metrogel
Metrogel (Metronidazole) is a nitroimidazole antimicrobial used to treat Abscess, Amebiasis, Bacteroides Infections, Bacterial Endocarditis.
Metronidazole · by Galderma Labs LP
Available as a generic: Metronidazole
⚠ FDA reports a current shortage of the injection form — availability differs between suppliers — see drug shortages →Key facts
- Active ingredient
- Metronidazole
- Drug class
- Nitroimidazole Antimicrobial
- Form
- Topical
- Strength
- Metronidazole 1%
- Type
- Prescription (Rx)
- Brand or generic
- Brand-name
- May treat
- abscess, amebiasis, bacteroides infections
- Manufacturer
- Galderma Labs LP
- Half-life
- about 8 hours (how long it stays in your system)
- What the pharmacy pays
- ~$0.10 per gm — not your price
- FDA application
- NDA021789
What is Metrogel?
From the FDA label:Metronidazole topical gel, 1% is a nitroimidazole for topical use. Metronidazole Gel is a clear, colorless to pale yellow, aqueous gel. Each gram contains 10 mg of metronidazole. Chemically, metronidazole is 2-methyl-5-nitro-1 H -imidazole-1-ethanol. The molecular formula for metronidazole is C 6 H 9 N 3 O 3 . It has the following structural formula: Metronidazole has a molecular weight of 171.16. It is a white to pale yellow crystalline powder. It is slightly soluble in alcohol and has solubility in water of 10 mg/mL at 20˚C. Metronidazole belongs to the nitroimidazole class of compounds. The inactive ingredients are betadex, edetate disodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylparaben, niacinamide, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol, propylparaben and purified water. Structural Formula
How to use
Cleanse treated areas before the application of Metronidazole Gel. Apply and rub in a thin film of Metronidazole Gel once daily to affected area(s). Cosmetics may be applied after the application of Metronidazole Gel. For topical use only, not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. Cleanse treated areas before the application of Metronidazole Gel. ( 2 ) Apply and rub in a thin film of Metronidazole Gel once daily to affected area(s). ( 2 ) Cosmetics may be applied after the application of Metronidazole Gel. ( 2 ) Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. ( 2 )
Side effects
The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Neurologic Disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Contact Dermatitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] Eye Irritation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 2%) are nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mayne Pharma, at 1-844-825-8500, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In a controlled clinical trial, 557 subjects used Metronidazole Gel and 189 subjects used the gel vehicle once daily for up to 10 weeks. The following table summarizes selected adverse reactions that occurred at a rate of ≥1% and at a higher rate than vehicle: Table 1: Adverse Reactions That Occurred at a Rate of ≥1% and Higher Than Vehicle in Subjects Treated with Metronidazole Gel for Up to 10 Weeks Preferred Term Metronidazole Gel Gel Vehicle Influenza 8 (1.4) 1 (0.5) Upper respiratory tract infection 14 (2.5) 4 (2.1) Urinary tract infection 6 (1.1) 1 (0.5) Headache 12 (2.2) 1 (0.5)…
Warnings
Important safety information
Neurologic Disease: Peripheral neuropathy, characterized by numbness or paresthesia of an extremity has been reported in patients treated with systemic metronidazole. Peripheral neuropathy has been reported with the post approval use of topical metronidazole. Immediately reevaluate Metronidazole Gel if abnormal neurologic signs appear. ( 5.1 ) Blood Dyscrasias: Metronidazole Gel is a nitroimidazole; use with care in patients with evidence of, or history of, blood dyscrasia. ( 5.2 ) Contact Dermatitis: If dermatitis occurs, patients may need to discontinue use. ( 5.3 ) Eye Irritation: Topical metronidazole has been reported to cause tearing of the eyes. Avoid contact with the eyes. ( 5.4 ) 5.1 Neurologic Disease Peripheral neuropathy, characterized by numbness or paresthesia of an extremity, has been reported in patients treated with systemic metronidazole. Peripheral neuropathy has been reported with the post approval use of topical metronidazole. Immediately reevaluate Metronidazole Gel therapy if abnormal neurologic signs appear. Administer metronidazole with caution to patients with central nervous system diseases. 5.2 Blood Dyscrasias Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole; use with care in patients with evidence of, or history of, blood dyscrasia. 5.3 Contact Dermatitis Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis have been reported with Metronidazole Gel. If dermatitis occurs, patients may need to discontinue use. 5.4 Eye Irritation Topical metronidazole has been reported to cause tearing of the eyes. Avoid contact with the eyes.
Who should not take Metrogel
Metronidazole Gel is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to metronidazole or to any other ingredient in the formulation. Metronidazole Gel is contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to metronidazole or to any other ingredient in this formulation. ( 4 )
Interactions
Oral metronidazole has been reported to potentiate the anticoagulant effect of coumarin and warfarin, resulting in a prolongation of prothrombin time. Use caution when prescribing for patients who are receiving anticoagulant treatment. Oral metronidazole has been reported to potentiate the anticoagulant effect of coumarin and warfarin, resulting in a prolongation of prothrombin time. Use caution when administering Metronidazole Gel concomitantly to patients who are receiving anticoagulant treatment. ( 7 )
Foods & drinks to be careful with
Well-established interactions for this medicine’s drug class, summarized from public health authorities. General information, not medical advice — always confirm with your pharmacist or the label.
