Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection User Reviews
Brand names: Flagyl, Metro, Flagyl IV, Flagyl 375, Likmez, Metro IV
Metronidazole has an average rating of 5.2 out of 10 from a total of 566 reviews for the treatment of Bacterial Infection. 34% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 39% reported a negative experience.
Reviews for Metronidazole
- Anonymous
- July 8, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I felt it was important for anyone prescribed Flagyl and looking at possible side effects. I delayed treatment due to reading comments and becoming horrified at the stories of other people's experiences. For me, NOTHING HAPPENED!! I am the most sensitive person when it comes to medications. I had no side effects on this medication except for a slight headache on Day 1. That could also have been attributed to me coming off of sugar and caffeine as well. NO SIDE EFFECTS. All I did was put coconut oil around the pill, threw it to the back of my throat, and washed it down with juice. Problem solved regarding the awful pill taste. I did not touch alcohol. I cut out caffeine and sugar as to not add to any potential anxiety. There could be many reasons others have side effects, including other prescription drug interactions. Please don't get thrown off by other people's horror stories like I did. Just follow directions, eat properly, stay away from alcohol, and get better."
- Joano
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 8, 2020
"I think I experienced every side effect listed for metronidazole. I would like to share ways to get through the course of medication if you are feeling poorly. 1. Get lots of rest and keep relatively warm. I found a heating pad worked well for muscle soreness. 2. Get plenty of sleep whenever you can! 3. Drink plenty of water. 4. Do not drink alcohol. 5. Because you might lose your appetite, choose your favorite, easy-to-digest food. 6. Choose low-level activities. It wouldn’t be a good time to move the contents of your house! 7. Keep your spirits up... know that it will soon be over! 8. Finally, find a good book to read, work on a project, or search on your favorite social site!! You can get through it!"
Frequently asked questions
- What happens if you drink alcohol with metronidazole?
- How long does it take for metronidazole to work?
- What are the most common skin conditions? (with photos)
- Can metronidazole cause a yeast infection?
- Ron
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 4, 2020
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I have never felt so ill before with these tablets. Heartburn, sickness, can not eat, backache, and feeling like I am going to fall over. I thought I was going to die. I have today asked my doctor to change my tabs. I feel sorry for anyone who takes these tablets."
- dogmom
- Taken for less than 1 month
- April 11, 2021
Flagyl (metronidazole) "If I could give this medication 0 stars, I would. My gyno prescribed me this for bacterial vaginosis. My side effects were horrible... increased anxiety/panic attacks, nausea, horrible taste in my mouth, and I had the most vivid nightmares. I would wake up trembling/shaking out of my sleep, and it took me a few days to realize that it was the Flagyl that was making me feel this way. I will never take this medication again unless I absolutely have no choice. I’m glad I’m not the only one that had a terrible experience on this drug."
Are you taking this medicine?
- Anonymous
- December 15, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I went to my GYN for my annual pap and tested positive - asymptomatic BV, so prescribed Flagyl. NO ALCOHOL during the course of treatment and up to 3 days after treatment. Take it SERIOUSLY. There should be some kind of warning against drinking anything with alcohol 48 hours PRIOR to taking it. Obviously, you don't want anything with alcohol in it 48 prior to taking it, either. Makes sense, doesn't it? Without ruining the effectiveness, I took a probiotic 1-1/2 - 2 hrs. after taking my 1st dose. I ate a filling meal when I took it (bread, rice, bananas, cheez-its, crackers, 1-2 Probiotic Activia yogurts a day). No nausea, no diarrhea, no stomach cramps, no headaches; NOTHING. I researched the warning about Propylene Glycol & the side effects. I could not find 1 thing to have this chemical in it that I ate. This IS the 1st time I have taken Flagyl and my dose was 500 mg, 2 X a day for 7 days. I hope this review helps someone. I had 100% NO SIDE EFFECTS."
- Nelly
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 18, 2020
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I have been ill since the start of June this year. Finally received a diagnosis of BV last Thursday. Very concerned about taking this antibiotic after reading about so many bad experiences. Well, I am happy to report that after taking 4 tablets to date, the only side effects I have experienced are a bit of dizziness after taking the tablet and slight stomach cramps, which resolve after about an hour. Hope this feedback offers some reassurance to someone. Oops, almost forgot - I actually feel that I'm starting to get my life back - feel so much better."
More FAQ
- What can I do about the metallic taste of Flagyl?
- Does metronidazole treat chlamydia?
- Does Flagyl cause diarrhea?
- Can you have sex while taking metronidazole?
- Anonymous
- September 14, 2020
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Awful tablets, I was given a 7-day course. I couldn't eat, the taste was horrendous. Drinking water made it worse. I experienced confusion, feeling sick, and feeling genuinely unwell. I would never take it again for stomach bacteria."
- Chelle
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 2, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "If I could rate this medication a 0, I would. This medication has altered my life and I have experienced a toxic reaction to it. I have experienced neuropathy all over my body, numbness, become bedridden due to weakness, and have had seizure and stroke-like symptoms. Please tell your loved ones to avoid this medication if possible."
