Metronidazole Flashcards

Please note that the drug card information is for Educational Use ONLY, and the source is from Carrie Bowman's glossary of drug cards permitted by use of Georgetown NAP students. No permission is given to use these cards for anything other than as a study resource for our program.

1
Q

What is the trade name for metronidazole?

A

Flagyl

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2
Q

What is the formal drug classification of metronidazole?

A

-The injection is the parenteral dosage form of the synthetic antibacterial agent 1-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-2-methyl-5-nitroimadazole

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3
Q

What are the clinical uses of metronidazole?

A

-it is active in vitro against most obligate anaerobes

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4
Q

What does metronidazole NOT have any significant effects against?

A

facultative anaerobes or obligate aerobes

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5
Q

Which organisms is metronidazole effective against?

A
  • Anaerobic gram negative bacilli: Bacteroides species and the Fusobacterium species
  • Anaerobic gram positive bacilli: Clostridium species and susceptible strains of Eubacterium
  • Anaerobic gram positive cocci: Peptococcus species and Peptostreptococcus species
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6
Q

What is the MOA of metronidazole?

A
  • metronidazole is broken down and activated by anaerobic organisms to a compound that damages the parasite
  • metronidazole is inactive until it is reduced within the host or microbial cell via an interaction with reduced ferredoxin or with specific nitroreductases
  • the activated form of metronidazole forms reduced cytotoxic compounds that bind to proteins, membranes and leading to severe damage to the host organism
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7
Q

What makes metronidazole sensitive for ameba and anaerobic organisms?

A

-due to the presence of PFOR activity that is lacking in most eukaryotes and eubacteria; however, poorly oxygenated tissues such as abscesses can activate metronidazole

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8
Q

What is the elimination half life of metronidazole?

A

8 hrs in health adults; newborn infants have a diminished capacity to eliminate it

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9
Q

How is metronidazole metabolized?

A

30-60% is metabolized by the liver

-metronidazole is the major component found in plasma with its 2-hydroxymethyl metabolite making up the lesser component

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10
Q

How is metronidazole eliminated?

A

-major route of elimination (60-80%) is via urine with fecal elimination accounting for 6-15%

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11
Q

What are the major metabolites that appear in the urine? what do they come from?

A
  • they come from side chain oxidation
  • 1-(beta-hydroxyethyl)-2-hydroxymethyl-5-nitroimidazole-1hy-acetic acid; holy cow this better now be something we need to know!
  • glucuronide conjugation, with unchanged metronidazole accounting for 20% of the total
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12
Q

Is metronidazole protein bound?

A

Less than 20% of the circulating metronidazole is bound to plasma protein

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13
Q

What is the volume of distribution of metronidazole?

A

distributed rapidly throughout the tissues reaching high concentration in bodily fluids such as CSF, saliva and breast milk (concentrations in these bodily fluids are similar to that in plasma)

  • also distributed to saliva, bile, seminal fluids, bone, liver and liver abscesses, lung and vaginal secretions
  • also crosses the BBB and placenta
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14
Q

With regards to a single dose of Metronidazole, how does decreased renal function alter it?

A

decreased renal function dose not alter the single dose pharmacokinetics of metronidazole; however, plasma clearance is decreased in patients with decreased liver function

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15
Q

Can metronidazole be removed by dialysis?

A

YES

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16
Q

What are the CNS side effects of metronidazole?

A
Convulsive seizures
encephalopathy
aseptic meningitis
optic and peripheral neuropathy
Ataxia
Confusion
Impaired Coordination
Dizziness
Headache
Insomnia
Irritibilit
Vertigo
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17
Q

What are the endocrine/metabolic side effects of metronidazole?

A

Disulfiram-like reaction
Dysmenorrhea
Libido Decreased

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18
Q

What are the respiratory side effects of metronidazole?

A

Nasal Congestion
Rhinitis
Sinusitis
Pharyngitis

19
Q

What are the cardiac side effects of metronidazole?

A

Flattening of the T wave and flushing

20
Q

What are the GI side effects of metronidazole?

A
N/V/D
Anorexia
Furry Tongue
Glossitis
Proctitis
Abdominal Discomfort
Stomatitis
Xerostomia
Constipation
Unpleasant metallic Taste
21
Q

What are the GU side effects of metronidazole?

