Can metronidazole cause a yeast infection?
About 10% of women report a vaginal yeast infection (vaginal candidiasis) as a side effect of metronidazole treatment. Although metronidazole spares vaginal lactobacilli, which are naturally resistant to nitroimidazoles such as metronidazole, it does not restore a Lactobacillus-dominated microbiome and disruption in the normal vaginal microbiota can persist.
This can result in an overgrowth of the candida yeast. Symptoms of a yeast infection include itching and a thick, white odor-free discharge and it can be easily treated with medication such as fluconazole.
Oral yeast infections (oral thrush or oral candidiasis) have also been reported with metronidazole oral treatment. Symptoms may include creamy white lesions on the tongue, inner cheeks, or sometimes on the roof of your mouth, gums and tonsils; mouth redness, burning, or soreness and a furry or swollen tongue. Treatment is with an antifungal mouthwash such as nystatin or oral antifungal tablets or capsules.
References
- InformedHealth.org [Internet]. Cologne, Germany: Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG); 2006-. Which treatments are effective for bacterial vaginosis? 2009 Dec 21 [Updated 2018 Aug 9]. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK298830/
- Oral thrush. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/oral-thrush/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353539
- Chlamydial Infections Centers for Disease Control And Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/std/treatment-guidelines/chlamydia.htm#:~:text=To%20minimize%20disease%20transmission%20to,resolution%20of%20symptoms%20if%20present
- Lagenaur, L. A., Hemmerling, A., Chiu, C., Miller, S., Lee, P. P., Cohen, C. R., & Parks, T. P. (2021). Connecting the Dots: Translating the Vaginal Microbiome Into a Drug. The Journal of infectious diseases, 223(12 Suppl 2), S296–S306. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa676
Read next
What happens if you drink alcohol with metronidazole?
Drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole is not recommended because the combination of metronidazole and alcohol can cause a reaction (often referred to as a disulfiram-like reaction) in some people. Symptoms may include flushing, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and stomach cramps. There has been one reported death associated with this reaction. The product information and health professionals recommend not to drink alcohol during metronidazole treatment and for 3 days after finishing the course. Continue reading
How long does it take for metronidazole to work?
Metronidazole starts to work 1 to 2 hours after you take it, because it is quickly absorbed, and it reaches its maximum concentration after 20 minutes to 3 hours. But it may take a couple of days before you start to feel better or notice an improvement in your symptoms. It is important that you still finish the course of metronidazole that your doctor has prescribed, even if you feel better, because the infection may still be present, and it could flare up or recur if you haven’t finished the course. Continue reading
Is metronidazole safe for dogs? Uses, dosage, side effects?
Metronidazole is an antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections and certain parasites in dogs. It is typically given twice a day.
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