Metronidazole oral forms dosage: A detailed guide

Metronidazole oral forms are generic versions of the brand-name drug Flagyl. Metronidazole also comes as a lotion, topical cream, topical gel, solution for injection, and vaginal gel. But those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about these forms, talk with your doctor.

This article describes metronidazole oral forms’ dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take them. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for metronidazole.

If you want to know more about metronidazole oral forms, see this overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, side effects, and more.

Boxed warnings

This drug has boxed warnings about the risk of cancer and about using it for specific purposes. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

See the end of this article for more information about this warning.

Forms and strengths of metronidazole

Metronidazole oral forms come as follows:

Forms and strengths:

• capsule that you swallow: 375 milligrams (mg)
• tablet that you swallow: 250 mg, 500 mg

Dosage of metronidazole

This article describes the recommended dosages* for metronidazole oral forms.

If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should take the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of metronidazole oral forms without your doctor’s recommendation.

* The drugmaker provides these recommended dosages.

Usual recommended dosages of metronidazole in adults

Metronidazole is approved to prevent and treat certain infections caused by parasites and bacteria in adults. These are anaerobic infection, amoebic infection, and trichomoniasis.

Your doctor will prescribe the dosage of metronidazole oral forms recommended to prevent or treat your infection. Some dosages are in milligrams (mg) per kilogram (kg) of body weight.

* Your doctor may provide a dosage equal to this in grams. (For reference, 1 gram is 1,000 mg.)
† Sex and gender exist on spectrums. In this article, we use the terms “female” and “male” to refer to a person’s sex assigned at birth.

Dosages of metronidazole in children

Metronidazole is approved for use in some children to treat and prevent amoebic infection. This includes infants and children through age 17 years. The dosage is based on their body weight.

• Dose: 35 mg to 50 mg per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight
• Frequency: divided into 3 doses to be taken daily for 10 days

For example, assume a doctor prescribes metronidazole for a child weighing 60 kg. If the doctor prescribes 50 mg of metronidazole per kg, the child’s total daily dose would be 3,000 mg.* The child would take a dose of 1,000 mg three times per day for 10 days.

* Your child’s doctor may provide a dosage equal to this in grams. (For reference, 1 gram is 1,000 mg.)

Dosage adjustments for metronidazole

Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of metronidazole oral forms based on several factors. These include:

• the specific condition being treated and its severity
• your age
• other health conditions you may have

Missed dose of metronidazole

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take a dose of metronidazole oral forms. They may advise you to take the missed dose. Or they may advise you to skip it and take your next dose as scheduled.

For tips on how to plan your doses of metronidazole oral forms and avoid missing a dose, read this article. You could also try:

• downloading a reminder app on your phone
• setting an alarm
• putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your calendar, bathroom mirror, or bedside table

Frequently asked questions

Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about metronidazole oral forms and its dosage.

Is there a 200-mg or 400-mg dose of metronidazole oral forms?

No, a dose of 200 milligrams (mg) or 400 mg isn’t used for conditions metronidazole oral forms treat. The dosage of metronidazole oral forms your doctor prescribes depends on your condition and its severity. Your dosage of metronidazole is the amount (dose) you’ll take and how often (frequency). The number of days you’ll take your dosage is the duration.

A strength of a drug indicates how much of the active ingredient it contains (what makes the drug work). Metronidazole is available in different strengths, which are:

• capsule: 375 mg
• tablet: 250 mg, 500 mg

If you have questions about the dosages and strengths of metronidazole oral forms, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Can metronidazole be taken for diarrhea? If so, what is the dosage?

No, metronidazole oral forms are not approved to treat diarrhea. But they are taken to treat certain types of infections caused by parasites. These include amoebic infection, which can cause diarrhea with loose stools, stomach pain, and cramping.

If you have symptoms of an amoebic infection, call your doctor. Before treating it, they’ll likely do lab tests to confirm whether you have it.

Metronidazole has a boxed warning about using it for specific purposes. Ask your doctor about this, or see the “Boxed warnings for metronidazole” section below for more details.

Is metronidazole taken long term?

No, doctors don’t typically prescribe metronidazole oral forms as a long-term treatment. Instead, they’re usually recommended for short-term use. Your condition will help determine how long you’ll take metronidazole.

If you have questions about how long you should take metronidazole oral forms, talk with your doctor.

How metronidazole is taken

You’ll swallow metronidazole oral forms with or without food. But if you have an upset stomach from the medication, taking it with food may help.

Your doctor or pharmacist will explain how often you’ll take your dose. The frequency is based on the condition the drug is treating or preventing.

If it’s hard for you to swallow capsules or tablets, view this article. It provides suggestions on how to swallow medications that come in pill form. If you take metronidazole oral tablet but have trouble swallowing pills, you can cut or crush it.

Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.

Metronidazole coupon

Visit this page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for metronidazole when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs. 

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Overdose of metronidazole

It’s important that you do not take more metronidazole oral forms than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to serious side effects.

Symptoms of metronidazole overdose

Symptoms of an overdose can include:

• problems with coordination or balance
• nausea or vomiting

What to do if you take too much metronidazole

If you think you’ve taken too much metronidazole, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.

What to ask your doctor

This article describes the usual recommended dosages for metronidazole oral forms. If your doctor prescribes this medication, they’ll determine the dosage that’s best for you.

Do not change your dosage of metronidazole oral forms without your doctor’s recommendation. You should take metronidazole oral forms exactly as your doctor prescribes them. Let your doctor know if you have concerns or questions about your treatment plan.

Here’s a list of some possible questions you may want to ask your doctor:

• Does my dosage of metronidazole depend on the severity of my condition?
• Would I have a higher risk of side effects with certain dosages of metronidazole?
• Will I need a lower dosage if I have liver problems?

Boxed warnings for metronidazole

This drug has boxed warnings about the risk of cancer and about using it for specific purposes. Boxed warnings are serious warnings from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Risk of cancer. In animal studies of the oral capsule and oral tablet, some animals developed tumors, but not others. It’s not known whether metronidazole increases the risk of cancer in humans. Your doctor will prescribe metronidazole only based on recommendations of approved uses.

Using it for specific purposes. Metronidazole should be used only to prevent or treat infections that a doctor strongly believes are caused by bacteria or a parasite. This lowers the risk of developing resistance to the drug and maintains the drug’s effectiveness.

To learn more about these warnings, talk with your doctor.

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.