutropenia: Neutropenia is the condition when you have low levels of certain white blood cells, called neutrophils, that help fight off infections. Neutropenia puts you at higher risk of infection. Call your doctor right away if you develop a new infection while taking metronidazole.

Neutropenia will likely go away after you stop taking metronidazole tablets or capsules. Metronidazole topical cream, lotion, and gel treat inflammation caused by rosacea. This condition causes the skin of your face to redden and form small bumps. The more common side effects that can occur with metronidazole topical cream, gel, and lotion are generally mild. They may go away within a few days. These side effects can include yeast infection and the following skin effects:.

Metronidazole vaginal gel treats bacterial vaginosis. This is a bacterial infection in the vagina. The more common side effects that can occur with metronidazole vaginal gel are generally mild. Serious side effects of the vaginal gel are rare. They include some of the same side effects that the tablets and capsules can cause, such as cancer, peripheral neuropathy, and seizures. Do not drink alcohol or use any products that contain alcohol while using metronidazole.

Doing so can cause a chemical reaction that prevents your body from processing the alcohol. Symptoms of such a reaction can include:. Call your doctor if you have any of these side effects. And keep in mind that certain medications and other products can contain alcohol.

These items can include:. Check your labels for alcohol. You should avoid items with alcohol while using metronidazole and for three days after you finish treatment. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause a dangerous reaction. If you have questions about metronidazole side effects, talk with your doctor. Your doctor can help you understand all of the effects of metronidazole. To get you started, try asking these questions:.

BV may return if you did not complete your course of antibiotics. However, even if you have completed a full course of antibiotics, BV returns within three months in many women.

If it does come back, a repeat course of antibiotics will usually be successful. A small number of women have repeated episodes of BV and need repeated courses of antibiotics. If you have a copper coil for contraception - an IUCD - and have recurrent BV, your doctor or nurse may suggest that they remove your IUCD to see if this helps to improve your symptoms.

You will need to consider alternative contraception measures. If you have a same-sex partner then, even if she has no symptoms, treating both of you at the same time may reduce recurrence. You should also take particular notice of the advice not to use douches, bath additives and vaginal deodorants. Long-term use of metronidazole gel is sometimes advised. Specialist guidelines in the USA recommend using twice-weekly for up to six months.

UK specialist guidelines are less certain on the frequency and duration of preventative treatment, and your doctor may want to talk with a specialist for advice on this. I have been to this website several times to find a cure for BV and I want to share how I finally fixed mine. I had been suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis or BV for almost last three years Disclaimer: This article is for information only and should not be used for the diagnosis or treatment of medical conditions.

Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy.

Consult a doctor or other health care professional for diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. For details see our conditions. In this series. In this article What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis?

When should I get treatment for bacterial vaginosis? What are the treatments for bacterial vaginosis? Is yoghurt an effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis? Are vaginal acetic acid treatments an effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis?

Are lactobacillus tablets an effective treatment for bacterial vaginosis? Should my partner be treated for bacterial vaginosis? Do I need a test to find out if my bacterial vaginosis is cured?

What is the treatment for persisting bacterial vaginosis? Can bacterial vaginosis be prevented? Will I get bacterial vaginosis again?

What can I do about recurrent bacterial vaginosis? Treating and Preventing Bacterial Vaginosis In this article What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis? What is the treatment for bacterial vaginosis? Get tested today Sexual health blood and urine profiles now available in Patient Access Book now. Previous article Bacterial Vaginosis.

Are you protected against flu? Further reading and references. Should you clean your vagina? Is your lifestyle giving you thrush? These are not all the side effects of metronidazole tablets, cream, gel, suppositories or vaginal gel. For a full list see the leaflet inside your medicines packet. It's generally safe to use metronidazole while you're pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you're breastfeeding, take care when applying metronidazole cream or gel. Make sure you do not accidentally get it on your breasts. If this happens, wash off any cream or gel from your breasts before feeding your baby. Metronidazole cream or gel is not known to cause any problems with other medicines. However, there are some medicines that don't mix well with the tablets, suppositories, liquid or vaginal gel. Tell your doctor before you start taking metronidazole tablets, suppositories, liquid or vaginal gel if you're taking these medicines :.

