What to do if metronidazole doesn't work for BV?

BV that does not resolve after one course of treatment may be cured by a second course with the same agent. Another option is to switch to another agent (ie, metronidazole to clindamycin, or clindamycin to metronidazole) as other concomitant organisms may respond better to an alternate medication.

Why is metronidazole not working for BV?

Second, the bacteria that either cause BV or cause the anaerobic overgrowth may have become relatively more resistant to metronidazole (the most common treating agent) or to clindamycin (the other common treating agent). Third, this infection may be reintroduced back into the vagina as a result of reinfection.

What happens if your BV doesn't go away with antibiotics?

If you have persistent BV (ie it does not settle down with the first treatment you try) then your doctor may want to take further vaginal swabs to check whether there is another cause of the discharge. They will usually suggest that you use the seven-day course of metronidazole if you have not had this before.

What do you do if metronidazole doesn't work?

Metronidazole doesn't work for everyone. Tinidazole, Solosec, Cleocin, Vancocin, and Alinia are some metronidazole alternatives. Get the full list here. Metronidazole (brand name Flagyl) is an antibiotic that is used to treat a variety of bacterial and parasitic infections.

Why won't my BV symptoms go away?

Around a third of women who take antibiotic treatment for bacterial vaginosis (BV) find that the problem recurs within the next two to three months. Some strains of BV organisms may have resistance to some antibiotics. You should return to your healthcare provider and describe the problems you are having.

How Do I Get Rid of Bacterial Vaginosis? | This Morning

How do you get rid of prolonged BV?

What happens if you have BV for too long?

Most often, BV does not cause other health problems. However, if left untreated, BV may increase your risk for: Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV. Pelvic inflammatory disease where BV bacteria infect the uterus or fallopian tubes.

How do you know if metronidazole is not working?

It is important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that the infection is cleared up. Blood tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects. If your symptoms do not improve within a few days after you start this medicine or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

Can metronidazole fail?

Metronidazole failure was defined as persistent symptoms of C. difficile-associated diarrhea after 5 days of uninterrupted therapy. Response was defined as improvement in symptoms at day 5 of therapy including reduction of diarrhea to <or=2 bowel movements per day. Results: 119 C.

Can metronidazole take a few days to work?

With serious swelling, including dental infections, the medicine will start working within a few days but it may take longer before your symptoms start to get better. For some of the infections that metronidazole is used for, you may only begin to notice an improvement after a week.

Why does my BV keep coming back after antibiotics?

The first course of antibiotics isn't always enough to cure this infection. Talk to your healthcare provider if your symptoms don't clear up. The answer may be a combination of additional medication, lifestyle changes, and new hygiene practices.

Can BV linger after antibiotics?

Symptoms may linger even after you are done with your antibiotics—it may take 2 weeks for symptoms to completely go away. If the BV comes back, you will need to take another course of antibiotics. If you get a BV infection several times a year, you may need to take a long-term course of antibiotics.

How many times can you take metronidazole for BV?

Metronidazole is available as an oral pill or vaginal gel; the choice of pill or gel is based on the person's preferences. The oral pill is taken twice daily for seven days. The gel is inserted into the vagina at bedtime for five days. Both treatments work equally well.

Why does metronidazole take so long to work?

by Drugs.com

Metronidazole starts to work 1 to 2 hours after you take it, because it is quickly absorbed, and it reaches its maximum concentration after 20 minutes to 3 hours. But it may take a couple of days before you start to feel better or notice an improvement in your symptoms.

Can you become immune to metronidazole?

Metronidazole resistance can occur by a number of different mechanisms that involve reduced uptake of the drug, increased removal from the bacterial cell or by reducing the rate of metronidazole activation inside anaerobes.

What can I replace metronidazole with?

For the treatment of trichomoniasis, alternatives include fura- zolidone, clotrimazole, nonoxynol-9 or paromomycin. Alternatives for bacterial vaginosis include clindamycin topically or systemically. For giardiasis, alternative options include paromomycin, nitazoxanide or the antihelminthic benzimidazoles.

How common is metronidazole resistance?

A high metronidazole resistance rate (17.5%) is noted in the current study. Emergence of carbapenem resistance in anaerobic organisms has also been reported for the first time in this study. Resistance was most frequently seen in Bacteroides species which was also the most commonly isolated organism.

How long is too long for metronidazole?

If you need to take metronidazole for longer than ten days, your doctor may want you to have some tests. Make sure you keep any appointments that your doctor gives to you.

Why am I getting BV all the time?

BV is a result of an imbalance of “good” and “harmful” bacteria in a vagina. Douching, not using condoms, and having new or multiple sex partners can upset the normal balance of vaginal bacteria, increasing your risk for getting BV. We also do not know how sex causes BV.

How long does it take for BV to clear up with metronidazole?

You may have been prescribed pills or vaginal cream. With treatment, bacterial vaginosis usually clears up in 5 to 7 days.

How long does metronidazole take to relieve BV symptoms?

How long does it take for metronidazole to work for BV? Symptoms usually start to resolve after taking metronidazole for a few days. For some, it can take a couple of weeks. It's important to take all antibiotics even if the symptoms are gone.

Can BV stay forever?

Some women suffer from chronic (recurring) bacterial vaginosis. Medicine can clear up the infection, but it returns again after a few weeks. Some women report that bacterial vaginosis returns after their period each month. Or it can return after they have sex.

Can BV be incurable?

Yes, BV is usually curable with prescription antibiotics that can help readjust the balance of bacteria in the vagina. Although some over-the-counter vaginal medications are sold, these are not effective for curing BV. Currently, only prescribed antibiotics are effective.

Can I take a second course of metronidazole?

Taking an extra dose of metronidazole tablets, liquid or suppositories is unlikely to harm you or your child. Speak to your pharmacist or doctor if you're worried or you take more than 1 extra dose.