Metronidazole and Headaches: What Users Say

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2021

For Trichomoniasis "I was diagnosed with Trich & BV. Had to take 500 mg of 4 pills at once. I was scared after reading reviews. But I knew I had to take them to feel better. Ate before I took them. I felt hot & a little headache & had gas a little about an hour-2 after I took them. It ceased. Got tired & went to bed. Woke up with the metallic taste in my mouth. But nothing that is too bad or I can't handle. But today I feel better already. Even got my energy back. This was a lesson learned to use protection or don't have sex. This was the consequence of my stupidity. I can't blame anybody but myself."

• Anonymous
• July 8, 2019

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "I felt it was important for anyone prescribed Flagyl and looking at possible side effects. I delayed treatment due to reading comments and becoming horrified at the stories of other people's experiences. For me, NOTHING HAPPENED!! I am the most sensitive person when it comes to medications. I had no side effects on this medication except for a slight headache on Day 1. That could also have been attributed to me coming off of sugar and caffeine as well. NO SIDE EFFECTS. All I did was put coconut oil around the pill, threw it to the back of my throat, and washed it down with juice. Problem solved regarding the awful pill taste. I did not touch alcohol. I cut out caffeine and sugar as to not add to any potential anxiety. There could be many reasons others have side effects, including other prescription drug interactions. Please don't get thrown off by other people's horror stories like I did. Just follow directions, eat properly, stay away from alcohol, and get better."

• Mar...
• August 27, 2019

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Diverticulitis "First diverticulitis (DVT) attack, was in such pain & had been in a very stressful situation. I had CT and diagnosed with DVT and prescribed Flagyl & cipro. Became very ill, nauseated, headache, confused, lost my way back to husband's hospital room. Very frightening & debilitating. Called former GI dr & he took me off 1 of the drugs & I slogged it out & finally got well again but at what cost? I'm one that get frequent flare-ups. Now take 250 mg amoxicillin 3X a day for 10 days which is very inexpensive & have no side effects. Nothing to compare to the horrible, torturous side effects of those other 2 drugs. I sought advice from 3 GI doctors and consulted 3 colorectal surgeons. It is hard to imagine that they still do not really know what causes these DVT flare-ups. It's all best guess & try this or try that. With so many people suffering from DVT I can't find a major study being conducted to identify any specific bacteria that seems to get out of hand causing these repeated infections."

• Net...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2019

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "Nah-ah. Never again. Worst medication I have ever taken. On my second day of taking this tablet, I was feeling nauseous. My appetite was bad, and my stomach felt sick. Headaches, fatigue, easily irritated. I dreaded taking it when the time came. It made me absolutely miserable. My resting heart rate went up to 105 bpm. Even raising my voice ever so slightly made my heart pound harder. It was very stressful. Steer clear. I felt stupid taking this medicine for side effects that were much worse than the reason I needed them for."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2013

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "Been on this for a week! Even though it's taking care of my issue, I can't wait to take my last pill. I've been sick to my stomach, loss of appetite, headache, dizzy, blurry vision, disoriented, fatigued, can't sleep well. Just ready for this course to be over."

• alo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2020

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "Went in for my Pap smear and found out I had BV. I was prescribed Flagyl (1 tablet 2x a day). The first day I only took one pill during my lunch break but forgot to take the second that night. The next day I took two pills as prescribed (morning and night). The following morning I noticed dark urine... allegedly that's a 'rare' side effect. I’ve also experienced dry mouth, a metallic aftertaste, headaches, and loss of appetite. Other than that, I do see an improvement already. I’m glad these pills work quickly, just hoping I won’t have to take it ever again after the 7th day."

• sic...
• May 29, 2019

For Diverticulitis "I have had my first bout of diverticulitis. I was prescribed Flagyl and Cipro. The first day I took them together, I got a massive headache and felt awful. On the second day, I did this: Cipro at 6 a.m. on an empty stomach with 500 ml of water. I had coffee an hour later. At 8 a.m., I took Flagyl with a glass of milk (I can't take Cipro with milk because it has calcium, but you can take Flagyl with milk) or applesauce. I have no bad taste with milk. Then I repeated this at 6 p.m. with Cipro and 500 ml of water, and at 8 p.m. with Flagyl and milk, and that's it. I get no headache, no nausea, no vomiting, nothing, and I am slowly getting better. I think taking Cipro and Flagyl together causes a reaction and gut issues, so it is best to separate them out, let them work separately, and not mix the medications together. Also, Flagyl is an antiparasitic, so it might be causing a bit of Herxheimer reaction after a few days."

