These comments are made for the purpose of discussion and should NOT be used as recommendations for or against therapies or other treatments. An individual patient is always advised to consult their own physician.
Flagyl and Pregnancy
Question: My doctor diagnosed a bacterial infection during my pelvic exam. I am seven weeks pregnant, and she told me to wait unitl the tenth week before I start treatment with Flagyl. I am concerned about taking any drugs while pregnant. How safe is this treatment?
Answer: Flagyl(metronidazole) is a synthetic antibiotic which is particularly active against anerobic organisms-that is, organisms who flourish without an oxygen environment. It is also used against certain parasites-guardia especially. It’s structure is similar to a drug used in alcoholics which causes them to become ill after ingesting alcohol,consequently, it should not be used with alcohol. Metronidazole rapidly passes through the placenta. In rats, it has demonstrated no fetal toxicity. However, there are rare drugs that are tested on pregnant women and the ability to translate this data is always uncertain. Almost every drug manufactured has a warning to Minimize use in pregnancy. This must be weighed against the severity of your infection and the possibility that it will affect the fetus.
