MetroCream Side Effects

Generic name: metronidazole topical

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Feb 11, 2024.

Note: This document provides detailed information about MetroCream Side Effects associated with metronidazole topical. Some dosage forms listed on this page may not apply specifically to the brand name MetroCream.

Applies to metronidazole topical: vaginal gel/jelly.

Other dosage forms:

• topical cream, topical gel/jelly, topical lotion

Serious side effects of MetroCream

Along with its needed effects, metronidazole topical (the active ingredient contained in MetroCream) may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur while taking metronidazole topical:

Other side effects of MetroCream

Some side effects of metronidazole topical may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects.

Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Precautions

It is important that your doctor check your progress after you finish using this medicine to make sure that the infection is cleared up.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days after you start this medicine or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

You should not use this medicine if you are taking or have taken disulfiram (Antabuse®) within the last 2 weeks. Disulfiram is used to help people who have a drinking problem. If these 2 medicines are taken close together, serious unwanted effects may occur.

Drinking alcoholic beverages while using this medicine may cause stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, headache, or flushing or redness of the face. Alcohol-containing medicines (eg, elixirs, cough syrups, tonics) may also cause problems. The chance of these problems occurring may continue for at least a day after you stop using metronidazole. You should not drink alcoholic beverages (eg, ethanol or propylene glycol) or take other alcohol-containing medicines while you are using this medicine and for at least 24 hours after treatment.

Check with your doctor right away if you have dizziness, problems with muscle control or coordination, shakiness or an unsteady walk, slurred speech, or trouble with speaking. These may be symptoms of a serious brain condition called encephalopathy.

Call your doctor right away if you have confusion, drowsiness, fever, a general feeling of illness, a headache, loss of appetite, nausea, a stiff neck or back, or vomiting. These could be symptoms of a serious condition called aseptic meningitis.

Check with your doctor right away if you are having burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations in the arms, hands, legs, or feet. These could be symptoms of a condition called peripheral neuropathy.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy or lightheaded. Do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous until you know how this medicine affects you. If these reactions are especially bothersome, check with your doctor.

Vaginal medicines usually leak out of the vagina during treatment. To keep the medicine from getting on your clothing, wear a mini-pad or sanitary napkin. Do not use tampons since they may soak up the medicine.

To help clear up your infection completely and to help make sure it does not return, good health habits are also required.

• Wear cotton panties (or panties or pantyhose with cotton crotches) instead of synthetic (eg, nylon or rayon) panties.
• Wear only freshly washed panties daily.

Do not have sexual intercourse while you are using this medicine. Having sexual intercourse may reduce the strength of the medicine. This may keep the medicine from working properly. Also, oils in the cream and vaginal tablets (but not the vaginal gel) may damage latex (rubber) contraceptive devices (eg, cervical caps, condoms, or diaphragms), causing them to leak, wear out sooner, or not work properly.

Avoid using douches or other vaginal products unless your doctor tells you to.

Many vaginal infections (eg, trichomoniasis) are spread by having sexual intercourse. You can give the infection to your sexual partner, and the infection could be given back to you. Your partner may also need to be treated for some infections. Until you are sure that the infection is completely cleared up after your treatment with this medicine, your partner should wear a condom during sexual intercourse. If you have any questions about this, check with your doctor.

Before you have any medical tests, tell the medical doctor in charge that you are using this medicine. The results of some tests may be affected by this medicine.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

For healthcare professionals

Applies to metronidazole topical: topical cream, topical gel, topical kit, topical lotion, vaginal gel.

Local adverse events

• Very common (10% or more): Dryness (up to 28.5%), scaling (up to 24.6%), itching (up to 16.3%), pruritus (up to 15.8%), stinging (up to 11%), stinging/burning (up to 10.3%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Burning, local allergic reaction
• Frequency not reported: Condition aggravated (rosacea or acne), transient redness, irritation
• Postmarketing reports: Application site reaction, local irritation^[Ref]

Local cutaneous signs/symptoms of irritation that were worse than baseline included dryness (25.4% [mild: 17.1%; moderate: 7.7%; severe: 0.6%]), scaling (24.6% [mild: 16.2%; moderate: 7.9%; severe: 0.6%]), pruritus (15.8% [mild: 9.7%; moderate: 5%; severe: 1.1%]), and stinging/burning (10.3% [mild: 7.2%; moderate: 1.3%; severe: 1.8%]).^[Ref]

Genitourinary

• Very common (10% or more): Vaginal discharge (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Candida cervicitis/vaginitis, yeast infection, dysmenorrhea, metrorrhagia, vulvovaginal candidiasis, vulvovaginal pruritus, urinary tract infection (UTI), vaginal itching/irritation/burning/numbness, vulva/vaginal irritative symptoms, pelvic discomfort
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Vaginal mycosis, urine discoloration, UTI symptoms, vulva edema, menstrual discomfort/irregularities, vaginal spotting/bleeding
• Frequency not reported: Breast enlargement, dysuria, female lactation, labial edema, menorrhagia, salpingitis, urinary frequency, vulvovaginal disorder, vulvovaginal discomfort, itching (vaginal and perianal), vulvar burning, vulvar lesions, uterine/menstrual/vaginal cramping, darkened urine
• Postmarketing reports: Leukorrhea, vaginitis, vulvar disorder, genital pruritus