- Calam...
- September 20, 2020
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Flagyl was a miracle drug for my SIBO/IBS. The first time I used it 20 years ago I was unexplainably sick/nauseated and losing weight for months, and after a colonoscopy and gallbladder scan, the docs didn’t know what was wrong. One happened to put me on Flagyl, and the next day I was better! I had no problem with this drug at all. I have just recently had the same flare-up for the past 6 weeks, and my doc put me on Flagyl. Within 4 hours, I was feeling better. I am 7 days into a 10-day run, and I haven’t felt this good in years. I am 66, have motility issues, and this drug worked wonders for SIBO/IBS."
- Mia
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 15, 2020
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I would not recommend taking Flagyl at all. I was given a one-time high dosage of 5 pills at once and have experienced terrible anxiety, shortness of breath, insomnia, and diarrhea. I was up all night worried sick about how I am feeling and just wishing I never took them at all. I don’t know why this drug is still on the market. Hoping my side effects disappear within 24 hours. It has definitely taken the infection away but in my opinion not worth the paranoia."
- Nethyn
- Taken for less than 1 month
- November 17, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Nah-ah. Never again. Worst medication I have ever taken. On my second day of taking this tablet, I was feeling nauseous. My appetite was bad, and my stomach felt sick. Headaches, fatigue, easily irritated. I dreaded taking it when the time came. It made me absolutely miserable. My resting heart rate went up to 105 bpm. Even raising my voice ever so slightly made my heart pound harder. It was very stressful. Steer clear. I felt stupid taking this medicine for side effects that were much worse than the reason I needed them for."
- Erin
- September 12, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Just finished taking a week’s worth of Flagyl, twice a day. It’s brutal, but your body will adjust. It helped me to sip ginger tea when nauseous and to eat a small meal and drink a full glass of water when I take it. As a nurse, I just want to remind people that even if this drug is wrecking your body, always consult your doctor before stopping treatment. If you only take 4/5 days and are prescribed 7, the bacteria left in your body will have time to develop an immunity to meds, and your infection will rebuild and turn into a superinfection and the antibiotics won’t work next time. There is a reason antibiotics are given over prescribed amounts of time, and stopping them before completion is going to bring on something much worse than side effects. Trust me, I wanted to die taking this medication - many sleepless nights and bad side effects - but an antibiotic-resistant infection is much worse than one week of side effects. If you absolutely have to, call your doctor first. Good luck!"
- Anonymous
- Taken for less than 1 month
- October 18, 2013
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Been on this for a week! Even though it's taking care of my issue, I can't wait to take my last pill. I've been sick to my stomach, loss of appetite, headache, dizzy, blurry vision, disoriented, fatigued, can't sleep well. Just ready for this course to be over."
- ashle...
- July 24, 2013
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I really don't understand all the negative reviews for this medicine. I've been on it for three solid days now and have had absolutely no issues. I'm taking 500 mg, one pill twice a day. I've been taking it after lunch and dinner and haven't had any issues with diarrhea, nausea, or dizziness. As for people complaining about the taste of the pill, how are you even able to know what it tastes like? It should be in your mouth for less than a second, just swallow it down with a glass of water or some orange juice."
- Antonia
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 27, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Just finished a 14-day course of Xifaxin and Flagyl for SIBO-C (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth with constipation). I was admittedly anxious about taking it at all due to some of the horrible reviews in general on the internet. However, I was fine. I actually stuck the pill inside a blueberry and took it on a spoon of applesauce. It worked like a charm. I also followed the instructions to take the Flagyl every 8 hours, which meant keeping a weird eating schedule. I experienced virtually no metallic taste issues, had some minor side effects, but generally felt well with good energy. I wanted to comment, as I believe people who tolerate it do not tend to make the effort to comment. The only way to know is to try. I am hoping this course of antibiotics will reduce the bacteria in my gut and help on the journey to healing."
- aloha
- Taken for less than 1 month
- March 2, 2020
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Went in for my Pap smear and found out I had BV. I was prescribed Flagyl (1 tablet 2x a day). The first day I only took one pill during my lunch break but forgot to take the second that night. The next day I took two pills as prescribed (morning and night). The following morning I noticed dark urine... allegedly that's a 'rare' side effect. I’ve also experienced dry mouth, a metallic aftertaste, headaches, and loss of appetite. Other than that, I do see an improvement already. I’m glad these pills work quickly, just hoping I won’t have to take it ever again after the 7th day."
