Cerebellar Dysfunction in an Elderly Male After a Brief Course of Metronidazole

Metronidazole, a widely used antibacterial and antiprotozoal drug, is often the drug of choice in amoebic liver abscess. The drug, otherwise safe, can cause serious central nervous disturbances in rare circumstances.

Here, we report a case of cerebellar dysfunction in the form of slurring of speech and episodes of falls, in an elderly male following a three-week course of metronidazole therapy.

The patient manifested classic radiologic features of metronidazole neurotoxicity. Marked improvement in clinical symptoms was seen following drug discontinuation.