Urinary tract infections (UTIs) affect various organs of urinary tract. Most of these infections are triggered by bacterial growth. However, there are a few caused by viral strands. Your renal system, bladder and ureters are often at risk. But, most urinary tract-related infections affect the tube running between bladder and kidneys. Upper part of your tract seldom sees infectious conditions but it is your lower-tract that gets most infections, and of severe types. In this realm, is metronidazole used for UTI? It is worth your while to have more details.
Urinary tract infections can show up among both men and women. Elderly people (aged 55 and more), those with diabetes, onset of renal stones, prior spells of urinary infections and those with compromised immunity are at risk. In males, an enlarged prostate (benign hyperplasia – BHP) is likely to cause urinary infections. In females, as urethra is perched closer to anal tract, this triggers an added risk of infections among women. Moreover, as women’s urethra is shorter than males’, this again causes added risks of urinary infections.
What is metronidazole?
This is an anti-bacterial drug; it stops microbial strands from multiplying. Caregivers prescribe it chiefly for bacterial infections, and not for fungi-led or viral conditions. You get this med either as a liquid suspension or an oral tablet. To avoid abdominal conditions like dyspepsia, you can take the pill with milk or a meal. Dosage plans are drawn-out based on severity of your urinary infection as well as prior ailments, if any. For children, doses vary depending on their weight and age.
Metronidazole
Metronidazole is not the most-preferred drug for urinary infections. However, it remains a widely-patronised antibiotic for parasite-induced and microbial infections. Your physician is most-likely to prescribe drugs such as cephalosporins, sulfamethoxazole and fosfomycin. US-based, federal drug clearing authority – the FDA – has cleared metronidazole for a broad-range of infections, including inflammatory conditions of the pelvic floor.
Moral of the tale: metronidazole does treat urinary infections on a few remote cases but is never the first-choice among caregiving teams. This is mainly because of its effectiveness against anaerobic strands of bacteria. On the other hand, more than 90% of urinary infections are triggered by microbes of aerobic-genre. These includes strands like Staphylococcus and E coli. Often times, it takes 50 – 60 hours for antibiotics – like metronidazole – to work on signs of urinary infections.
Metronidazole for UTI dosage
Standard dosing plan of metronidazole is 500 milligrams (mg). Physicians advise you to take it 2 times per day; duration of treatment typically lasts 5 – 6 days’ time. At times, users tend to stop doses on seeing first-signs of remedy. This is not a good practice; instead, take it till your caregiver tells you to discontinue.
Doses of metronidazole are best determined by type of infections i.e., if underlying cause is an anaerobic strand. You are likely to witness a few undesired outcomes like migraine, drop in appetite level, cramping of abdominal muscles, an altered sense of taste – often, a metallic flavor and turning dizzy.
Pursuing activities like driving or working on heavy machinery can be harmful to you. In some rare cases, metronidazole is known to have triggered a few severe, undesired effects. These include blurring of eyesight, mood-swings, signs of hypersensitivity like drowsiness, panting for breath or wheezing. Metronidazole is known to work adversely when taken with other meds like blood-thinners, antiviral drugs and few dietary-additives like propylene glycol or other similar types of chemicals.
In essence, metronidazole is a prescription med, taken under the supervision and advice of certified caregivers. It is highly recommended to consult with your physician before commencing medication plans. Those who are pregnant need to talk to their doctor and mothers who are feeding an infant are advised to take needful precautions in consultation with a certified caregiving professional or a pharmacist.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
