Flagyl 400 mg

Medically Reviewed by

Dr. Akanksha Kaushal

Dr. Akanksha, Pharm-D

Dr. Akansha is a licensed Clinical Pharmacologist with extensive expertise in pharmacovigilance, prescription analysis, drug information, and safety. She's a dedicated educator and avid learner. Dr. Akansha also reviews medical content on GoodRx Medicine, ensuring accurate pharmaceutical information is accessible to all.

Written by

Julian Carter

Julian Carter

Julian, an MBA in Pharmaceutical Management, brings a dynamic blend of expertise and impact with his contributions at Goodrxmedicine. His dedication and innovative spirit continue to shape a brighter future in pharmaceutical management.

About brand name of the drug

Flagyl 400 mg tablets (Metronidazole) is the branded drug manufactured by a multinational renowned company Abbott Healthcare Private Limited. This medicine is available in the form of tablets as an oral dosage form. This medicine is mainly used for the treatment of various types of infections and their associated symptoms into the stomach and genital areas. This drug provides effective relief from infections and their associated symptoms into the stomach and genital areas and widely used throughout the world.

About the drug

Flagyl 400 mg tablets (Metronidazole) contains Metronidazole as its main active pharmaceutical ingredient. This drug is available into various strengths like 200 mg, 400 mg and 500 mg. This drug is available in blister packaging containing 15 tablets per strip. This medicine is easily available at medical shops, hospitals and e-pharmacies etc.

 Some another brands equivalent to Flagyl 400 mg tablets (Metronidazole) in the USA are:

• Flagyl

About salt of the drug

Metronidazole is a medicine belongs to Nitroimidazoles class of Antiprotozoal drugs. It is a prodrug which gets reduced into its active form inside the bacteria and it shows its action selectively against anaerobic bacteria (bacteria that cannot survive or grow in presence of oxygen). After its conversion into its active form it gets bind covalently to the bacterial cell DNA and causes disruption of its helical structure leading to inhibition of nucleic acid synthesis and ultimately resulting into death of bacteria. Thus, Metronidazole provides effective treatment against bacterial infections taking place inside the stomach and genital areas.

Medical Uses of the drug

Flagyl 400 mg tablets (Metronidazole) is widely used in the treatment of bacterial infections taking place inside the stomach and genital areas and their associated symptoms mentioned as below:

• Amebiasis (It is a type of parasitic infection taking place inside the colon that occurs by a parasite Entamoeba histolytica)
• Trichomoniasis (It is a type of vaginal infection which occurs by a protozoan parasite Trichomonas vaginalis)
• Bacterial vaginosis (It is a vaginal infection that occurs because of overgrowth of bacteria within vagina mainly Lactobacillus species)
• Surgical prophylaxis (It is defined as the use of antibiotics to prevent infections after surgery)
• Other bacterial infections taking place inside blood, lungs etc.

Working of a drug

Flagyl 400 mg tablets (Metronidazole) contains Metronidazole as its main active pharmaceutical ingredient belongs to Nitroimidazole class of Antiprotozoal drugs. It is a prodrug (A drug which gets converted into its active form biologically inside the body) which gets converted into its active form after reduction and binds covalently to bacterial DNA and causes disruption of its helical structure leading to inhibition of bacterial nucleic acid synthesis and results into bacterial cell death. Thus, Flagyl provides effective relief from various bacterial infections and their associated symptoms into the stomach and genital areas.

Side effects

Though Flagyl 400 mg tablets (Metronidazole) does not cause any severe side effects if it is administered at a normal dose but sometimes it results into some common side effects mentioned as below:

•   Blurred vision
•   Constipation
•   Loss of appetite
•   Burning or tingling action of feet and hands
•   Irritation inside the vagina
•   Skin rashes
•   Abdominal pain
•   Metallic taste
•   Dizziness
•   Dryness of mouth
•   Fever and chills
•   Convulsions
•   Yellow colored skin and eyes

In case of appearance of any of the above-mentioned symptoms, kindly consult your doctor immediately without any delay.

