Tinidazole (Tindamax) is an oral antibiotic. It's used to treat certain bacterial and parasitic infections, including bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis, in adults and children. Tinidazole (Tindamax) is taken by mouth, typically once a day. It can also be crushed and added into cherry syrup for those with trouble swallowing. Some common side effects of this medication include bitter taste in the mouth and nausea. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking and for 3 days after stopping tinidazole (Tindamax) because doing so can cause flushing, headache, and nausea.
Tinidazole (Tindamax) is a nitroimidazole antibiotic. It kills bacteria and parasites by damaging their genetic material.
| Common Brands | Tindamax |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | Nitroimidazole antibiotic |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Please note: Side effects below are reported in people with BV only:
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Incidence not known
Black, tarry stools
bleeding gums
blood in urine or stools
burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
chills
difficulty swallowing
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
lower back or side pain
painful or difficult urination
pale skin
pinpoint red spots on the skin
reddening of the skin, especially around ears
seizures
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
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
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
indigestion
loss of appetite
pain or discomfort in the chest, upper stomach, or throat
vomiting
Rare
Body aches or pain
coating on tongue
hoarseness
mood or mental changes
tender, swollen glands in the neck
voice changes
Incidence not known
Darkened urine
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
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Tinidazole (Tindamax) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Animal studies of a medication similar to tinidazole (Tindamax) throughout their lifetime were at higher risk for tumors in the liver, lung, and different organs. But it's unclear that taking a short course of tinidazole (Tindamax) carries the same risks. If you're taking tinidazole (Tindamax), don't take this medication more often than what your primary care provider (PCP) has directed.Rarely, people who take tinidazole (Tindamax) can develop serious brain and nerve problems, such as seizures. Get medical attention right away if you experience convulsions, problems with speech, coordination, clear thinking, headache, nausea, and vomiting. These are symptoms of brain damage and your care team might ask you to stop taking tinidazole (Tindamax) to prevent further injury.
In addition, people who take tinidazole (Tindamax) might also experience different nerve problems. Let your PCP know if you experience numbness in the hands and feet. Your PCP will discuss with you whether tinidazole (Tindamax) is a good option for you.
Taking tinidazole (Tindamax) can raise your risk of getting a fungal infection, including a vaginal yeast infection. It's important to let your care team know if your symptoms don't go away or get worse after starting treatment. Your PCP might prescribe an antifungal medication for you if symptoms develop. Please talk with your care team if you notice your vagina is red and itchy, you have thick white vaginal fluid, or if you have fever or chills.
Tinidazole (Tindamax) can interfere with how your body gets rid of other medications. For example, taking certain medications like disulfiram with tinidazole (Tindamax) might cause delusions and hallucinations. Avoid taking tinidazole (Tindamax) within 2 weeks of disulfiram.
When tinidazole (Tindamax) is taken with lithium (Lithobid), it might raise the amount of lithium in your body. This can lead to higher risk of lithium toxicity and side effects, such as confusion, tremors, and uncontrolled eye movements. Your PCP will monitor your bloodwork during treatment with both of these medications.
Tinidazole (Tindamax) can also raise the risk of bleeding when it's taken with certain blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin). Make sure to get your routine blood tests done on time during treatment so your PCP can adjust your dose of warfarin (Coumadin) as needed.
Let your care team know what other medications you’re taking before and while taking tinidazole (Tindamax).
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.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Tinidazole (Tindamax) will not be safe for you to take.
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How long it takes Tinidazole to work depends on what type of infection you're taking it to treat. In some studies, 98% of people who take Tinidazole for trich were completely better 6 days after starting treatment. In other studies, 73% of people who took this medication for BV were completely better 2 weeks after starting treatment. Make sure to take Tinidazole exactly as prescribed. It's important to finish your treatment course, even if you're feeling better. Stopping the medication earlier than prescribed can make your infection come back and become harder to treat.
It can take between 2-3 days for most of Tinidazole to leave your body. Keep in mind that this time frame is estimated based on the half-life of Tinidazole. How long the medication stays in your system can also depend on your age and your health conditions, so it can be different for each individual person. Speak with your PCP first if you want to stop taking Tinidazole. Stopping the medication too soon can cause your infection to become worse and be harder to treat.
You can take Tinidazole at any time of the day, but it's best to to take this medication with food to prevent stomach-related side effects, such as belly cramps, nausea, and vomiting.
Tinidazole is available as both 250 mg and 500 mg tablets. How many tablets you take depends on your dose and which strength of Tinidazole tablet your healthcare team prescribes. For examples, if you need to take Tinidazole 2 grams by mouth daily and your HCP prescribes the 500-mg tablets, then you need to take 4 Tinidazole tablets by mouth at once for your dose. If you have trouble swallowing, some pharmacies can crush the tablets for you and add them into a cherry syrup. Speak to your local pharmacist for more information.
Tinidazole isn't FDA approved to treat UTIs. But it's used to treat bacterial vaginosis (BV), an infection that can cause similar symptoms as UTIs. If you experience symptoms such as pain or burning while urinating, talk to your PCP. They can help figure out whether you have an infection, what kind of infection it might be, and prescribe the right treatment for your condition.
Tinidazole and metronidazole (Flagyl) are both nitroimidazole antibiotics, but they're not the same. They can both be taken by mouth for amebiasis, BV, and trich. But according to CDC guidelines, metronidazole (Flagyl) is typically the first-choice treatment for BV and trich, while Tinidazole is an alternative treatment for both conditions. One difference between the two medications is how often you take them throughout the day. Tinidazole is typically taken by mouth once a day, while metronidazole (Flagyl) is taken up to 3 times daily. While both of these medications are different, you shouldn't take them together since they work similarly to treat certain infections. Talk to your PCP to see which medication is best for you.
You can take Tinidazole with food, including with milk, to lower your risk of stomach discomfort. But keep in mind that dairy products, like milk, are high in fat, which might cause some people to feel nauseous. This might worsen the side effects of Tinidazole.
Don't drink alcohol or eat foods containing large amounts of ethanol or propylene glycol (food additives), such as salad dressing, dried soup, or cake mix, during treatment with Tinidazole and for at least 3 days after taking Tinidazole. Doing so can lead to a serious interaction and cause symptoms such as nausea, flushing, and headache. Typically, you need to avoid drinking alcohol for at least 3 days after your last dose of Tinidazole to allow the medication to leave your system.
