Metronidazole Tablets 200mg
PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET
METRAN 200
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again
• If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or your pharmacist
• This medicine has been prescribed only for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
IN THIS LEAFLET
1. What your medicine is and what it is used for.
2. What you need to know before you take your medicine.
3. How to take your medicine.
4. Possible side effects.
5. How to store your medicine.
6. Contents of the pack and other information.
1. WHAT METRONIDAZOLE IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR
The name of this medicine is Metran 200 (called Metronidazole tablets in this leaflet). Metronidazole belongs to a group of medicines called antibiotics.
It works by killing bacteria and parasites that cause infections in your body. It can be used to:
• Treat infections of the blood, brain, lung, bones, genital tract, pelvic area, stomach and
intestines.
• Treat gum ulcers and other dental infections.
• Treat infected leg ulcers and pressure sores.
• Prevent infections after surgery.
2. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE YOUR MEDICINE
Do not take Metronidazole tablets and tell your doctor if
You are allergic (hypersensitive) to metronidazole, nitroimidazoles (e.g. tinidazole) or any of the other ingredients (see section 6). Signs of an allergic reaction include a rash, itching, difficulty breathing or swallowing, swelling of the face, tongue or throat.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Metronidazole if
• You suffer or have ever suffered from liver problems
• You have kidney problems and are having dialysis (see section 3: ‘People having kidney
dialysis’).
• You suffer from a condition called porphyria (a blood disorder leading to abnormal sensitivity
to sunlight and other problems)
• You have a disease of the nervous system
• You have intolerance to some sugars as this medicine contains lactose
• You have been prescribed this medicine for more than 10 days - your doctor may wish to
carry out some tests and monitor you closely for development of side effects to your nervous system
If you are not sure if any of the above apply to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine. Do this even if they have applied to you in the past.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription such as herbal medicines, especially:
• Medicines to stop your blood clotting (e.g. coumarins, warfarin).
• Medicines used to treat epilepsy (e.g. phenobarbital, phenytoin,
primidone).
• Lithium (used to treat depression).
• Medicines used to treat cancer (e.g. busulfan, fluorouracil or mycophenolate).
• Disulfiram (used to treat alcohol addiction).
• Medicines used to treat stomach ulcers (e.g. cimetidine).
• Oestrogen contraceptives (known as ‘the pill’).
• Ciclosporin (used to prevent the rejection of organs after transplant).
Taking Metronidazole with food and drink
Do not drink any alcohol while you are taking Metronidazole tablets and for 48 hours after finishing your course. Drinking alcohol while using Metronidazole tablets might cause unpleasant side effects such as nausea (feeling sick), vomiting (being sick), stomach pain, hot flushes, very fast or uneven heartbeat (palpitations) and headache.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking this medicine if:
• you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant or are planning to become pregnant
Metronidazole tablets should not be taken during pregnancy unless considered absolutely necessary.
• You are breast-feeding. It is better not to take this medicine if you are breast-feeding
because small amounts of it may pass into the mother’s milk.
Always ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines
This medicine may make you feel drowsy, dizzy, confused or affect your vision, cause fits or hallucinations. Make sure you are not affected before you drive or operate machinery.
Important information about some of the ingredients in your medicine This medicine contains a sugar called lactose. Some people may be intolerant to this sugar. If you have been told by your doctor that you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicinal product.
3. HOW TO TAKE YOUR MEDICINE
Take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. It is important to finish a full course of treatment. The dose and length of your treatment with Metronidazole tablets will depend on your needs and the type of illness being treated. Check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.
• Do not crush or chew the tablets.
• Take these tablets during or just after a meal.
The usual dose for adults and children is given below:
To treat bacterial infection:
Adults
• The initial dose is 800mg (4 tablets)
• After 8 hours take another dose of 400mg (2 tablets) and repeat this dose every 8 hours Children
• Your doctor will work out how much your child should take depending on their weight.
• Repeat the dose every 8 hours
• If your child is a baby under 8 weeks of age, your doctor will give them one daily dose or
two separate doses 12 hourly
To prevent infections from happening after surgery:
Adults
• Start taking Metronidazole tablets 24 hours before your operation
• Take 400mg (2 tablets) of Metronidazole tablets every 8 hours
• After the operation you may be give metronidazole either through a drip into a vein or
rectally as a suppository until you are able to take tablets again
Children
• Start giving your child Metronidazole tablets 1-2 hours before their operation. Your doctor
will work out how much your child should take depending on their weight
• After the operation your child may be given metronidazole either through a drip into a
vein or rectally as a suppository until they are able to take tablets again
Other types of infections
For treatment of other infections caused by parasites and some bacteria your doctor will decide how many Metronidazole tablets you need to take and how often. This will depend on your illness and how bad it is. Always check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure.
