Other brand name: Protostat
What are the side effects?
The most serious side effects from Flagyl are seizures and tingling or numbness in the extremities (arms, legs, hands, and feet). If you experience these symptons, stop taking Flagyl and call your doctor immediately.
Other side effects include abdominal cramping, diarrhea, headache, nausea, loss of appetite, and vomiting. See the Flagyl side effects page for a complete list.
What medications can Flagyl interact with?
Flagyl can interact with several drugs. Tell the prescribing physician about all drugs and nutritional supplements you are taking, especially those from the following list that may interact with Flagyl.
•Alcohol
•Amprenavir
•Anticoagulants
•Barbiturate medicines for inducing sleep or treating seizures (convulsions)
•Carbamazepine
•Cimetidine
•Disulfiram (Antabuse)
•Dofetilide
•Fluorouracil
•Lithium
•Methadone
•Phenytoin
•Sirolimus
•Tacrolimus
•Warfarin
Are there any food interactions?
Alcoholic beverages should not be consumed until 72 hours (3 days) after the last dose of Flagyl. Consuming alcohol while taking Flagyl could result in abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches, and flushing. Flagyl can also change the taste of alcohol. Take care to avoid alcohol from unexpected sources, such as over the counter cough suppressants or cold products (Nyquil, for example).
Is Flagyl safe during pregnancy?
The FDA has classified Flagyl as a type B drug. The effect that Flagyl has on an unborn child has not been studied extensively. Flagyl should only be used during pregnancy if clearly needed. Notify the prescribing doctor if you become pregnant while taking Flagyl. Flagyl does pass into breast milk, and could affect a nursing infant. It should be used in nursing mothers with care.
I have heard that Milk Thistle should be taken along with Flagyl - why?
Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) may help to protect the liver from medications that may harm it, such as Flagyl. It has not been studied in direct correlation with Flagyl, but it may be prescribed as a complementary therapy.
Won't this antibiotic make my diarrhea from IBS or IBD worse?
Antibiotics kill off bacteria in the body. They can't distinguish between "good" and "bad" bacteria. Therefore, "good" bacteria in the colon may be killed along with the "bad", resulting in diarrhea. For more information on antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and how to treat it, see this article: Antibiotics Making You Sick?.
