The antibacterial medicine Metronidazole Benzoate® is prescribed to fight a range of infections. Despite the possibility for some side effects, this prescription drug has proven effective against dysentery, vaginitis, periodontitis and several other protozoan infestations that could infect the body. Also available as the generic Metronidazole, the proper dose will depend on the infection being attacked and the symptoms being exhibited.
A range of bacterial infections can be treated by Metronidazole Benzoate®, from minor to more serious conditions. Yeast infections like vaginitis and mouth invasions like periodontitis are some of the more common infections for which the drug is prescribed. It is also used to battle lesser-known infections like giardiasis — an intestinal infection also known as beaver fever, and trichomoniasis — a sexually transmitted disease (STD) with yeast infection-like symptoms.
Depending on the particular condition for which Metronidazole Benzoate® is prescribed, a patient's symptoms could vary widely. After being prescribed the drug to battle that infection, however, some other symptoms could begin to appear. Many experience appetite suppression, nausea, irritable bowels, vomiting and a darker coloring in the urine. A distinct taste of metal is also frequently reported.
Many other side effects are possible with Metronidazole Benzoate®, but this is not likely. Another type of yeast infection, called Candidiasis, could develop in some cases, and various other more serious side effects occur in some patients. These include depression, rashes, lethargy, joint pain, fever, dizziness, urinary tract difficulties, insomnia, vertigo, seizures and inflammation of the rectum, called proctitis.
When alcohol is consumed, even up to three days after the last pill is taken, the potential for side effects intensifies. Severe nausea, headache, flushed skin and stomach cramps are common symptoms of alcohol's adverse effect on the drug. Other symptoms are possible when this antibacterial drug is taken concurrently with Cimetidine®, Disulfiram®, Warfarin®, Phenobarbital® or Phenytoin®.
Doses of Metronidazole Benzoate® vary widely in measurement according to the bacterial infection. It is commonly advised to take each dose with a meal. The lowest doses are needed to fight amoebic dysentery, but massive doses of 3,200 mg, three times a day, are needed to combat the STD trichomoniasis. Often, doses of Metronidazole Benzoate® are administered to patients before undergoing surgery as a precaution to help the body resist disease during a particularly vulnerable period.