METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL

85/100 · Critical

Manufactured by Encube Ethicals, Inc.

Metronidazole Topical Adverse Events: High Seriousness and Diverse Reactions

91,758 FDA adverse event reports analyzed

Last updated: 2026-05-12

About METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL

METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL is a medication tracked in the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), manufactured by Encube Ethicals, Inc.. Based on analysis of 91,758 FDA adverse event reports, METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL has a safety score of 85 out of 100. This score indicates a relatively favorable safety profile, with fewer or less severe adverse events compared to many other tracked medications. The most commonly reported adverse reactions for METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL include DRUG INEFFECTIVE, NAUSEA, OFF LABEL USE, DIARRHOEA, VOMITING. This page provides a comprehensive breakdown of reported side effects, safety signals, patient demographics, and AI-powered safety analysis for METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL.

AI Safety Analysis

Metronidazole Topical has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100, placing it in the high concern category based on analysis of FDA adverse event data. The FDA has received approximately 91,758 adverse event reports for this medication, which is primarily manufactured by Encube Ethicals, Inc..

The most commonly reported adverse events include Drug Ineffective, Nausea, Off Label Use. Of classified reports, 87.3% were designated as serious by the FDA, meaning they involved hospitalization, disability, or other significant medical outcomes. High percentage of serious adverse events (87.3%) indicates significant safety concerns.

A wide range of reactions, including kidney and respiratory issues, suggest diverse potential side effects. Significant reports of drug interactions and hyper-sensitivity reactions highlight the need for caution.

Patients taking Metronidazole Topical should monitor for the commonly reported side effects and contact their healthcare provider if they experience any unusual symptoms. Metronidazole Topical can interact with other drugs, and patients should be aware of potential drug interactions and hypersensitivity reactions. This analysis is based on voluntary FDA adverse event reports and should not replace professional medical advice.

Safety Score: 85/100

Metronidazole Topical received a safety concern score of 85/100 (high concern). This is based on a 87.3% serious event ratio across 45,806 classified reports. The score accounts for 91,758 total adverse event reports and 100 distinct reaction types. This high score reflects a significant proportion of serious adverse events in the reporting data.

Top Adverse Reactions

DRUG INEFFECTIVE4,365 reports
NAUSEA3,318 reports
OFF LABEL USE3,130 reports
DIARRHOEA2,622 reports
VOMITING2,211 reports
PYREXIA2,204 reports
HEADACHE2,127 reports
PAIN2,048 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN2,008 reports
FATIGUE1,848 reports
DIZZINESS1,611 reports
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY1,501 reports
CONDITION AGGRAVATED1,495 reports
DYSPNOEA1,493 reports
MALAISE1,430 reports
RASH1,293 reports
DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY1,248 reports
ANAEMIA1,218 reports
ANXIETY1,177 reports
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE1,176 reports
ASTHENIA1,174 reports
RENAL FAILURE1,174 reports
WEIGHT DECREASED1,161 reports
CONSTIPATION1,122 reports
ARTHRALGIA1,104 reports
PRURITUS1,090 reports
SEPSIS1,085 reports
DRUG INTERACTION1,054 reports
PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION967 reports
PNEUMONIA935 reports
ERYTHEMA877 reports
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE INFECTION847 reports
MACULAR DEGENERATION836 reports
HYPOTENSION821 reports
CONFUSIONAL STATE816 reports
ABDOMINAL DISTENSION806 reports
PAIN IN EXTREMITY798 reports
ABDOMINAL PAIN UPPER792 reports
PARAESTHESIA792 reports
HYPERSENSITIVITY781 reports
DEATH779 reports
DECREASED APPETITE777 reports
COLITIS763 reports
DRUG INTOLERANCE705 reports
SEPTIC SHOCK698 reports
DEPRESSION696 reports
MULTIPLE ORGAN DYSFUNCTION SYNDROME684 reports
GENERAL PHYSICAL HEALTH DETERIORATION683 reports
INFECTION661 reports
SOMNOLENCE659 reports
HAEMATOCHEZIA640 reports
HYPERTENSION626 reports
BACK PAIN624 reports
NEUTROPENIA610 reports
INSOMNIA609 reports
COUGH608 reports
DRUG REACTION WITH EOSINOPHILIA AND SYSTEMIC SYMPTOMS605 reports
HYPOAESTHESIA603 reports
NEUROPATHY PERIPHERAL601 reports
TOXIC ENCEPHALOPATHY601 reports
THERAPEUTIC PRODUCT EFFECT INCOMPLETE591 reports
TOXICITY TO VARIOUS AGENTS591 reports
THROMBOCYTOPENIA585 reports
URTICARIA581 reports
GAIT DISTURBANCE577 reports
DYSPEPSIA569 reports
FALL569 reports
CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE COLITIS567 reports
URINARY TRACT INFECTION566 reports
CHEST PAIN558 reports
NEUROTOXICITY547 reports
SWELLING FACE529 reports
CROHN^S DISEASE519 reports
ANAPHYLACTIC REACTION516 reports
MYALGIA507 reports
TREMOR503 reports
PULMONARY EMBOLISM498 reports
EMOTIONAL DISTRESS496 reports
END STAGE RENAL DISEASE490 reports
TACHYCARDIA487 reports
PATHOGEN RESISTANCE485 reports
HYPONATRAEMIA482 reports
DEHYDRATION480 reports
SWELLING479 reports
DRUG INEFFECTIVE FOR UNAPPROVED INDICATION474 reports
COLITIS ULCERATIVE472 reports
RECTAL HAEMORRHAGE472 reports
MATERNAL EXPOSURE DURING PREGNANCY470 reports
WEIGHT INCREASED469 reports
ENCEPHALOPATHY464 reports
MUSCLE SPASMS460 reports
FEELING ABNORMAL456 reports
ASCITES452 reports
RESPIRATORY FAILURE444 reports
OEDEMA PERIPHERAL436 reports
INTENTIONAL PRODUCT USE ISSUE433 reports
ABDOMINAL DISCOMFORT432 reports
DYSGEUSIA422 reports
TREATMENT FAILURE422 reports
BLOOD PRESSURE INCREASED421 reports

