You should know the risks and warnings of Flagyl to prevent its misuse.
There are some specific circumstances under which the use of certain medications is contraindicated or considered dangerous. So if you are taking any medicine its always a good practice to familiarize yourself with its risks and warnings.
The risks and warnings associated with Flagyl are:
1. Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Pregnant and lactating mothers are not advised to take Flagyl, unless approved by the doctor, as it can harm the baby's health.
2. Allergic to Flagyl
People may be allergic to metronidazole, and therefore, consumption of Flagyl leads to an allergic reaction in the body. Tell your doctor about any such allergies. As metronidazole is available under different brand names as well, thus be sure to read the chemical composition of the medicine before taking it.
Allergic reactions can be mild, causing rashes, wheezing, hives etc. or they can be severe as well, known as anaphylaxis. In anaphylactic shock, as the body comes in contact with the allergen, the reaction is triggered in the body, symptoms of which include breathing difficulty, disorientation, nausea, vomiting, etc. If not treated in time, anaphylactic shock can be fatal as well.
3. Non-susceptible organisms
It is vital that Flagyl be given to patients when the bacteria are sensitive to the drug. Otherwise, the condition will not be abated, and one can then have antibiotic resistance. This condition results due to abuse of antibiotics; bacteria develop resistance to the drugs, and thus renders it useless.
Hence, treating pathogen attacks next time becomes difficult to treat. This is especially true for Urinary Tract Infections.
4. Seizures
People with a history of seizure or renal impairment should not consume Flagyl, as intake of the drug can trigger seizures.
Moreover, people with a history of conditions like brain tumors, brain injury, or cerebral atherosclerosis that result in seizures should take Flagyl with caution, lest it too triggers a seizure.
In this endeavor, patients should disclose their medical history in detail to the medical practitioner to prevent unwanted consequences.
5. Kidney failure
Kidneys perform the vital task of removing waste and toxins from the body. Without this natural filtration process, these harmful substances build up inside of the body, leading to all sorts of complications, and even death in extreme circumstances.
As drugs further impose on the kidneys, anyone with impaired kidney functionality will not be able to tolerate high dosages. Thus, if you have kidney problems, you must disclose them to the doctor so they can monitor your dosage accordingly.
6. Liver diseases
The liver is involved in the metabolism and excretion of drugs in the body. If the liver is unable to function well on account of some condition, it can cause a buildup of the drug inside of the body, leading to grave consequences.
Therefore, people with liver diseases should take Flagyl with caution.
7. Mental disorders
Flagyl can aggravate pre-existing mental conditions like anxiety and depression. People suffering from these ailments should not only take the medication with caution but also inform their healthcare provider of such problems so that appropriate dosage of medication is prescribed.
8. Alcohol
You should not mix alcohol with metronidazole as the combination of two can have severe effects on the body.
9. Peripheral neuropathy
As Flagyl can aggravate peripheral neuropathy, it is suggested that patients suffering from it do not take it.
10. Menstrual periods
Do not use Flagyl during periods, as it may affect and hamper the absorption of the gel.
11. Anticoagulants or bleeding disorders
For people using anticoagulants for thinning their blood, or those having any blood disorder, it is recommended that they take Flagyl at the discretion of the doctor.
