Interactions of metronidazole with other medicines: a brief review

Die Pharmazie
|August 28, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Metronidazole is an antibiotic effective against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. This review covers its side effects, mechanisms, drug interactions, and emerging resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Pharmacology
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Metronidazole, discovered in the late 1950s, is a key antibiotic.
  • It exhibits activity against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa.
  • Understanding its properties is crucial for effective clinical use.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the side effects of metronidazole.
  • To describe its mechanisms of action.
  • To detail interactions with other medications and address emerging resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review based on relevancy, citation, and age of references.
  • Synthesis of data on metronidazole's pharmacology and clinical profile.

Main Results:

  • Metronidazole has numerous documented side effects.
  • Drug interactions can alter metronidazole's activity and plasma concentration.
  • Mechanisms of resistance to metronidazole are emerging.

Conclusions:

  • Metronidazole remains an important antimicrobial agent.
  • Awareness of side effects, interactions, and resistance is vital for optimizing its use.
  • Further research into resistance mechanisms is warranted.

Related Concept Videos

Drug toxicity: Drug–Drug Interaction01:30

Drug toxicity: Drug–Drug Interaction

Drug–drug interactions can precipitate toxicity through multiple mechanisms. Absorption interactions alter how drugs enter the body, exemplified when ranitidine increases the absorption of basic drugs, while cholestyramine decreases the levels of propranolol. Protein binding interactions occur when drugs share the same binding sites on plasma proteins. Drugs like aspirin and warfarin, when bound in excess, can lead to increased free drug concentrations, enhancing the potential for...
421
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions01:26

Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions

A drug interaction occurs when the concurrent use of another drug, food, or an external substance alters the pharmacological activity of a drug. This interaction can modify the action of the original drug, affecting its effectiveness and safety.Drug–food interactions are significant as they impact drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion. For example, grapefruit juice is a well-known disruptor of drug metabolism. It inhibits the cytochrome P450 3A4 enzyme, crucial for the metabolism of...
674
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions01:25

Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions

Drug interactions occur when the pharmacological effect of one drug is altered by another substance, either enhancing or diminishing its activity. The drug whose activity is altered is known as the object drug, and the substance causing the alteration is called the agent drug or the precipitant. The net effects of these interactions are mostly undesirable, leading to decreased effectiveness or increased adverse effects. In rare cases, interactions can be beneficial, such as the enhanced...
804
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents01:18

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Antimicrobials as Antidiarrheal Agents

Acute diarrhea, a common gastrointestinal disturbance, is characterized by the rapid evacuation of fluid stools, leading to an excessive weight in fluid. This condition typically arises from disorders affecting intestinal water and electrolyte transport. It can be triggered by an increased osmotic load within the intestine, excessive secretion of electrolytes and water, mucosal exudation of protein and fluid, or altered intestinal motility. The primary risks of acute diarrhea are dehydration...
588
Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism01:27

Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism

Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
6.0K
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment01:08

Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Dose Adjustments Due to Hepatic Impairment

Hepatic impairment, characterized by decreased liver function, does not uniformly mandate adjustments in drug dosage. Whether dosage modifications are necessary depends on various factors related to the drug's metabolism and elimination pathways. If a drug is primarily excreted via the kidneys and bypasses significant hepatic processing, if it undergoes minimal metabolic transformation in the liver, or if it is volatile and primarily expelled through the lungs, dose adjustments may not be...
378