There may be alternatives to metronidazole for those whom the drug is contraindicated or inadvisable because of pregnancy, alcoholism, liver disease, are on dialysis, or have other conditions that prohibit the use of this drug. These alternatives depend largely on the disease for which the medication was prescribed.
Potential Alternatives for Metronidazole
Below are some potential alternatives to this medication.
Furazolidone
Furazolidone is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis, a common sexually transmitted infection (STI), formerly known as a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Furazolidone is an antibiotic that treats a broad spectrum of infections.
Clotrimazole
Clotrimazole is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis. Clotrimazole is an antifungal that doctors prescribe primarily for the treatment of skin, oral, and vaginal Candida infections.
Nonoxynol-9
Nonoxynol-9 is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis. That being said, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that nonoxynol-9 has minimal success in treating trichomoniasis.
Paromomycin
Paromomycin is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of trichomoniasis and giardiasis, an intestinal infection resulting from consuming food or water contaminated with a Giardia parasite or person-to-person contact with someone with giardiasis.
Clindamycin
Clindamycin is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (BV), a type of vaginal inflammation resulting from an overgrowth of bacteria naturally found in the vagina. Clindamycin is a wide-spectrum antibiotic, which means it acts on a wide variety of disease-causing bacteria.
Nitazoxanide
Nitazoxanide is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of giardiasis and Clostridium difficile. Also known as C. diff, Clostridium difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and inflammation of the colon, a condition known as colitis. Many patients develop colitis after taking antibiotics, as antibiotics kill both unhealthy and beneficial bacteria living in the gut, leading to bacterial imbalances in the intestines. Nitazoxanide is an antiprotozoal, which means it fights infections caused by protozoa, which are single-cell organisms that feed on other microorganisms, organic tissue, and debris.
Oral Vancomycin
Oral vancomycin is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of Clostridium difficile. Doctors often prescribe oral vancomycin to treat colitis, which works by killing bacteria in the intestines but nowhere else.
Rifaximin
Rifaximin is a potential alternative for metronidazole for the treatment of Clostridium difficile. The human body does not absorb rifaximin well, so its antibacterial activity occurs mainly in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract.
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