METRONIDAZOLE
INTRAVENOUS
INFUSION
CONSUMER MEDICINE INFORMATION
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common
questions about Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion. It does not
contain all the available information.
It does not take the place of talking
to your doctor or pharmacist.
All medicines have benefits and
risks. Your doctor has weighed the
risks of you taking Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion against the
benefits this medicine is expected to
have for you.
This medicine is likely to be used
while you are at the clinic or in
hospital. If possible, please read this
leaflet carefully before this medicine
is given to you. In some cases this
leaflet may be given to you after the
medicine has been used.
If you have any concerns about
taking this medicine, ask your
doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet.
You may need to read it again.
What
METRONIDAZOLE
INTRAVENOUS
INFUSION is used for
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
belongs to a group of medicines
known as antimicrobials which work
by killing certain microorganisms.
METRONIDAZOLE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
is used to treat serious bacterial
infections and is also used after
surgery to stop infections occurring.
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
may be used for the management of
other conditions that are not
mentioned above. Your doctor will
be able to tell you about the specific
condition for which you have been
prescribed Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion.
This medicine is available only with
a doctor's prescription.
Before you are given
METRONIDAZOLE
INTRAVENOUS
INFUSION
When you must not be given
it
Do not use Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion if:
* you have an allergy to
metronidazole or any of the
ingredients listed at the end of
this leaflet
* you are pregnant or intend to
become pregnant (unless your
doctor says otherwise). Your
doctor will discuss the risks and
benefits of taking Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion during
pregnancy
* you have blood abnormalities
* you have a disease of the central
nervous system such as dizziness,
numbness or tingling in fingers
or toes, convulsions,
disorientation, difficulty in
co-ordination etc
If you are not sure whether any of
these apply to you, check with your
doctor.
Before you are given it
Tell your doctor if:
1. you have any allergies to:
* any other medicine
* any other substances, such as
foods, preservatives or dyes
2. you are breast-feeding or plan
to breast feed
3. you are on a low sodium diet
4. you have or have had any
medical conditions, especially
the following:
* blood disease or history of blood
disease
* central nervous system disease
like epilepsy
* liver disease or any liver
problems
* heart disease or any heart
problems
* any kidney problems
* Crohn's disease, an inflammatory
disease of the intestines
5. you are an alcoholic
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Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor if you are taking
any other medicines, including any
that you buy without a
prescription from your pharmacy,
supermarket or health food shop.
Some medicines and metronidazole
may interfere with each other. These
include:
* drugs used for treating
alcoholism such as disulfiram
* anticancer drugs such as
cyclophosphamide and
fluorouracil
* blood thinning drugs such as
warfarin
* drugs used for treatment of
epilepsy such as phenytoin
* anti-ulcer drugs such as
cimetidine
* corticosteroids
* drugs such as azathioprine and
lithium
Do not drink alcohol while you are
being given Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion.
Metronidazole and alcohol together
can cause abdominal cramps, nausea,
vomiting, headaches and flushing.
Your doctor will advise you about
continuing to take other medicines
while you are receiving
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion.
Talk to your doctor about the need
for an additional method of
contraception while you are being
given metronidazole. Some
antibiotics may decrease the
effectiveness of some birth control
pills, although this has not been
shown with metronidazole. Your
doctor or pharmacist may have more
information on medicines to be
careful with or avoid while taking
metronidazole.
METRONIDAZOLE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION
How METRONIDAZOLE
INTRAVENOUS
INFUSION is given
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
is given by injection into a vein.
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
must only be given by a doctor or
nurse.
Your doctor will decide what dose
and how long you will receive
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion.
This will depend on your age,
weight, type of infection and how
well your kidneys and liver are
working. However, the usual adult
dose of Metronidazole Intravenous
Infusion is 500mg every eight hours
for seven days.
If you are given too much
(overdose)
This rarely happens as Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion is administered
under the care of a highly trained
doctor.
However, if you are given too much
metronidazole, you may experience
some of the effects listed under "Side
Effects" below.
Your doctor has information on how
to recognise and treat an overdose.
Ask your doctor if you have any
concerns.
Side effects
Tell your doctor, nurse or
pharmacist as soon as possible if
you do not feel well while you are
using metronidazole.
Like other medicines, metronidazole
can cause some side effects. If they
occur, most are likely to be minor or
temporary. However, some may be
serious and need medical attention.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to
answer any questions that you may
have.
Do not be alarmed by this list of
possible side effects. You may not
experience any of them.
Tell your doctor if you notice any
of the following and they worry
you:
* rash
* nausea
* furry tongue or dry mouth
* abdominal pain or discomfort
* loss of appetite
* metallic or unpleasant taste in the
mouth
* swollen red or sore tongue
* headaches
* sore mouth
These are more common side effects.
Tell your doctor or nurse as soon
as possible if you notice any of the
following:
* confusion, irritability,
depression, disorientation
* clumsiness, lack of co-ordination,
problems with moving or
balancing
* weakness, numbness, pins and
needles
* problems with sleeping
* fits
* dizziness or spinning sensation
* hives or itching
* vomiting or diarrhoea
* indigestion
* ulcers or cold sores
* ringing or other persistent noise
in the ears (tinnitus)
* yellowing of the skin or flushing
* swelling or redness along the
vein which is extremely tender
when touched
* heart problems
* frequent or painful urination
* blood or pus in the urine
* more or darker urine than normal
* loss of control of your bladder or
bowels
* feeling of pressure around the
pelvis
* dryness of the vagina or genitals
* loss of sex drive or painful sex
* sore back passage, sometimes
with bleeding or discharge
* joint pains
* nasal congestion
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These may be serious side effects.
You may need medical attention.
Other side effects not listed above
may also occur in some patients. If
you notice any other effects, check
with your doctor. Some side effects
may only be seen by your doctor.
Storage
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
will be stored in the pharmacy or on
the ward. The infusion is kept in a
cool dry place, protected from light,
where the temperature stays below 25
degrees C.
Distributed in Australia by:
Pfizer Australia Pty Ltd
ABN 50 008 422 348
38-42 Wharf Road
West Ryde NSW 2114 Australia
Sponsor in Australia:
Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited
ABN 32 051 824 956
15 Brodie Hall Drive
Bentley WA 6102 Australia
This Consumer Medicine
Information was written in
November 1998.

Date of most recent amendment:

Product Description
19 January 2007.

What it looks like

Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
is a clear, almost colourless to pale
yellow solution in a plastic vial.
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
can be identified by an Australian
Registration Number, which is found
on the packaging:
AUST R 12728 - Metronidazole
Intravenous Infusion 500mg in
100mL (sterile) plastic vial.

Ingredients
Metronidazole Intravenous Infusion
contains Metronidazole BP 5mg/mL,
Citric Acid BP, sodium
phosphate-dibasic anhydrous and
Sodium Chloride BP in Water for
Injections BP. It does not contain
preservatives.

Manufacturer:
Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited
ABN 32 051 824 956
15 Brodie Hall Drive,
Bentley WA 6102 Australia

METRONIDAZOLE INTRAVENOUS INFUSION 3