- Jea
- January 31, 2020
"With all the negative reviews, I felt compelled to share my positive experience. After suffering horrendously from a tooth abscess for an entire month with 2 rounds of Amoxicillin, my dentist prescribed me a Metronidazole dose of 400 mg, 3 times per day, for 5 days. The first day, I felt very tired taking this medication. Mornings were the worst as I felt like I had been hit by a truck—very blah, tired, groggy. I hesitated taking this medicine for the first couple of days because of this, but I powered through and still took my prescribed doses. I never had any stomach problems, headaches, or any other side effects. Then, on the 3rd day, I woke up and my pain was almost completely gone, and the swelling was significantly down. This medication is no joke. A week later, my abscess is completely gone now. It may make you feel strange, tired, hungover, but it absolutely worked for me. I will gladly trade the feeling of being groggy over the pain of an abscess any day! I recommend giving it a try!"
- Amber
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 27, 2019
"I recently had my gallbladder removed a week ago. Woke up 3 days later with blood pouring out of me at the other end. Went to the ER where they did a CT scan and showed colitis. The doctor put me on Flagyl and Cipro for 10 days. Woke up today, 5 days later, with horrible nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. I am extremely dehydrated and feel horrible. I literally feel the worst possible. Does anyone else feel bad and weak on these meds?"
- Anony...
- June 5, 2020
"It’s been months since I’ve taken this medication, and I still feel the symptoms from it. I developed a pain in my lower stomach, was having mini hallucinations, headaches, and diarrhea. I truly believe that taking this caused me to develop cysts on my ovaries. Please do not take!!! Run from these pills, I wish I would have never taken these. I’m writing this to save others."
- Ugh
- Taken for less than 1 month
- September 8, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I almost think it’s better for people to read this if they also had a bad reaction and don’t want to feel so alone because I have heard of this working really well for some people, as with any drug. It seems to me that if you do have a bad experience with this, it isn’t mild, but extreme, as was the case for me. I don’t do well on many antibiotics, but this one was in a class of its own for me. It took me over three months to feel somewhat normal again. It went from bad hives to feeling like my joints were trying to leave my body, to feeling incredibly dizzy and nauseous, to stomach pain. It sounds dramatic, but I have never felt worse on any antibiotic. What it was prescribed for was so much easier to handle than the side effects of this train wreck. Every inch of my body felt off on this medicine. Even mentally, it gave me anxiety. The only antibiotic that came close to this one as far as feeling horrible is Cipro."
- ECano
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 30, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "Flagyl antibiotic sent me to the psych hospital! Within 24 hours of taking Flagyl, I was having side effects of being super drowsy, couldn't eat, having panic attacks, hallucinations, and so depressed I couldn't even get out of bed. I was also really confused and just out of it. I went to the psych hospital, where they made me finish the course, and it took WEEKS before I felt okay mentally. In its defense, it got rid of the BV. Flagyl is one of the most powerful and potent antibiotics out there, and I would only recommend it if you really need it."
- Bre
- Taken for less than 1 month
- January 10, 2020
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I’m on day 4 of a 7-day treatment for BV (bacterial vaginitis) with Flagyl. I feel amazing. I was warned by my doctor and pharmacist of alcohol and side effects. On my 2nd pill, I did get abdominal pain and minimal diarrhea, but that was it. I expected it to continue, but so far I feel better than ever. I feel like it helped me in so many other ways than just BV treatment. I feel healthy and awake. All meds have side effects, some worse than others, and some experience more than others. My experience so far has been great."
- Dufty
- Taken for less than 1 month
- June 9, 2020
"Given metronidazole for a tooth infection, wish I’d never gone to the dentist. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sleeping endlessly, shivering even when wrapped in layers, snuffles, and borderline psychosis. Luckily, I only have 2 tablets left. Never again!"
- Qwerty
- Taken for less than 1 month
- December 12, 2019
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I've never had any medication make me as sick as Flagyl has. The nausea is so bad, it has been waking me up at night. I'm calling my doctor today to get a different medication. I'm halfway through, but I can't handle another day of this. Absolutely never again."
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.
Learn more about Bacterial Infection
- Antibiotic Medications and Alcohol Interactions
- Antibiotic Resistance: The Top 10 List
- Antibiotic Shortages: A Serious Safety Concern
- Antibiotics 101
- Can You Drink Alcohol with Antibiotics?
- Common Side Effects from Antibiotics, and Allergies and Reactions
- Middle Ear Infection FAQs (Acute Otitis Media)
Medicine.com guides (external)
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Patient resources
- Metronidazole drug information
- Metronidazole (Intravenous) (Advanced Reading)
- Metronidazole Tablets and Capsules
- Metronidazole Injection
Other brands
Flagyl, Flagyl IV, Likmez, Flagyl ER
Professional resources
- Metronidazole monograph
- Metronidazole (FDA)
- Metronidazole Capsules (FDA)
- Metronidazole Extended Release (FDA)
- Metronidazole Injection (FDA)
Other brands
Flagyl, Flagyl 375, Likmez, Flagyl ER
Flagyl (metronidazole) "I thought I had COVID, but I was experiencing the effects of taking this Flagyl. Pure nightmare!!!!!!! Don’t take it. Warn everyone, friends, family, strangers. No one should experience this. I feel angry now with my gyno for doing this to me."