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Yeast infection, darkened urine, vaginal discharge, vaginal itching, overgrowth of Candida in vagina, dyspareunia, proctitis, dysuria, cystitis, polyuria, incontinence, sense of pelvic pressure, vulva/vaginal irritative symptoms, itching (vaginal and perianal), vulvar burning, vulvar lesions, vaginal burning, pelvic discomfort, uterine/menstrual/vaginal cramping^[Ref]

Other

• Very common (10% or more): Fungal infection (up to 12%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Infection, breast pain, unspecified cramping, abscess, accidental injury
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Fatigue
• Frequency not reported: Mucous membrane disorder, pain, thirst, surgical/medical procedure
• Postmarketing reports: Swelling face, facial edema, treatment failure (worsening of rosacea)

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Fatigue, weakness^[Ref]

Respiratory

• Very common (10% or more): Influenza (up to 11%)
• Common (1% to 10%): Pharyngitis, bronchitis, nasopharyngitis, sinusitis, rhinitis, upper respiratory tract infection, nasal congestion
• Frequency not reported: Asthma^[Ref]

Gastrointestinal

• Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea/loose stools, gastritis, tooth disorder, gastrointestinal discomfort, abdominal cramps, vomiting, unpleasant taste/unusual feeling on tongue
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Constipation, dry mouth, abdominal bloating/noises
• Frequency not reported: Dyspepsia, flatulence, gingivitis, abdominal cramping, abdominal bloating/gas
• Postmarketing reports: Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Nausea, unpleasant taste/feeling on tongue, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal cramping, abdominal discomfort, vomiting, epigastric distress, "furry" tongue, glossitis, stomatitis, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal discomfort, gastrointestinal disturbance^[Ref]

Nervous system

• Common (1% to 10%): Headache, dizziness, unpleasant taste, hypertonia
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Metallic taste, dysgeusia/unusual taste, paresthesia, hypoesthesia
• Frequency not reported: Ataxia, drowsiness
• Postmarketing reports: Peripheral neuropathy, taste perversion, dizziness, headache, paresthesia, metallic taste, tingling/numbness of extremities

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Unpleasant taste, dizziness, headache, convulsive seizures, encephalopathy, aseptic meningitis, peripheral neuropathy (characterized mainly by numbness/paresthesia of an extremity), syncope, vertigo, incoordination, ataxia, confusion, dysarthria, unpleasant metallic taste, taste of alcoholic beverages modified^[Ref]

Cardiovascular

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypertension

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Flattening of T-wave in ECG tracings^[Ref]

Dermatologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Pruritus, rash, contact dermatitis, dry skin, skin discomfort (burning, pain of skin/stinging), erythema/transient skin erythema, worsening of rosacea, skin irritation, psoriasis, seborrhea, skin infection, sunburn, urticaria
• Frequency not reported: Acne, sweating, generalized itching/rash, severe flare of comedonal acne, rosacea aggravated
• Postmarketing reports: Hyperpigmentation, pigmentation disorder, hypertrichosis, rash, urticaria, contact dermatitis, skin exfoliation, erythema, pruritus, burning, dryness, tightness, discomfort, rash, zoster lesion, pustules on the nose, vesicular bullous eruption

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Urticaria, angioedema^[Ref]

Metabolic

• Common (1% to 10%): Decreased appetite
• Frequency not reported: Anorexia, hypomagnesemia

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Decreased appetite, anorexia^[Ref]

Musculoskeletal

• Common (1% to 10%): Bursitis, myalgia, osteoporosis
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Back pain, cramp^[Ref]

Hematologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Increased/decreased WBC counts

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Reversible neutropenia, reversible thrombocytopenia

Ocular

• Common (1% to 10%): Conjunctivitis
• Frequency not reported: Eye irritation (watering/tearing)
• Postmarketing reports: Eyelid edema, watery eyes

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Optic neuropathy^[Ref]

Oncologic

• Common (1% to 10%): Skin carcinoma
• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Basal cell carcinoma
• Frequency not reported: Skin cancer^[Ref]

Endocrine

• Common (1% to 10%): Hypothyroidism

Hypersensitivity

• Postmarketing reports: Allergic reaction

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Allergic reaction, hypersensitivity reactions (including urticaria, erythematous rash, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, toxic epidermal necrolysis, flushing, nasal congestion, dryness of mouth/vagina/vulva, fever, pruritus, fleeting joint pains), anaphylaxis

Psychiatric

• Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Depression, difficulty sleeping, irritability
• Frequency not reported: Insomnia

Oral or parenteral formulations:

• Frequency not reported: Trouble sleeping, irritability, depression, insomnia, decreased libido^[Ref]

Hepatic

• Frequency not reported: Abnormal liver function test^[Ref]

Renal

• Frequency not reported: Pyelonephritis^[Ref]

See also:

Further information

MetroCream side effects can vary depending on the individual. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Note: Medication side effects may be underreported. If you are experiencing side effects that are not listed, submit a report to the FDA by following this guide.

Medical Disclaimer