Proper Use

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

Take this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

The capsules can be taken with or without food. If the medicine upsets your stomach, it is best to take it with a meal or snack.

The extended–release tablet must be taken without food, 1 hour before or 2 hours after a meal.

Swallow the extended-release tablet whole. Do not break, crush, or chew it.

To use the suspension: Shake the bottle well before using. Measure the oral liquid medicine with a marked oral syringe or medicine cup. Do not use a household measuring cup.

To help clear up your infection completely, keep using this medicine for the full time of treatment, even if you begin to feel better after a few days. If you stop using this medicine too soon, your infection may return.

This medicine works best when there is a constant amount in the blood. To help keep the amount constant, do not miss any doses. Also, it is best to take the doses at evenly spaced times during the day. If you need help planning the best times to take your medicine, check with your doctor.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

  • For oral dosage forms (capsules or tablets):
    • For amebiasis:
      • Adults—
        • For acute intestinal amebiasis: 750 milligrams (mg) 3 times a day for 5 to 10 days.
        • For amebic liver abscess: 500 to 750 mg 3 times a day for 5 to 10 days.
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 35 to 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) per day, divided into 3 doses, for 10 days.
    • For bacterial infections:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 7.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) every 6 hours for 7 to 10 days. Your doctor may increase your dose as needed. However, the dose is usually not more than 4 grams (g) per day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For trichomoniasis infections:
      • Adults—
        • Capsule: 375 milligrams (mg) 2 times a day for 7 days.
        • Tablet:
          • One-day treatment: 2 grams (g) given as a single dose or 1 g given in 2 doses per day.
          • 7-day course treatment: 250 mg 3 times a day for 7 days.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For oral dosage form (extended-release tablets):
    • For bacterial vaginosis:
      • Adults—750 milligrams (mg) once a day for 7 days.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
  • For oral dosage form (suspension):
    • For amebiasis:
      • Adults—
        • For acute intestinal amebiasis: 750 milligrams (mg) or 7.5 milliliters (mL) 3 times a day for 5 to 10 days.
        • For amebic liver abscess: 500 to 750 mg or 5 to 7.5 mL 3 times a day for 5 to 10 days.
      • Children—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 35 to 50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) per day, divided into 3 doses, for 10 days. However, the dose is usually not more than 2250 mg per day.
    • For bacterial infections:
      • Adults—Dose is based on body weight and must be determined by your doctor. The dose is usually 7.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) every 6 hours for 7 to 10 days. However, the dose is usually not more than 4 grams or 40 mL per day.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
    • For trichomoniasis:
      • Adults—
        • One-day treatment: 2 grams (g) or 20 milliliters (mL) given as a single dose or 1 g or 10 mL given in 2 divided doses per day.
        • 7-day course treatment: 250 milligrams (mg) or 2.5 milliliters (mL) 3 times a day for 7 days.
      • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, take it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

From Mayo Clinic to your inbox

Sign up for free and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips, current health topics, and expertise on managing health. Click here for an email preview.

To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail.