Flagyl (Metronidazole) & C Difficile Treatment

Flaygl is the common trade name of a drug called Metronidazole. It is suggested for several conditions but is often used to treat c.difficile.

When is Flagyl Prescribed

It is often used as the drug for those suffering their first mild to moderate attack of c difficile. It is taken in oral form. Smokers of e-cigarettes may experience negative reactions and should refrain during treatment.

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Who should not use Flaygl

It is not for use by pregnant women in the first trimester. Users should not consume alcohol while taking it and for 3 days after. Drugs.com also notes that care will be needed if you have:

  • liver disease;
  • a stomach or intestinal disease such as Crohn’s disease;
  • a blood cell disorder such as anemia (lack of red blood cells) or leukopenia (lack of white blood cells);
  • epilepsy or other seizure disorder;
  • or nerve disorders.
  • or you are breastfeeding – flagyl will not be good for your child

How does Flagyl work

Wikipedia notes that it:

It inhibits nucleic acid synthesis by disrupting the DNA of microbial cells. This function only occurs when metronidazole is partially reduced, and because this reduction usually happens only in anaerobic cells, it has relatively little effect upon human cells or aerobic bacteria

What are the Flagyl side effects

Less than 1% of patients are thought to suffer serious adverse side effects from a course of treatment. Larger numbers may suffer minor side effects such as dizziness and headaches.  Side effects might include: nausea, diarrhea, and/or metallic taste in the mouth. Rare adverse effects include: hypersensitivity reactions – rash, itch, flushing, fever, headache, dizziness, vomiting, glossitis, stomatitis, dark urine, and/or paraesthesia.

Long term treatment has been questioned because of cancer concerns and for that reason the drug is not allowed for vetinary use in food animals.

In depth medical background

Find out more about Flagyl at Wikipedia. A detailed overview of side effects can also be found at drugs.com

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Last Updated on November 22, 2015

3 thoughts on “Flagyl (Metronidazole) & C Difficile Treatment”

  1. My NP who wrote the rx for Flagyl will not change my rx after 5 days treatment and no let up in diarrhea and I even messed myself in my sleep last night. So weak didn’t get out of bed all day yesterday. I feel if I have to wait to take all 10 days of this I may be dead by then. I’m 67 with 40 years IBS. Stool came back positive for Toxigenic Clostridium difficile DNA. Had a colonoscopy last week ( 1 polyp removed) and my 3rd esophagus dilation. Is there somewhere online that I can get a second opinion on medication to treat C diff?

    Reply
  2. My Mom was in a nursing home. She had a blood pressure of 82/38 rushed to
    to hospital because we told them the day before something was wrong. and of course she has C-Diff. She is 74 yrs. old why don’t they care. If it not for
    her daughters she might be dead. We still not sure what will happen !

    Reply
  3. Dave,
    Thank you for your reply. I did seek further response from my doctor on the 17th and she still wanted me to hang in there on the flagyl. By the 18th the burning pain was still increasing and my doctor agreed to write out the prescription for vancomycin. The second opinion from another doctor I respect was e-mailed to me today. He strongly told me that neuropathy is a real concern with the flagyl. If I could see a correlation between when I started the flagyl and the increase in neuropathy symptoms then I should stop it immediately. I had started the vancomycin by the time the second opinion came. I’m thankful you suggested both options to me. My primary doctor didn’t know what was best with this. She’s a good doctor and did agree to change prescriptions. Had she not, the second doctor’s recommendation would have saved me from any more of these side effects. Thanks for caring for us!

    Reply

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