Key Safety Signals

  • Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease are reported in a notable number of cases.
  • Respiratory issues such as dyspnoea and pneumonia are frequent.
  • Severe reactions like septic shock and toxic encephalopathy are documented.

Patient Demographics

Adverse event reports by sex: Female: 25,142, Male: 15,907, Unknown: 136. The most frequently reported age groups are age 65 (757 reports), age 71 (748 reports), age 66 (712 reports). These demographics reflect reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Report Outcomes

Out of 45,806 classified reports for METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL:

  • Serious: 39,972 reports (87.3%) — includes hospitalization, disability, life-threatening events, or death
  • Non-Serious: 5,834 reports (12.7%)
Serious 87.3%Non-Serious 12.7%

The FDA classifies an adverse event as “serious” if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, congenital anomaly, or requires intervention to prevent permanent damage.

Demographics Breakdown

Reports by Sex

Female25,142 (61.0%)
Male15,907 (38.6%)
Unknown136 (0.3%)

Reports by Age

Age 65757 reports
Age 71748 reports
Age 66712 reports
Age 60697 reports
Age 69687 reports
Age 55642 reports
Age 57637 reports
Age 80630 reports
Age 61609 reports
Age 59597 reports
Age 68596 reports
Age 74589 reports
Age 67587 reports
Age 70580 reports
Age 64557 reports
Age 75547 reports
Age 62544 reports
Age 72543 reports
Age 53541 reports
Age 58536 reports

Demographics reflect voluntary FDA adverse event reporting patterns and may not represent the full patient population.

Drug Interactions & Warnings

Metronidazole Topical can interact with other drugs, and patients should be aware of potential drug interactions and hypersensitivity reactions.

What You Should Know

If you are taking Metronidazole Topical, here are important things to know. The most commonly reported side effects include drug ineffective, nausea, off label use, diarrhoea, vomiting. While many of these may be mild and temporary, you should contact your healthcare provider if any symptoms are severe or persistent. Consult a healthcare provider before using Metronidazole Topical for any unapproved indications. Be aware of potential serious side effects and report any adverse reactions promptly. If you experience a serious adverse reaction, seek emergency medical attention immediately or call 911. You can report side effects to the FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Regulatory Context

The FDA closely monitors Metronidazole Topical, and any unusual symptoms should be reported to healthcare providers immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many adverse event reports has the FDA received for Metronidazole Topical?

The FDA has received approximately 91,758 adverse event reports associated with Metronidazole Topical. These reports come from healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers through the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Note that the number of reports does not directly indicate the frequency of side effects, as adverse events are voluntarily reported and may be underrepresented.

What are the most commonly reported side effects of Metronidazole Topical?

