If you are placed on Flagyl, know that it is working if after the treatment initiation, you starting noticing progressive improvements in symptoms of what you are treating.
Depending on what you are treating, these improvements in symptoms are expected to happen in hours or days after treatment commencement.
Flagyl is a brand of a medication called metronidazole. Metronidazole is an antibiotic which belongs to a class of medications called imidazole.
In Imidazole medication class, we also have Tinidazole and Secnidazole.
Flagyl comes in different dosage forms and strengths. The different dosage forms and strengths do basically the same thing and have the same signs that show that flagyl is working.
Of course, they all contain the same active ingredient – metronidazole, which is what actually matters.
Available dosage forms and strengths of flagyl include the following:
- Capsules: 375mg
- Tablets: 200mg, 250mg, 400mg, 500mg, and 750mg (extended release tablets)
- Infusions: 500mg/100ml
- Cream, gel, and ointment etc.
In this article, we discussed signs that show that Flagyl is working. But we didn’t stop there, we started with a brief description of what Flagyl is, its uses, and dosage for different disease conditions it’s used in treating.
Uses of Flagyl
Flagyl is used in the treatment of a wide range of infections .
Depending on the nature and causative organism, it can be used alone or in combination with other antibiotics.
The following are conditions where Flagyl is indicated:
- Flagyl is used to prevent infections by anaerobic bacteria following surgery (postoperative prophylaxis)
- It is used to treat wound infections following surgery
- It is used to treat giardiasis
- It is used to treat urogenital trichomoniasis
- It is employed in the treatment of acute ulcerative gingivitis
- It is used to treat all forms of amebiasis, including intestinal amebiasis, extra-intestinal amebiasis and symptomless cysts passers
- When a pathogenic anaerobic bacteria is isolated in any of the following conditions: septicemia, bacteriaemia, puerperal sepsis, pelvic abscess, pelvic cellulitis, joint and bone infections, meningitis, brain abscess; Flagyl is employed in their treatment
- It is also used to treat bacterial vaginosis
- It is used to treat lesions of rosacea
- It is often used in combination with other antibiotics for Helicobacter Pylori eradication in patients with peptic ulcer disease
- It is used in the treatment of pouchitis
- It is equally used to treat Crohn’s disease
- It is topically used to treat perianal Crohn’s disease
- It is used to treat perioral dermatitis
- It also used to treat clostridium difficile colitis
Dosage of Flagyl
The dosage of Flagyl can vary depending on the age of the patient, the indication for use, and the severity of the disease.
Adult doses of Flagyl for various conditions it is used in treating are as follows:
Dosage of Flagyl for anaerobic bacterial infections:
- Loading dose: 15 mg/kg intravenous infusion; not to exceed 4 g/day
- Maintenance dose: 7.5 mg/kg taken by mouth or given by intravenous infusion (over 1 hour). Dosing frequency here should be every 6 hours for 7-10 days. The duration can be extended to 2 to 3 in severe cases.
Dosage of Flagyl for sexually transmitted disease
a. Prevention following sexual assault
Give 2 g by mouth as a single dose; with ceftriaxone or cefixime, PLUS azithromycin or doxycycline. Another popular combination used in cases of sexual assault is a combination of Azithromycin, fluconazole and Secnidazole or flagyl.
b. Bacterial Vaginosis
Nonpregnant women
- Take 500 mg of Flagyl tablets by mouth every 12 hours for 7 days, or take 2 g of Flagyl tablets once or take 750 mg of Flagyl extended release tablets once daily for 7 days
Pregnant women
- Take 500 mg 12 hourly for 7 days, or take 250 mg every 8 hours for 7 days.
Dosage of Flagyl for colorectal surgical infection
Prophylaxis; start Flagyl administration after mechanical bowel preparation the afternoon and evening before surgery
- By mouth: take 1 g every 6 to 8 hours for 3 doses
- Intravenous infusion: 15 mg/kg IV over 30-60 minutes; this is to be completed approximately 1 hour before surgery; may administer 7.5 mg/kg IV over 30-60 min at 6 and 12 hours after initial dose for maintenance; discontinue within 12 hours after surgery
Dosage of Flagyl for Trichomoniasis
- Take 250 mg by mouth every 8 hours for 7 days; or take 375 mg 2 hourly for the same 7 days.