There are no known problems with taking herbal remedies and supplements alongside metronidazole. However, some remedies and supplements that come as liquids that you drink may also contain alcohol.

Check the list of ingredients or ask the supplier or manufacturer. Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal medicines, vitamins or supplements.

Metronidazole is an antibiotic. It works by stopping the growth of the bacteria or parasites causing the infection. For most infections, you should feel better within a few days. With serious swelling including dental infections , the medicine will start working within a few days but it may take longer before your symptoms start to get better. For some of the infections that metronidazole is used for, you may only begin to notice an improvement after a week. When using the cream or gel to treat rosacea, you may have to wait a few weeks before you see any improvement.

It's very important that you keep taking metronidazole until the course is finished. Do this even if you feel better. It will help stop the infection coming back. Tell your doctor if you still do not feel better 2 or 3 days after finishing your course of metronidazole.

Also tell them if, at any time, you start to feel worse. Metronidazole does not stop any type of contraception from working, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.

However, if metronidazole makes you vomit or have severe diarrhoea, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. If this happens, follow the instructions in the leaflet that comes with your contraceptive pills. Read more about what to do if you're on the pill and you're being sick or have diarrhoea. Some people get a fungal infection called thrush after taking a course of antibiotics like metronidazole. This is more common if you're using the vaginal gel. It happens because antibiotics kill the normal harmless bacteria that help to protect you against thrush.

There's no clear evidence to suggest that taking metronidazole will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, speak to a pharmacist or doctor before taking it if you're trying to get pregnant. However, very rarely, some people suffer from drowsiness or blurred vision. Do not drive or ride a bike until you stop feeling drowsy and your vision is clear.

Do not drink alcohol while you're taking metronidazole, including for 2 days afterwards. This gives the medicine time to leave your body.

This is important because metronidazole can react with alcohol to cause a number of side effects. These include feeling and being sick, stomach pain, hot flushes, a pounding heartbeat palpitations and a headache.

You must not have any alcohol in either your food or drink while taking metronidazole - and for 2 days afterwards. Page last reviewed: 6 December Next review due: 6 December Metronidazole On this page About metronidazole Key facts Who can and cannot take metronidazole Tablets, liquid or suppositories Cream or gel Vaginal gel Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About metronidazole Metronidazole is an antibiotic. Metronidazole is only available on prescription. Help us improve our website Can you answer a quick question about your visit today?

The most common side effects of metronidazole tablets, liquid, suppositories or vaginal gel are feeling or being sick, diarrhoea, and a slight metallic taste in your mouth. Do not drink alcohol while taking a course of metronidazole tablets, liquid, suppositories or vaginal gel, or for 2 days after finishing treatment.

Alcohol can cause side effects such as feeling and being sick, stomach pain, hot flushes, a pounding heartbeat palpitations and a headache. For most infections, you'll start to feel better in a few days but for some it may take longer.

When treating rosacea, you may only notice a difference after several weeks. Metronidazole tablets or suppositories are called by the brand name Flagyl. Metronidazole cream is called by the brand names Rosiced or Rozex. To make sure the tablets, liquid or suppositories are safe for you, tell your doctor if you: have had an allergic reaction to metronidazole or any other medicines in the past are pregnant or breastfeeding have liver problems are having dialysis feel you will not be able to stop drinking alcohol while using metronidazole To make sure the external cream or gel is safe for you, tell your doctor if you: have had an allergic reaction to metronidazole or any other medicines including any creams or ointments in the past are pregnant or breastfeeding To make sure the vaginal gel is safe for you, tell your doctor if you: have had an allergic reaction to metronidazole or any other medicines in the past are pregnant or breastfeeding have liver problems feel you will not be able to stop drinking alcohol while using metronidazole think you may have vaginal thrush.