Patient was educated on the side effects of using Metronidazole as follows:

  1. Opportunistic fungal infections
  • The friendly normal flora residing in the human body help prevent growth of opportunistic infections.
  • Metronidazole by destroying the normal flora, tips the balance in favor of opportunistic infections.
  • So, long term use of Metronidazole carries a risk of opportunistic fungal infections, such as, thrush and yeast infections.
  1. Vision changes
  • Metronidazole intake can lead to vision changes, headaches, and eye pain, which must be immediately reported to the physician.
  1. Peripheral neuropathy
  • Long term Metronidazole intake can lead to serious problems of the peripheral nerves, thus resulting in altered sensations, such as, pain and numbness, tingling, and burning sensations in the extremities.
  • These altered sensations can result in disturbance in the touch, pain, temperature, and pressure sensations in the extremities, contributing towards changes in the vibration and body position sense.
  • This can lead to falls and accidents, thus jeopardizing safety.
  • Metronidazole use can also result in slowing down of conduction of nerve impulses, resulting in muscle weakness.