Metronidazole and Headaches: What Users Say (Page 5)

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 3, 2019

For Dental Abscess "I started taking these Friday evening (it’s now Sunday morning). I have an infected wisdom tooth on the bottom right; it has only just pierced the gum. The pain was unbearable, resulting in half of my face swelling up within one day. On day one, I woke up to less pain, but still the swelling hadn’t really changed much; but I felt positive it hadn’t gotten bigger. I did have a slight headache, which through the course of the day got more intense; even laying in a dark room didn’t change it. I’ve now woken up today on day 2; the headache is still there very mildly, and the pain in my gum has halved, and the swelling has too! So I’m feeling rather positive! (I can finally completely shut my mouth and put my teeth together.) Along with the side effect of a headache, I have also had a lot of hot sweats when I sleep, but I will manage these until I finish the course! Unless anything gets drastically worse!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I've been on this medication (clarithromycin, doxycycline, and omeprazole) for nine days now to treat H. Pylori and experiencing chest pains, bloating, stomach cramps, headaches, and dizziness. Five more days of these uncomfortable side effects, and I hope it'll all be over."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2014

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "Started this 4 days ago for an anaerobic infection in my jaw that had not responded to other medication. The first day, I developed a severe headache at bedtime, took one of the pain pills the dentist had prescribed because of my jaw/tooth abscess. Took care of it and went about my business. So far, every night I developed a headache an hour or so after taking my last dose of the day (1 500 mg tab twice a day). This is day 4. The only other side effect I've noticed is significantly darkened urine. I would have been really worried about that (as I have kidney stones) but had a routine visit with my urologist today who said it was okay and would go away."

• Wit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 1, 2021

For Bacterial Vaginosis "Stopped taking metronidazole after day 3 when I began to feel god-awful. Chills, massive headache, anxiety... just felt extremely unwell. Kind of felt like a massive hangover. The most disturbing symptom was an intense spinning or whirling sensation I felt on two occasions. Would like to understand why I was feeling these symptoms, but my Dr.'s office was of zero help. A result of bacteria die-off or of the drug itself? Don’t know... but I think I’ll seek out more natural methods for dealing with my BV."

• Fee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2016

For Giardiasis "I have no idea whether my symptoms are from the giardiasis or Flagyl. I have constant headache, abdominal pain, nausea, can't eat, major weight loss, and severe fatigue. I cannot work and am barely functioning. Whatever is causing this, I hope it goes away when I am done with this drug. I have never been so sick in my life."

• Cap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2021

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I'm 35, female, in average health, and I didn't really have any bad side effects to this. It took care of the BV within a couple of days!! I feel so much better, it is WORTH IT!! Mine was so bad I was in PAIN! NO more pain or smell. Amazing! The only side effects I notice at all were: headache on day two. Really bad, but I am also a waitress and did a double shift that day, so it could have been that. Slight general weakness and slight mental fog, slight loss of appetite, dark urine, very dark! And that's with me drinking adequate water, I thought, so my advice is, drink plenty of water. Eat a full meal before you take it. Cover it in peanut butter or take it FAST with orange juice because they are some nasty pills!!!"

• Ill...
• May 10, 2012

For Diverticulitis "After 2 days, the pain is much better. Taking it with Cipro. The side effects are awful, terrible taste always, headache, dizzy, body aches like the flu. Want to throw up but can't. I try to sleep all day to make it go by quicker. I can no way work or drive my car. I'll try to stick it out for a couple more days."

• par...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Diverticulitis "I have taken Flagyl multiple times for diverticulitis, and each time I take it, the side effects are worse than the time before. This time, however, I started doing this... In the morning, I take a 50 billion unit probiotic, take the Flagyl with water, and immediately eat about a 1/2 cup of yogurt. Even when I was on clear liquids, I used at least a tablespoon of yogurt each time, plus an additional probiotic in the evening. I am presently on my 6th day and am getting other side effects... dark urine, small headache, intermittent nausea, slight metallic taste, but the worst is how HOT I feel! Almost suffocating heat. It has been happening if I do any walking around or housework. I also am having intermittent blurry vision, and today my ears are ringing. I HATE this drug, but I am almost scared to stop it since I've had so many recurrences of diverticulitis in the past 4 years."

