Comparative Pharmacology
Head-to-head clinical analysis: FLAGYL versus FLAGYL I V.
Peer-Reviewed Evidence
Head-to-head clinical analysis: FLAGYL versus FLAGYL I V.
FLAGYL vs FLAGYL I.V.
Comparing the clinical profiles, pharmacokinetic behaviors, and safety indices of these two therapeutic agents.
Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole antibiotic, enters bacterial cells and is reduced to cytotoxic intermediates that damage DNA and inhibit nucleic acid synthesis, leading to cell death. It is active against anaerobic bacteria and protozoa.
Metronidazole, a nitroimidazole antibiotic, is reduced by bacterial nitroreductases to form reactive intermediates that disrupt bacterial DNA and inhibit nucleic acid synthesis.
Metronidazole 500 mg intravenously every 8 hours or 500 mg orally every 8 hours.
500 mg IV every 6 hours. For severe infection, 750 mg IV every 6 hours.
None Documented
None Documented
Terminal elimination half-life: 6-8 hours in adults with normal renal function; prolonged to 7-21 hours in hepatic impairment; no significant change in renal impairment; clinically relevant for dosing interval (usually 8-hourly).
8 hours (range 6-12 hours) in adults; prolonged in hepatic impairment (up to 20 hours) and neonates.
Renal: 60-80% of dose excreted unchanged in urine; biliary/fecal: 6-15% as metabolites and unchanged drug; enterohepatic circulation contributes to prolonged elimination.
Renal (60-80% unchanged), fecal (6-15% as metabolites), biliary (minor).
Category C
Category C
Nitroimidazole Antibiotic
Nitroimidazole Antibiotic