What is Metronidazole 500mg Used for

Metronidazole is an antibiotic which effectively protects you from health problems caused by anaerobic bacteria and certain parasites. Anaerobic bacteria, the single-celled organism, can grow vigorously even in an environment where very little oxygen is available. They can cause abdominal diseases (bacterial peritonitis), liver diseases (liver abscess), and pelvis disorders (abscess of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes). For instance, giardia lamblia and amoeba are the common intestinal parasites that can cause abdominal pain and diarrhea in infected individuals. A vaginal parasite known as trichomonas is responsible for inflammation of the vagina (vaginitis). The simple answer to the question, 'what is the use of metronidazole 500mg' is that these tablets help block some of the functions of the bacterial cells and the cell functions of parasites, leading to their death.

Metronidazole Uses
Metronidazole is the generic name of the medicine while the brand name is 'Flagyl'. Metronidazole 500mg is used to treat:

• Parasitic infections including 'Giardia infections' of the small intestine
• Amoebic liver abscess
• Amoebic dysentery (severe infection of the colon resulting in bloody diarrhea)
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Abscesses in the pelvis, abdomen and brain caused by susceptible anaerobic bacteria
• Infection of the colon caused by a bacterium called C. difficile.
• Trichomonas vaginal infections
• Carriers of trichomonas that do not exhibit any symptoms of infection
• Helicobacter pylori infection that causes stomach or intestinal ulcers

Availability of Metronidazole in Various Forms
Metronidazole tablets are available in various preparations such as 250 mg, 500 mg, 750 mg. Capsules contain 375 mg metronidazole. Cream and gel have 0.75% and 1% metronidazole, lotion contains 0.75% while injections have 5 mg/ml of metronidazole. If you are wondering, 'what is metronidazole cream used for', then let me tell you that metronidazole cream or gel is used to treat acne rosacea. The vaginal gel is used for treating bacterial vaginosis. For giardia, metronidazole 250 mg is recommended orally three times daily for 5 days. The following table will explain the uses of metronidazole more clearly.

Name of the Disease	Metronidazole Dosage
Amoebic dysentery	750 mg orally, daily 3 times for 5 - 10 days
Amoebic liver abscess	500 - 750 mg orally, daily 3 times for 5 - 10 days
Anaerobic infections	7.5 mg/kg orally, every 6 hours, not to exceed 4 grams daily
Bacterial Vaginosis (tablet)	750 mg orally, once daily for 7 days
Bacterial Vaginosis (gel)	0.75% vaginal gel, apply it once or twice daily for 5 days
Clostridium difficile infection	250 - 500 mg orally, daily 4 times for 5 - 10 days / 500 - 750 orally, daily 3 times for 5-10 days
Giardia	250 mg orally, daily 3 times for 5 days
Helicobacter pylori	800 - 1500 mg orally, daily for several days in combination with other drugs
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)	500 mg orally, daily twice for 14 days in combination with other drugs
Trichomoniasis	2g single dose or 1 g twice, for one day
Rosacea	gel 0.75 - 1%, apply topically, once daily

Metronidazole Side Effects
Metronidazole should not be taken by pregnant women and nursing moms. Serious side effects of metronidazole include seizures and nerve damage resulting in numbness and tingling sensation in extremities (peripheral neuropathy). Such severe side effects are rarely observed but minor side effects like nausea, headache, loss of appetite, metallic taste, and skin rash can be sometimes experienced by the person. While on metronidazole, alcohol should be strictly avoided. Consumption of metronidazole along with alcohol can lead to severe side effects like increased heart rate, high blood pressure, seizures, liver cirrhosis, breathing difficulty, headache, digestion problems, etc.

Metronidazole 500mg for Dogs
You need a prescription from your vet if you want to use metronidazole in the form of a tablet, for dogs and cats. Benefits of metronidazole for dogs and cats are:

• Metronidazole works great for inflammatory bowel disease.
• It lowers the symptoms of infections, including those caused by giardia, the intestinal parasite. Infections often lead to diarrhea.
• It also works great for periodontal diseases.

Actually, metronidazole treats a wide array of ailments in dogs and cats. Usually, a dose of 3 mg to 23 mg per pound is given to dogs, one to four times a day. The recommended dose of metronidazole for cats is 5 mg to 23 mg per pound, once or twice a day. So if you are thinking of giving metronidazole to your dog, then you should first check the weight of your dog and then calculate the dose accordingly. To dogs weighing low, 250 mg metronidazole can be given to treat the bowel infection.

Actually, the dose and duration of treatment may vary according to the specific condition being treated. And remember, you should give metronidazole to your pet, for the entire length of time, prescribed by your veterinarian.

Some pets may be allergic to metronidazole, so check for the allergy before giving the dose. Overdose of metronidazole may cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination, or seizures. So, you are expected to follow the instructions religiously.

I hope this article has answered all your queries regarding metronidazole. I hope you found the above information useful. The information is meant to provide guidelines and should not be treated as medical advice. You should consult your doctor for any of the problems mentioned above.