Elderly
Metronidazole tablets are well tolerated by the elderly but caution should be exercised with high dosage regimens.
People having kidney dialysis
Kidney dialysis removes metronidazole from your blood. If you are having kidney dialysis you must take this medicine after your dialysis treatment.
If you take more tablets than you should
If you take more tablets than you should, or if you think a child has accidentally swallowed some tablets, contact the nearest hospital casualty department or speak to your doctor for advice immediately. Take this leaflet and any tablets that you still have, to show the doctor.
Signs of an overdose include feeling or being sick, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, metallic taste, headache, dizziness, insomnia or drowsiness.
If you forget to take your tablets
Take the next dose as soon as you remember. However, if it is nearly time for the next dose, skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for forgotten doses.
If you stop taking the tablets
Keep taking the tablets until you have finished the course. Do not stop taking them even if you start to feel better after a few days. If you are unsure about anything, talk to your doctor and follow their advice.
The dose your doctor or pharmacist advises may be different to the doses given in this leaflet. Always follow your doctor or pharmacist’s instructions when taking any medicines.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Metronidazole tablets can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.
Stop taking your medicine and see a doctor or go to a hospital immediately if:
• You have an allergic reaction (signs include skin rash, flaking skin, boils, sore lips
or mouth; wheezing; fluttering or tightness of the chest or collapse; swelling of the face, tongue or throat)
• You suffer a serious but very rare brain disease (encephalopathy). Symptoms may include
a fever, stiff neck, headache, hallucinations, problems using your arms and legs, problems with speaking, feeling confused
• You develop skin rashes with blistering, peeling or bleeding of the skin around the lips,
eyes, mouth, nose and genitals. You may also have flu-like symptoms and a high temperature. These could be signs of severe allergic skin reactions called Stevens-Johnson Syndrome or toxic epidermal necrolysis.
Talk to your doctor straight away if you notice any of the following side effects:
• Blood disorders (signs may include increased bruising, sore throats, unexpected
infections, mouth ulcers, bleeding gums or unusual tiredness)
• Yellowing skin and whites of the eyes
• Severe stomach pain which may reach through to your back (pancreatitis)
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you notice any of the following side effects:
Very rare (affects less than 1 in 10 000 people)
• Fits (convulsions)
• Feelings of confusion, seeing or hearing things that are not there (hallucinations)
• Muscle weakness, muscle pain or joint pain
• Eyesight problems such as blurred or double vision
• Drowsiness, dizziness, headaches
• Skin rashes, itching, blisters, circular red patches on the skin. Darkening of urine
• Liver problems including life-threatening liver failure (hepatocellular liver injury)
• Abnormal liver function tests
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
• Paralysis (numbness), tingling, pain or a feeling of weakness in the arms or legs
• Unpleasant taste in the mouth. Furred tongue
• Feeling sick, being sick, upset stomach or diarrhoea
• Loss of appetite
• Fever
• Feeling depressed
• Pain in your eyes (optic neuritis)
• A group of symptoms together including fever, nausea, vomiting, headache, stiff neck and
extreme sensitivity to bright light. This may be caused by an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord (meningitis)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via Yellow Card Scheme Website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard . By reporting side effects you can help
provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. HOW TO STORE YOUR MEDICINE
Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
Do not use after the expiry date stated on the label.
Do not store above 25°C.
Store in the original container and keep the container tightly closed in order to protect the tablets from light and moisture.
Do not use if you notice any damage or discolouration to the tablets.
Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.
6. FURTHER INFORMATION
What Metronidazole tablets contain
The active substance is metronidazole. Each tablet contains 200mg of metronidazole.
The other ingredients are lactose, maize starch, pregelatinised maize starch, sodium starch glycollate and magnesium stearate.
What Metronidazole tablets look like and contents of the pack
Metronidazole tablets are flat, white or creamy-white scored tablets.
These tablets are available in pack sizes of 21, 28, 30, 50, 56, 60, 84, 90, 100, 112, 120, 140, 150, 168, 180, 250, 500, 1000, 5000 or 50000 tablets (not all pack sizes are marketed).
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer:
Intrapharm Laboratories Limited,
The Courtyard Barns,
Choke Lane,
Cookham Dean,
Maidenhead,
Berkshire,
SL6 6PT,
UNITED KINGDOM.
For any information about this medicine, please contact the Marketing Authorisation Holder on the details provided above.
PL 17509/0073
This leaflet was last revised in February 2015