A
Cystitis
Darkened Urine
Dysuria
Incontinence
Polyuria
Vaginitis
22
Q

What are the musculo-skeletal side effects of metronidazole?

A

Peripheral neuropathy and weakness

23
Q

What are the hematologic side effects of metronidazole?

A
Reversible neutropenia (leukopenia)
Reversible thrombocytopenia
24
Q

What can happen with IV administration?

A

Thrombophlebitis

25
Q

What can metronidazole cause dermatologically?

A

Erythematous rash, urticaria, and pruritis

26
Q

What are the symptoms of and OD of metronidazole?

A

N/V
ataxia
Seizures
Peripheral neuropathy

27
Q

What are the contraindications of Metronidazole?

A
  • History of hypersensitivity to metronidazole or other nitroimidazole derivatives
  • Careful administration of metronidazole injection should be done in patients with evidence of or history of blood dyscrasia because of mild leukopenias have been observed
  • Patients with a history of severe hepatic disease should be cautious due to decreased ability to metabolize metronidazole, which could result in accumulation of metronidazole and its metabolites in the plasma
  • careful with the elderly
  • Cautious to pts with history of: seizures, CHF, and sodium retention states
  • crosses the placenta and enters the fetal circulation rapidly
28
Q

What category is metronidazole for pregnancy?

A

Pregnancy category B

29
Q

Name the drugs that cause an interaction with metronidazole? (we will describe the interaction in a few :-)

A
Warfarin
Phenytoin
Phenobarbital
Cimetidine
Alcohol
Corticosteroids
Cisapride
30
Q

What happens when metronidazole and warfarin/coumadin are given together?

A

Increase the anticoagulant effect

31
Q

What happens if Phenytoin or Phenobarbital are taken with Metronidazole?

A

The simultaneous administration of drugs that increase microsomal liver enzymatic activity can accelerate the elimination of Metronidazole resulting in decreased plasma concentration. In addition it has been shown that when Metronidazole and phenytoin are used simultaneously patients have impaired clearance of phenytoin

32
Q

What interaction is caused between metronidazole and Cimetidine?

A

The simultaneous administration of drugs that decrease microsomal liver enzymatic activity can prolong the half-life and decrease plasma clearance of metronidazole

33
Q

What interaction occurs due to the use of metronidazole and alcohol?

A

Should not be consumed during metronidazole injection therapy because abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headaches and flushing may occur.
Should NOT be given to alcoholic patients that are on disulfiram therapy due to reported psychotic events occurring with combined therapy

34
Q

What is the drug interaction between metronidazole and corticosteroids?

A

Care should be given to patients prescribed Metronidazole injection who are simultaneously on corticosteroids or patients predisposed to edema b/c sodium retention may occur

35
Q

What is the drug interaction between metronidazole and Cisapride?

A

Metronidazole can inhibit the metabolism of Cisapride leading to arrhythmias

36
Q

How is metronidazole injection supplied?

A

is sterile and supplied in 100mL single dose plastic containers
Each package contains 500mg/100mL of metronidazole injection

37
Q

What is the prophylaxis dosing of metronidazole?

A
  • Usually preop 500mg over 10-20 minutes
  • 15mg/kg infused over 30-60 minutes approximately one hour before surgery followed by 7.5mg/kg infused over 30-60 minutes at 6 and 12 hours after the initial dose
38
Q

What is the usual adult oral dose of metronidazole?

A

Usual oral dose is 7.5mg/kg q6hrs

39
Q

What is the max dose of metronidazole?

A

4 grams; should not be exceeded during a 24hr period

40
Q

How should you dose for a patient in renal failure for metronidazole?

A

With renal impairment doses should be decreased by 50% or given every 12 hours rather than every 6hrs

41
Q

How should you dose for liver disease for metronidazole?

A

doses do not need to be altered in patients with mild liver disease but should be reduced in patients with severe liver disease

42
Q

What is the typical duration of therapy of metronidazole?

A

The typical duration of therapy is 7-10 days; however, infections of the bone and joint, lower respiratory tract and endocardium may require longer treatment

43
Q

What lab values may be altered with the use of metronidazole?

A

AST and ALT
LDH
Triglycerides
Hexokinase Glucose

44
Q

What is important as to how metronidazole should be stored?

A

Should be protected from light because a darkening of the solution can result