Alcohol
Watch out for: beer, wine, spirits, and other products containing alcohol.
Combining alcohol with this antibiotic can cause a disulfiram-like reaction — flushing, nausea, vomiting, headache, and a fast heartbeat.
What to do: Avoid alcohol while taking it and for a few days after your last dose, as your prescriber or the label directs. Alcohol can hide in some liquid medicines and mouthwashes.
Source: Metronidazole — MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine)
How long does Metronidazole stay in your body?
The elimination half-life of metronidazole is about 8 hours — the time it takes the body to clear about half of it. As a rule of thumb, a medicine is mostly gone after roughly 4 to 5 half-lives, though this varies from person to person with age and kidney or liver function. This is the average for healthy adults with normal kidney and liver function; the half-life is much longer in newborns (roughly 22 to 109 hours, longer the more premature the baby). Metronidazole has an active metabolite (hydroxy-metronidazole) whose levels build up in older adults (40-80% higher) and in severe kidney disease, though the label does not give a separate half-life for it.
This is general information, not medical advice. It doesn’t tell you when a drug test would read negative (tests detect substances for different, often longer, windows) or when it’s safe to take another dose — ask your pharmacist or prescriber. Source: FLAGYL (metronidazole) label, DailyMed.
Drug class
How this class works, per Metronidazole - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf.
May treat (source: NIH RxClass)
- abscess
- amebiasis
- bacteroides infections
- bacterial endocarditis
- pseudomembranous enterocolitis
- giardiasis
See how Metrogel ranks — best-rated nitroimidazole antimicrobial for:
Dosage forms
Topical
The forms currently marketed in the U.S., per the FDA National Drug Code Directory.
Ways to save
Ask for the generic
Same active ingredient, far cheaper. Is there a generic? →
Request a 90-day supply
Bulk fills usually lower the per-dose price vs monthly refills.
Use copay cards
Manufacturer copay cards & patient-assistance programs — especially for brand drugs.
Compare alternatives
A same-class option may cost less. See alternatives →
Frequently asked questions
- What does Metrogel treat?
- Metrogel (Metronidazole) may be used to treat abscess, amebiasis, bacteroides infections, bacterial endocarditis, pseudomembranous enterocolitis, giardiasis, based on NIH RxClass drug-classification data (conditions a drug may treat — not a verbatim copy of the FDA-approved label). This is general reference, not medical advice.
- How does Metrogel work?
- Metrogel is a nitroimidazole antimicrobial. Nitroimidazole antibiotics (such as metronidazole) are activated inside oxygen-free bacteria and parasites, where they turn into reactive forms that break and destabilize the microbe's DNA. This kills the germ while largely sparing the body's own cells.
- How much does Metrogel cost?
- Nobody can tell you what you will pay — your price is set by your insurer's formulary, your deductible and the pharmacy's markup, and none of those are published. What IS published is what the pharmacy paid to acquire it: about $0.10 per gm, per the CMS NADAC survey. Treat that as the floor, not the quote — ask the pharmacist for the cash price as well as your copay, because for cheap generics the cash price often wins.
- Is there a coupon or discount for Metrogel?
- pharmaranks is an independent ratings site, not a pharmacy — we don't issue coupons or sell Metrogel. To pay less, ask your prescriber or pharmacist whether a generic equivalent exists, check the manufacturer's copay/savings card and patient-assistance program, and compare a pharmacy discount card against your insurance copay. Prices vary by pharmacy, insurance, and location, so always confirm at the counter. This is general reference, not medical or financial advice.
- Who makes Metrogel?
- Metrogel is marketed by Galderma Labs LP. You can see Galderma Labs LP's full profile, rating, and other products on pharmaranks.
- Is Metrogel a brand-name or generic drug?
- Metrogel is a brand-name product with the active ingredient Metronidazole. Lower-cost generic equivalents containing Metronidazole are available — ask your pharmacist.
- Is Metrogel available over the counter?
- No. Metrogel is a prescription (Rx) medication in the US — you need a prescription from a licensed clinician (in person or via telehealth); it isn't sold over the counter. For some conditions there are OTC alternatives — ask your pharmacist.
- What forms does Metrogel come in?
- Metrogel is currently marketed as topical, per the FDA's National Drug Code Directory.
- What class of drug is Metrogel?
- Metrogel is classified as nitroimidazole antimicrobial, per the FDA's Established Pharmacologic Class.
- Is Metrogel FDA-registered?
- Metrogel is on record with the U.S. FDA under application number NDA021789. You can verify this on its official FDA label.
- Is Metrogel safe?
- There's no single safe-or-not verdict, and we don't yet have a composite recall-safety score for Metrogel. Review its FDA-label side effects and warnings below, and always consult a licensed professional.
- What are the side effects of Metrogel?
- Metrogel's side effects are taken directly from its FDA label. From the label: The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Neurologic Disease [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1)] Contact Dermatitis [see Warnings and Precautions (5.3)] Eye Irritation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.4)] Most common adverse reactions (incidence… Both common and serious reactions are documented in full on this page. This is general reference from the FDA, not medical advice — always consult a professional.
Clinical content sourced from the FDA label via openFDA (U.S. FDA). View the FDA label on DailyMed → Provided for general reference only — not medical advice. Always consult a licensed professional and the current prescribing information.
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