Gold Standard Anti-Anaerobic Medication

Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole anti-infective medication used mainly in the treatment of infections caused by susceptible organisms, particularly anaerobic bacteria and protozoa. It's considered gold standard anti-anaerobic agent.

It's marketed by Pfizer under the trade name Flagyl in the US, while Sanofi-Aventis markets metronidazole globally under same tradename, Flagyl. It's also marketed by various generic manufacturers, who sell it at a lower price.

Uses

Metronidazole is used for treatment of following infections:

• Intra-abdominal infections, including peritonitis, intra-abdominal abscess, and liver abscess
• Skin and skin structure infections
• Bone and joint infections
• Bacterial septicemia
• Endocarditis
• Gynecologic infections ( endometritis, endomyometritis, tubo-ovarian abscess, and postsurgical vaginal cuff infection )
• Lower respiratory tract infections ( in combination with another agent with activity against microaerophilic Streptococcus )
• Adjunct treatment for gastritis and duodenal ulcer associated with Helicobacter pylori
• Central nervous system infections ( meningitis and brain abscess )
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Giardiasis
• Trichomoniasis
• Amebiasis

Mechanism of action

Metronidazole enters an aerobic bacterium where, via electron transport protein ferrodoxin, it's reduced. The drug then binds to DNA, and DNA breakage occurs. In vitro data suggests metronidazole has antioxidant activity and may prevent and treat rosacea symptoms.

Advantages

The advantages of metronidazole include:

• High percentage of sensitive Gram-negative anaerobes
• Availability as oral and intravenous dosage forms
• Its rapid bacterial killing properties
• Good tissue penetration
• Considerably low chance of inducing C. difficile colitis
• Price

Disadvantages

• Metronidazole hydroxy metabolite is potentially a carcinogen. Also, metronidazole is a proven carcinogenic to animals. Unnecessary use of drug should be avoided.
• Consuming alcohol while taking metronidazole causes a disulfiram-like reaction with effects that can include nausea, vomiting, flushing of the skin, tachycardia ( accelerated heart rate ) , shortness of breath, and even death. Consumption of alcohol should be avoided during systemic metronidazole therapy and for at least 24 hours after completion of treatment.
• Acute toxicity causes gastrointestinal tract symptoms. Chronic toxicity causes neurological damage. There's the risk of convulsive seizures and peripheral neuropathy.

The advises from medical professionals

Proscar: helpful modern medicine.

uses of Proscar Proscar is used to shrink an enlarged prostate ( benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH ) in adult men. It may be used alone or taken in combination with other medications to reduce symptoms of BPH and may also reduce need for surgery.

Proscar may improve symptoms of BPH and provide benefits such as decreased urge to urinate, better urine flow with less straining, less of a feeling that bladder is not completely emptied, and decreased nighttime urination.

Proscar works by decreasing the amount of a natural body hormone ( DHT ) that causes growth of prostate.

Women and children shouldn't use this medication.

how to use of Proscar Read Patient Information Leaflet provided by your pharmacist before you start taking Proscar and each time we get a refill. If we have any questions regarding information, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Take Proscar by mouth, with or without food, usually once a day, or as directed by your doctor.

If the tablet is crushed or broken, it shouldn't be handled by a woman who is pregnant or by a woman who may become pregnant ( see also Precautions section ) .

Use Proscar regularly in order to get most benefit from it. Remember to use it at same time each day. Don't stop taking Proscar without consulting your doctor.

It may take 6-12 months to notice a benefit.

Inform your doctor if your condition persists or worsens.

side effects of Proscar Decreased sexual ability/desire may occur while use Proscar. In some men, Proscar can decrease amount of semen released during sex. This is harmless. Proscar may also increase hair growth. If any of these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed Proscar because he or she has judged that benefit to you is greater than risk of side effects. Many people using Proscar do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor immediately if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur:

A very serious allergic reaction to Proscar is unlikely, but seek immediate medical attention if it occurs. Symptoms of a serious allergic reaction may include:

This isn't a complete list of possible side effects. If we notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

precautions of Proscar Before taking Proscar, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're allergic to it; or if you have any other allergies.

Before using Proscar, tell your doctor or pharmacist your medical history, especially of:

Proscar should not be used in children.

The drug can be absorbed through skin. If the film coating of tablet has been broken or tablet crushed, it shouldn't be handled by a woman who is pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Exposing a developing male infant to Proscar can result in abnormalities of genitals.

Proscar is not recommended for use in women and mustn't be used during pregnancy. If you become pregnant or think we may be pregnant, inform your doctor immediately.

Because Proscar isn't intended for use in women, it's not known if Proscar passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breast-feeding.

interactions of Proscar Your healthcare professionals ( e. g. , doctor or pharmacist ) may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring we for it. Don't start, stop or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with them first.

Before using Proscar, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all prescription and nonprescription/herbal products we may use.

Proscar can affect results of blood test used to detect prostate cancer ( prostatic-specific antigen or PSA levels ) . Make sure laboratory personnel and your doctors know we use this drug.

This document doesn't contain all possible interactions. Therefore, before using Proscar, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all products we use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share list with your doctor and pharmacist.

Proscar with EU delivery

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