- You can take 2 g once as a single dose; or divide it into 1g taken 12 hours apart for 2 doses
Dosage of Flagyl for Amebiasis
- Take 500 to 750 mg by mouth every 8 hours for 5 to 10 days
Dosage of Flagyl for Giardiasis (Off-label)
- Take 500 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 5 to 7 days
Dosage of Flagyl for Gardnerella nfection
- Take 500 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 7 days or
- Take 750 mg of extended-release tablets once daily for 7 days; take this one on an empty stomach.
Dosage of Flagyl for Helicobacter Pylori infection (Off-label)
- In combination with other antibiotics that your doctor will recommend, you are to take 250-500 mg of Flagyl by mouth every 6 hours for 14 days.
Dosage of Flagyl for Nongonococcal Urethritis (Off-label)
Take 2 g by mouth once as a single dose in combination with erythromycin (500 mg to be taken 6 hourly) or erythromycin ethylsuccinate (800 mg to be taken 6 hourly as well) all for 7 days
Dosage of Flagyl for Pelvic inflammatory disease (Off-label)
Take 500 mg by mouth every 12 hours for 14 days in combination with ofloxacin or levofloxacin.
Signs that Flagyl is working
Flagyl is used to treat a wide variety of bacteria infections, as we stated earlier at the beginning of this article.
The signs that Flagyl is working is, therefore, relative to what it is used in treating at a any given point in time.
We will discuss signs that show that Flagyl is working under different disease conditions it is used to treat.
Sings that Flagyl is working when used to prevent infection following surgery
Flagyl, alongside other antibiotics, are used prophylactically, during and after surgery, to prevent bacterial infections at the surgical site.
Signs that flagyl is working when used to prevent or treat infection at surgical site including the following:
- Less or no pain at surgical site
- No or a progressive reduction in swelling and inflammation at surgical site
- No or a progressive reduction in redness at the surgical site
- No or a progrssive reduction in warmth at the surgical site
- No or a progressive reduction in fever without paracetamol or other NSAIDS
- No or a progressive stoppage of foul odor from the surgical site
- No or a progressive cessation of drainage from the surgical site
1. Less or no pain at surgical site
Anaerobic infections can cause significant pain at the surgical site. The pain may be continuous or intermittent and may increase over time.
When Flagyl is used to treat an already infected surgical site, there will be a progressive reduction in pain at the surgical site.
A progrssive reduction in pain at the surgical site is a signs that Flagyl used to treat the infection is working.
On the other hand, when there is no infection yet at a surgical site and Flagyl is administered to prevent anaerobic bacterial infection, a progressive healing of the surgical incision without pain is a sign that the used Flagyl and other antibiotics are working.
2. No or a reduction in swelling and inflammation at surgical site
Swelling and inflammation at a surgical site few days after surgery could indicate an infection at the site.
The swelling may be localized or involve a larger area.
If it is established that the site is infected and Flagyl is indicated, then a progressive reduction of the swelling and inflammation is sign that shows that the Flagyl is working.
3. Reduction in redness at the surgical site
Anaerobic infections can cause redness around the surgical site, indicating inflammation.
When Flagyl is used in this case and there is a progressive reduction of the redness over time until it is completely gone, then it shows that the Flagyl is working.
4. No or Progrssive reduction in warmth at the surgical site
If there is an infection at the surgical site following a surgery, then the infected area may feel warm to the touch, indicating an increased blood flow to the area due to inflammation.
If Flagyl is indicated in this case and it’s used, a progressive reduction in the warmth shows that it is working.
Another way to know that Flagyl is working is if there was never a warmth feeling after a surgery, following the use of Flagyl prophylactically.
5. No or progressive reduction in fever without paracetamol or other NSAIDS
A fever is a common symptom of infection, including anaerobic infections.
The fever may be low-grade or high-grade, and can be accompanied by chills.
This can occur following a surgery.
If Flagyl is used to prevent surgical site infections and there was never fever, then it means that the Flagyl worked.
Similarly, if there is a progressive reduction in fever after initiation of antibiotics therapy including Flagyl, then it shows that the antibiotic therapy is working.
5. No or a progressive stoppage of foul odor from the surgical site
Anaerobic infections can produce a foul odor at the surgical site due to the breakdown of tissue and production of gases by anaerobic bacteria at the site.
When Flagyl is used to treat an already infected surgical site, and there is a progressive reduction in the foul odor, it shows that the Flagyl is working.
As the treatment continues, the odor will stop completely over time.
Similarly, when Flagyl is used prophylactically after surgery and there is no development of foul odor at the surgical site, it shows that the Flagyl is working.