• Red...
• February 24, 2016

For Bacterial Vaginosis "The medication does work, but it's just so horrible to take. I feel like I've been hit by a bus. Really bad headache, tight chest, and sickness. Not sure if anyone else has had this, but felt particularly down and out of whack with reality. I'm honestly scared to take the next tablet, but have to do so to get rid of BV! Hope everyone else is doing okay with it!"

• 123...
• December 5, 2015

For Diverticulitis "All I know is that 2 days into this course of treatment with Flagyl and Cipro, my horrible left lower quadrant pain is gone. I do feel a little down and lethargic, but who cares? I'm able to get some things done and get through a day at work. I do have a little headache, and another medicine, Amitiza, seems to give me congestion in my head, but it helped relax the colon spasms. I am so grateful, though, because I was in horrible pain for so long and didn't know why."

• Jeb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 13, 2016

For Clostridioides difficile Infection "Medication probably is working, only on day 3 of 14-day course for C. diff. I don't have the stomach cramps and diarrhea anymore, which is wonderful. The nausea, vomiting, body aches, and headache are all kicking in now. This morning, I barely made it to the bathroom to throw up and had the dry heaves for quite a while. With the awful taste in your mouth, it is hard to drink or eat. Nothing tastes good. Even water has a yucky taste. Going to keep pushing forward, but next time I am prescribed an antibiotic, I am going to be taking a probiotic along with it. Wish my doctor or pharmacist had mentioned this when the first medication was prescribed."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2019

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "This is the worst drug. There is clearly something really nasty in it. I’m a fit, healthy 37-year-old woman and took this for an ear infection, and after 2 days, I had severe headaches, all the muscles were sore, aching, very weak. It was nasty. Never again."

• Lin...
• August 1, 2016

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I knew for a while that something was off down there. I suspected BV and went and asked my doctor for the antibiotic. I am VERY sensitive to most medications, which typically cause me intense nausea. So I was very nervous to try this stuff, especially after reading reviews. But I'm happy to say I've had little to no side effects, aside from a slight headache. However, I did start with a very small dose, just to try it out. My doctor told me to take 500 mg (two pills) a day with food. But the first day, I only took half of a pill (about 125 mg) just to see how it went down. No problems. Day two, I took the full dose, no problems, and BV symptoms are almost gone. Coated my pill in peanut butter as per my doctor's suggestion and have yet to taste it."

• Liv...
• January 29, 2017

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed metronidazole 500 mg 3 times a day for 7 days. I'm on day 5, and this is the worst drug I've ever taken. My first day, I felt okay, then after I started experiencing extreme dizziness, bad headache, and nausea. My eyes started to hurt, and by my 3rd day, I had the worst stomach pain/burning for almost 2 days now. I'm not sure if this is normal or not, but I've considered going back to the ER because the pain is so bad."

• MJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2018

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "On day 2 for a 7-day course, 250 mg, 2 pills every morning and night for BV. First day gave me nausea, headache, trouble looking at the light, back and chest pain, anxiety, and increased heart rate. Second day, now I have all the same side effects, but now my poop is looking weird and urine's turning brown. I get anxiety every time I need to pop a pill, I hate Flagyl!"

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 22, 2018

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "I give this medicine a five because yes, it is helping with my BV being 27 pregnant, but let me tell you, I took it two days and stopped. The side effects are just horrible and excruciatingly painful to the point I almost went to the ER. I still have a small slight headache today, but it's tolerable. I don't feel as sick to my stomach today, my head thankfully isn't pounding anymore, and hopefully will stay that way. I don't care what infection I have, I will NEVER EVER take this nasty, horrible Flagyl EVER AGAIN!!!!"

• Jor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2016

For Clostridioides difficile Infection "My rating is not on the medicine's efficacy as I am only halfway through. I just want to share the hellacious side effects that I have had on it. I literally want to die. Constant headache, fatigue, nausea, loss of appetite, and absolutely everything tastes terrible. The pharmacist recommended lots of Gatorade to battle dehydration, but nothing helps. I'm determined to finish the 10 days to beat my infection, but I'm not sure I won't die before then (yes, some exaggeration, but I do feel terrible)."

