Are you planning on taking Metronidazole? Or did your doctor prescribe it to you? Well, before you do just that, it is important that you familiarize yourself with the how-to’s when it comes to properly taking this medication. After all, since it is something that you would be taking internally, you need to make sure that you’re doing it the right way. Otherwise, you could be doing more damage than good. This antibiotic is often used to treat a variety of different infections including those of the mouth, bones, intestines and genital tract. It is also commonly used in order to prevent infections from happening right after surgery.
Of course, there are certain precautions that you must take. It is important that you follow the prescription properly but you also have to make sure that it is the suitable medicine for your needs. Keep in mind that it is not for everyone and there are certain situations wherein you should not use it. For others, they might need dosage adjustments to better fit their current condition. With that said, here are a few things to remember when it comes to dealing with Metronidazole.
If you are sensitive or allergic to nitroimidazoles. The same applies if you have had a bad reaction to it in the past even if you don’t have an actual allergy to it.
If you have had an allergic reaction any of the ingredients in the medicine itself. Even in small amounts, you must always be mindful of these things.
If you suffer from a disease of the nervous system.
If you have liver problems.
Of course, tests would be done in order to confirm if you have any of these. It is imperative that they be done in order to ensure your safety.
How should you take this medication? Well, you must always follow the prescription. Never take it in excess or smaller than what was asked of you. Always check the directions on the prescription label as that would tell you exactly what you need to do.
Basically, you would need to take the extended-release tablet on an empty stomach. Give it at least an hour or two before you eat. Remember to never crush, break or chew an extended-release tablet. Always swallow it whole because breaking the pill might cause too much of it to get released at one time. Whilst there is no real danger, it is still best to stay on the safe side when it comes to dealing with medicine.
Another important thing, make sure that you take this medication for the full prescribed time. The thing is that there have been cases wherein people’s symptoms have improved and they immediately thought that the infection has cleared as well hence they stopped taking it. This is not the case, however and you might be risking further damage to yourself in doing so.
So there you have it, a quick guide on how you should take Metronidazole along with some of the precautions that you should be mindful of when taking it.