7. No or a progressive cessation of drainage from the surgical site
There may be drainage from the surgical site, which can be pus-like and may have a foul odor.
When Flagyl is used to treat this and the drainage stops, which happens gradually and progressively, then it is a sign that the used Flagyl worked.
In a similar way, when Flagyl is used prophylactically after surgery and there is no development of drainage at the surgical site, it shows that the Flagyl is working.
Signs that Flagyl is working in giardiasis
Flagyl is used to treat giardiasis and the following are the Signs that it is working when used here:
- Improvement in presenting symptoms
- Cessation of the symptoms
A progressive reduction in: abdominal pain, diarrhoea, belching, bloating, fat in stool, indigestion, nausea, passing excessive amounts of gas, loss of appetite, malaise, cramp, fatigue and vomiting, few days after Flagyl treatment is started is a sign that the Flagyl is working.
Signs that Flagyl is working in trichomoniasis
Trichomoniasis present with the following symptoms in women: a foul-smelling vaginal discharge, genital itching and painful urination.
It can also present with the following symptoms: cervix inflammation, discharge from penis in men, vaginal inflammation, vaginal irritation, or vulval inflammation.
Flagyl is used in its treatment and improvements in the above listed symptoms, after few hours to days of treatment initiation, shows that the Flagyl is working.
Signs that Flagyl is working in acute ulcerative gingivitis
Acute ulcerative gingivitis present with the following symptoms: excessive saliva production, acute pain, bleeding, and foul breath.
Flagyl is usually the first line drug in its treatment.
When used, improvements in the symptoms few days after treatment initiation is indicative that it is working.
Expected improvements include reduction in pain, bleeding, and foul breath.
When there is no more acute pain, bleeding, excessive production of saliva, and foul breath after completing the prescribed treatment course, it shows that the Flagyl worked.
Signs that Flagyl is working in amebiasis
Flagyl is indicated for the treatment of amebiasis.
If you are on a Flagyl therapy for this disease condition, you may want to know the signs that the medication is working.
If this is you, know that Flagyl is working when used to treat amebiasis if, after few hours or days of commencing the medication, you start noticing :
- Less cramping
- Less abdominal pain
- Few passage of loose and bloody stools (diarrhoea)
- Improvement in fever
- Improved ability to empty bowels
- Less flatulence
- Improvement in your energy level (less fatigue)
- Regain of appetite
It is expected that the improvement in the symptoms of amebiasis should be progressive. In few days time, you are expected to be totally free from any of the symptoms.
Anything on the contrary shows that Flagyl is not working as supposed. In that case, you are to notify your doctor immediately.
Note: even if you get better few hours or days after starting the Flagyl treatment, please complete the recommended dosage.
Signs that Flagyl is working in septicemia, bacteriaemia, puerperal sepsis, pelvic abscess, pelvic cellulitis, joint and bone infections, meningitis, brain abscess
When Flagyl is indicated in septicemia, bacteriaemia, puerperal sepsis, pelvic abscess, pelvic cellulitis, joint and bone infections, meningitis, brain abscess; improvements in their respective symptoms are signs that Flagyl is working in their treatments.
Signs that Flagyl is working in bacterial vaginosis
Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common vaginal infection caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina.
Here are some signs that Flagyl is working to treat it.
1. Reduction in symptoms of bacterial vaginosis
One of the main symptoms of bacterial vaginosis is a thin, watery discharge with a foul odor.
After starting a Flagyl therapy and it starts to work, you will notice a reduction in the amount of discharge you have, and the odor will progressively become less noticeable.
In addition, you will experience an improvement in vaginal itching and irritation: bacterial vaginosis can cause significant itching and irritation in the vaginal area.
After starting a Flagyl therapy and it starts to work, you will notice a reduction these symptoms.
In addition to discharge, itching, and irritation, BV can cause other symptoms such as burning during urination and discomfort during sex.
As Flagyl begins to work, you should notice an improvement in these symptoms.
Negative BV test results
Your doctor may perform a test to confirm the diagnosis of BV and monitor your response to treatment.
If Flagyl is working, the test results should show a reduction in the number of harmful bacteria in the vagina.
When you complete the course of your treatment and a test is repeated, harmful anaerobic bacteria responsible for bacterial vaginosis are expected to be negative.
So, a progressive improvements in symptoms of bacterial vaginosis, eventual total resolution of the symptoms and a negative test result for bacterial vaginosis are signs that Flagyl worked in BV treatment.
Signs that Flagyl is working in lesions of rosacea