The most frequently reported adverse events for Metronidazole Topical include Drug Ineffective, Nausea, Off Label Use, Diarrhoea, Vomiting. By volume, the top reported reactions are: Drug Ineffective (4,365 reports), Nausea (3,318 reports), Off Label Use (3,130 reports). These figures reflect FDA adverse event reports and may not represent the true incidence rate of these side effects in all patients taking Metronidazole Topical.

What percentage of Metronidazole Topical adverse event reports are serious?

Out of 45,806 classified reports, 39,972 (87.3%) were classified as serious and 5,834 as non-serious. The FDA classifies an event as "serious" if it results in death, hospitalization, disability, or other medically significant outcomes. A higher serious-event ratio warrants closer attention but does not necessarily mean the drug is unsafe.

Who reports adverse events for Metronidazole Topical (by sex)?

Adverse event reports for Metronidazole Topical break down by patient sex as follows: Female: 25,142, Male: 15,907, Unknown: 136. This distribution reflects reporting patterns rather than actual risk differences between groups. Reporting rates can be influenced by prescribing patterns, disease demographics, and reporting behavior.

What age groups report the most side effects for Metronidazole Topical?

The most frequently reported age groups for Metronidazole Topical adverse events are: age 65: 757 reports, age 71: 748 reports, age 66: 712 reports, age 60: 697 reports, age 69: 687 reports. Age-related reporting patterns can reflect both the demographics of the patient population and potential age-related susceptibility to certain side effects.

Who manufactures Metronidazole Topical?

The primary manufacturer associated with Metronidazole Topical adverse event reports is Encube Ethicals, Inc.. Multiple manufacturers may produce generic versions of this drug. The manufacturer listed reflects the most frequently reported brand in FDA adverse event data.

What other side effects have been reported for Metronidazole Topical?

Beyond the most common reactions, other reported adverse events for Metronidazole Topical include: Pyrexia, Headache, Pain, Abdominal Pain, Fatigue. Less common side effects can still be clinically significant. Patients should report any unusual symptoms to their healthcare provider.

How do I report a side effect from Metronidazole Topical?

You can report adverse events from Metronidazole Topical to the FDA through their MedWatch program at www.fda.gov/medwatch, by calling 1-800-FDA-1088, or by completing Form FDA 3500. Healthcare professionals, consumers, and manufacturers can all submit reports. Reporting helps the FDA monitor drug safety after approval.

What is Metronidazole Topical's safety score and what does it mean?

Metronidazole Topical has a safety concern score of 85 out of 100 (high concern). This score is calculated from the ratio of serious to non-serious adverse events, the diversity of reported reactions, and the overall volume of reports relative to usage. High percentage of serious adverse events (87.3%) indicates significant safety concerns.

What are the key safety signals for Metronidazole Topical?

Key safety signals identified in Metronidazole Topical's adverse event data include: Acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease are reported in a notable number of cases.. Respiratory issues such as dyspnoea and pneumonia are frequent.. Severe reactions like septic shock and toxic encephalopathy are documented.. These signals are derived from patterns in FDA reports and should be discussed with a healthcare provider for personalized assessment.

Does Metronidazole Topical interact with other drugs?

Metronidazole Topical can interact with other drugs, and patients should be aware of potential drug interactions and hypersensitivity reactions. Always inform your healthcare provider about all medications, supplements, and over-the-counter drugs you are taking before starting Metronidazole Topical.

What should patients know before taking Metronidazole Topical?

Consult a healthcare provider before using Metronidazole Topical for any unapproved indications. Be aware of potential serious side effects and report any adverse reactions promptly.

Are Metronidazole Topical side effects well-documented?

Metronidazole Topical has 91,758 adverse event reports on file with the FDA. A wide range of reactions, including kidney and respiratory issues, suggest diverse potential side effects. The volume of reports for Metronidazole Topical reflects both the drug's usage level and the vigilance of the reporting community.

What is the FDA's position on Metronidazole Topical?

The FDA closely monitors Metronidazole Topical, and any unusual symptoms should be reported to healthcare providers immediately. For the most current regulatory information, check the FDA's drug labeling database or consult your pharmacist.

Related Drugs

Drugs related to METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL based on therapeutic use, drug class, or shared indications:

AmoxicillinMetforminWarfarin
Important Disclaimer: This content is generated by AI analysis of FDA adverse event reports and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not medical advice. Adverse event reports submitted to the FDA do not prove that a medication caused the reported side effect. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. If you experience a serious side effect, contact your doctor or call 911 immediately.