Introduction

Name

• Metronidazole.

Class of drug

• Synthetic nitroimidazole.

Description

Chemical name

• 2-methyl-5-nitroimidazole-1-ethanol.

Molecular formula

• C6H9N3O3.

Physical properties

• Sterile, aqueous solution.
• Tablets.

Storage requirements

• Protect from light.
• <25°C.

Uses

Indications

• Anaerobic infections, eg Bacteroides spp Bacteroides fragilis, Clostridium spp Clostridium perfringens, etc giardiasis Giardia spp and other protozoal infections.
• Management of hepatic encephalopathy Hepatic encephalopathy.
• Spiramycin is active against gram-positive aerobes including Staphylococcus spp Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp Streptococcus spp, Bacillus spp, Actinomyces spp Actinomyces pyogenes Actinomyces viscosus, Clostridium spp Clostridia spp and Bacteroides spp.
• Adjunct to treatment of pyothorax Pyothorax.

Administration

Pharmacokinetics

Precautions

Interactions

With other drugs

Phenobarbitone or phenytoin

• May increase metabolism of metronidazole Phenobarbital Phenytoin.

Cimetidine

• May decrease metabolism of metronidazole and increase the likelihood of dose-related adverse effects occurring Cimetidine.

with diagnostic tests

• The one-stage prothrombin (OSPT) time in patients on warfarin may be prolonged by metronidazole.

Adverse Reactions

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.

Other sources of information

• Ramsey I (2017) BSAVA Small Animal Formulary. 9th edn.
• Based on Small Animal Formulary. Tennant, Bryn (1999) 3rd edn. BSAVA, UK.