• Lan...
• September 26, 2018

For Clostridioides difficile Infection "Horrible experience! I was taking this medication, 500 mg three times a day. I was on Cefdinir for 3 days for a UTI, and I didn't take a probiotic while on the medication, so I contracted C. diff. I also work in the hospital, so while being on the medication, I was more prone to catching something. The C. diff was terrible, but the medication side effects were even worse. It cleared up the infection pretty fast, but like I said, the side effects were the worst. This is day 10/10, I still have the metallic taste even though I brush my teeth 4 times a day. I had dark brown colored urine, dizziness, headache, loss of appetite, and nausea. I would not recommend this medication to anyone, even though I myself work in the healthcare field."

• RRa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2018

For Bacterial Infection "If you can finish these awful nausea-inducing, hot flush-causing, headache-inflicting, and appetite-destroying pills. Took like a trooper for 6 days before totally giving up. 24 hours after now and still experiencing symptoms. This medication has an in-body half-life of 8 hours, elimination from the system takes place in 5.5x half-life, so 49 hours. I've got 25 hours left of this and I'm literally counting them. Expect other strange symptoms like waking up with cotton mouth and a metallic taste, mouth ulcers, and strange-colored urine. Expect to convince yourself you have meningitis and sepsis at the same time."

• Rae...
• April 15, 2014

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I've been taking the medicine on and off for 5 years. I have a repeating bacterial vaginitis infection. The medicine tastes like metal. For those of you who ask, 'how do you know what it tastes like?' Your mouth begins to have a metal flavor, and the taste of your food is altered. The medicine literally makes me ill, my head hurts and my stomach is nauseous. There aren't any other medications that work for bacterial vaginitis, and this one obviously isn't perfect. Nevertheless, it does the job for 3-5 months, and then I repeat the course of action all over again. So my advice is to hang in there and take the pills until completed. Hopefully, you will have greater longevity."

• lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 5, 2019

For Bacterial Infection "Metronidazole is the worst antibiotic ever. I'm vomiting since the first time I took a dose. My doctor told me to take it 4 times a day for 5 days. I couldn't do my daily activity as I am always feeling sick, nausea, headache, vomiting. And it is like my tummy is so full and I have to vomit all the food I ate so I will feel better. :( I hate this feeling. :( And it has the worst taste. Seriously. And it gives me dark urine too. I'm just on the 2nd day of my pill. 3 more days. I cannot wait until this is over. :("

• Mov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 20, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "I was prescribed a 14-day course of this medication for SIBO. The first five days I had nausea, diarrhea, foggy brain, metal mouth, dark urine, and an upset stomach. Then my foggy brain got worse, and I was dizzy, irritable, and depressed. This is not normal for me. I felt uncomfortable driving any serious distance, and some days wouldn’t drive at all. I feel just overwhelmingly not good. Headache, loss of appetite, and all the previous symptoms, and now the last three days my heart has been racing! Today is my last day, and I can’t tell if it’s helped the SIBO because the side effects mimic so many of the symptoms. Hoping for the best-would have a clear conversation with your doctor before you start these!"

• Anonymous
• July 26, 2009

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "I have been on this medicine for 3 days. I have insomnia (normally a good sleeper) and headaches since the treatment began. The infection is going away, but I don't know how much longer I can take this medicine."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2016

For Bacterial Infection "I am taking 500 mg 3 times a day for 7 days. Side effects started day 1 with extreme nausea. By day 2, I couldn't keep any food down, was constantly nauseous, and had a major headache. Today is day 3, and I've barely been able to walk around, I feel so weak, and the nausea is even worse. Fingers crossed day 4-7 will have better results."

• Exp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 28, 2013

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I've been prescribed 500 mg. The headaches are so persistent. This is day 3 of 7, and symptoms are pretty much gone, but the aftertaste of the medicine is horrid. So I take a lemon and bite it right before and right after the pill. It definitely works if anyone is as grossed out by that taste as I am."