Tinidazole (oral route)

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of tinidazole in children 3 years of age and younger. Safety and efficacy have not been established. It is only used in children older than 3 years of age for the treatment of giardiasis and amebiasis.

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of tinidazole in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related liver, kidney, or heart problems, which may require an adjustment in the dose for patients receiving tinidazole.

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Capecitabine
• Disulfiram
• Doxifluridine
• Fluorouracil
• Tegafur

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco.

• Ethanol

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood disease, or a history of or
• Peripheral neuropathy (nerve problem), history of or
• Seizures, history of or
• Vaginal yeast infection (Candida infection)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Cockayne syndrome (genetic disorder)—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

• Kidney disease, including dialysis patients or
• Liver disease, severe—Use with caution. The effects may be increased because of slower removal of the medicine from the body.

Rare

• Chest tightness
• change in consciousness
• cough
• loss of consciousness
• trouble breathing

Incidence not known

• Black, tarry stools
• bleeding gums
• blood in urine or stools
• burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• chest pain
• chills
• difficulty swallowing
• fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
• fever
• hives, itching, rash
• large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
• lower back or side pain
• nausea
• painful or difficult urination
• pale skin
• pinpoint red spots on the skin
• reddening of the skin, especially around ears
• seizures
• sore throat
• sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth
• swelling of eyes, face, or inside of the nose
• swollen glands
• ulcers
• unsteadiness or awkwardness
• unusual bleeding or bruising
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

More common

• Bitter taste
• metallic taste

Less common

• Acid or sour stomach
• belching
• cramps
• difficulty having a bowel movement
• dizziness
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• headache
• heartburn
• indigestion
• loss of appetite
• pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
• vomiting
• weight loss

Rare

• Body aches or pain
• coating on tongue
• depression
• hoarseness
• mood or mental changes
• runny nose
• tender, swollen glands in the neck
• voice changes

Incidence not known

• Darkened urine
• diarrhea
• difficulty in moving
• feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
• giddiness
• lightheadedness
• muscle pain or stiffness
• pain, swelling, or redness in joints
• sensation of spinning
• shakiness and unsteady walk
• sleepiness
• swelling of the mouth
• tongue discoloration
• trembling, or other problems with muscle control or coordination
• trouble sleeping
• unable to sleep
• white or brownish vaginal discharge
• white patches in the mouth or throat or on the tongue