How to use 

Flagyl 400 mg tablets is a drug meant to be taken in the same manner as it is prescribed by the doctor and follow all the instructions mentioned as below:

• Recommended initial dose is 800 mg and then followed by 400 mg three times a day after every 8 hours for consecutive 5-7 days as per directed by the doctor.
• Start taking drugs at least 24 hours before the initiation of surgery.
• Do not chew and crush the contents of the tablet
• Take this medicine always with a glass full of water.
• Take this medicine during or after meals as per directed by the doctor.
• Recommended maximum dose is 2000mg once a day and do not take medicine above this dose.
• Take the medicine at the usual fixed time in case of missed dose.
• Do not take an overdose of this medicine than the recommended dose by the doctor as it may lead to undesirable side effects.
• For pediatric patients, dose is recommended by the doctor on the basis of their body weights, usual dose recommended is 35-50 mg/kg thrice a day for 10 consecutive days as per directed by the doctor.
• Store this medicine at a cool and dry place away from its direct contact with sunlight.

Drugs that are known to interact with this medicine

Two or more drugs are taken together simultaneously at the same time results into drug interaction. Drugs which show drug interaction with Flagyl are mentioned as follows:

• Oral Anticoagulants: Warfarin
• Antidepressants: Lithium
• Alcohol antagonist drugs: Disulfiram
• Lipid lowering agents: Atorvastatin
• Antibiotics: Cyclosporine
• Anticancer drugs: Busulfan
• Antiepileptic drugs: Phenytoin, Phenobarbital
• Previous history of allergic reactions in patients after taking this medicine

When to avoid taking the drug

This drug is not meant to be used in the medical conditions mentioned as follows:

• Blood related diseases: Blood dyscrasia (A disorder which is characterized by lowering in the white blood cells count)
• Kidney related diseases
• Liver disorders: Hepatitis
• Central Nervous System disorders: Cockayne syndrome (A neurodegenerative disorder characterized by impaired development of the nervous system, sensitivity to sunlight)
• Gastrointestinal disorders: Crohn’s disease (a type of inflammation in the digestive tract)
• Previous history of allergic reactions in patients after taking this medicine

Things to avoid when using the drug

Avoid the use of following things with Flagyl described as follows:

• Avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages along with this medicine as it may cause headache, dizziness, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, drowsiness etc.
• Avoid use of other oral antibiotics along with this medicine as it may results into undesirable side effects.
• Before purchasing this drug, kindly check the expiry date mentioned on the pack size.

General Information and Precautions 

• Keep this drug out of reach from children and pets.
• This medicine is not meant to be used in infants less than 2 weeks old.
• Do not take an overdose of this drug more than the prescribed dose as per directed by the doctor.
• Take the medicine at the usual fixed time in case of missed dose.
• This medicine is not advised to be used with other antibiotics for the treatment of infections.
• This medicine is not meant to be used by the patients having previous history of allergic reactions in patients after taking this medicine.
• Do not stop taking this drug without the consent of the doctor.
• Close monitoring of liver and kidney function is required to be done by a doctor in case of patients already suffering from any liver and kidney related diseases.

Precautions

• Alcohol- Flagyl is not advised to be used along with alcoholic beverages as it may results into headache, fatigue, excessive sleepiness, drowsiness, dizziness etc.
• Pregnancy- This medicine is not meant to be used by pregnant women as it may results into fetus’s life risky as per the available clinical studies data done on animals and humans.
• Driving- This drug is not meant to be used while driving or doing any heavy machinery work as it may results into sleepiness, headache, blurring of vision, drowsiness etc.
• Medical conditions- This medicine is not advised to be used in case of medical conditions like kidney and liver related disorders, neurological disorders, blood related disorders (Blood dyscrasia (disease related to decrease in the white blood cells count)), gastrointestinal disorders (inflammation of gastrointestinal tract) etc.
• Organs- Organs like kidney, liver, brain, gastrointestinal tract are affected as it may results into undesirable side effects like impairment of liver and kidney functions, brain function impairment etc.
• Lactation- This drug is not advised to be used in lactating women as it leads to fetus’s life risk as it gets ejected out into milk.

Storage

• Store this drug at a cool and dry place.
• Store this medicine at a temperature in between 25-30ºC.
• Keep this medicine away from the direct contact with sunlight.
• Do not use this drug after the expiry date mentioned on the pack size.

General FAQs regarding the drug

How much duration of time will this medicine take to show its maximum action?

Ans. This medicine will show its maximum action within 1 to 2 hours after its intake.

Can this medicine be taken along with food?

Ans. Yes, this drug can be taken along with or after meals as per directed by the doctor.

Does it a habit-forming drug?

Ans. No, it is not a habit-forming drug and completely safe for use.

Does this drug safe for use in elderly patients?

Ans. Yes, this medicine is completely safe for use in elderly patients at a lower dose than the usual adult dose as per directed by the doctor.