• Ano...
• June 5, 2020

For Bacterial Infection "It’s been months since I’ve taken this medication, and I still feel the symptoms from it. I developed a pain in my lower stomach, was having mini hallucinations, headaches, and diarrhea. I truly believe that taking this caused me to develop cysts on my ovaries. Please do not take!!! Run from these pills, I wish I would have never taken these. I’m writing this to save others."

• smb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2016

For Trichomoniasis "I was prescribed the 2000mg one-time dosage. Yes, the pills have a horrible taste, but I'd rather taste that than have the symptoms of trich! I've taken the same meds for BV before and usually end up pretty tired after about 2 hours or so. I took this about 12 hours after a night of heavy drinking. Have felt a little nauseous and had loose stools and a little headache. But it's been 3 hours since I've taken it, and the odor is weaker, and the discharge has dramatically decreased! Bye-bye trich and bye-bye cheating boyfriend that gave it to me!"

• kb7...
• February 7, 2015

For Diverticulitis "I was put on metronidazole 500 mg and Cipro 500 mg twice daily for diverticulitis. I noticed the pain eased up after 2 days. I'm on day 5 and I feel horrid. Diarrhea, headache, tired, dizzy, nauseous, foggy-headed, anxiety, depression, and body pain. I don't know if I can do this for 5 more days!"

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2015

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Diverticulitis "Day 3 on Flagyl and Cipro. I thought I was having a heart attack. This stuff has horrid side effects. Discomfort in my chest and arm. Foggy-headed feeling, dizziness, unbalanced, headache, very nauseous, metal taste, very blurry eyesight. No energy, at 55 it is not a good thing to feel this way, especially when you are overweight and out of shape. This is only day 3. I don't think I can take this stuff for 7 more days. They say the IV kind is worse though. Supposedly it's helping (I do feel less pain in my abdomen, I think). If I make it through this stuff, I bet I will watch what I eat and make better choices in the future. I called the pharmacy and the doc, and both said to stay on it, Cipro 2X daily and Flagyl 4X daily. Scary stuff."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2019

For Dental Abscess "Wish I had read up on this medication before taking it. Was prescribed 15 metronidazole tablets for a dental abscess and have taken 5. I have had horrendous side effects, totally unexpected as I have taken many courses of antibiotics over the years. Nausea ++, bad headaches, muscle weakness all over, feeling overwhelmed and low confused mood... after 5 tablets! Feel like I’ve been poisoned or something. Beware is all I can say."

• Sna...
• October 2, 2018

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "I went into the hospital on Saturday with extreme stomach pain and constipation. CT scan and blood work showed colitis with a bacterial infection. Prescribed 500 mg Flagyl 3x a day and 500 mg Cipro 2x a day. I've taken Cipro before but had never heard of Flagyl. I made the mistake of reading reviews and became panicked. But most people don't leave reviews when things are good. I'm on day 3, but things are okay. I have to take it with milk. Keeps the nausea and metallic taste to a minimum. I have mild stomach upset (but nothing compared to before) and a headache. It's not pleasant, but I'm almost halfway through. My suggestion is to eat and drink different things. I also found spacing out the Flagyl and Cipro helped with nausea as well. The medicine seems to be working. And the side effects have been bearable so far. Take each review with a grain of salt and remember-every body is different and will respond to things differently."

• met...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2015

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Diverticulitis "Seems effective. Second use with diverticulitis. Both times combined with Cipro. Had some side effects but not sure which medication they came from. Plus the diverticulitis itself causes gas, bloating, diarrhea, headache, nausea so how do you know what was meds and what was the illness? I experienced urine discoloration-slight rusty tone. I can say that the taste of the Flagyl pill is horrible. Also, after starting the meds I became oversensitive to smells and everything I ate or drank, even water, tasted disgusting. (Not so bad as I'm not supposed to be eating foods). I found that if I swallow the Flagyl with a sip of a smoothie (from supermarket) it slips down easy with no sticking and no bad taste."

• She...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 5, 2020

For Diverticulitis "This is my second flare-up with diverticulitis since March of 2020. My own fault due to my bad choice in foods. This combination of Flagyl and Cipro makes my stomach ache, urine is dark and foul-smelling, my stomach pulses, headache is mild, joints hurt, nausea, dizzy the first 3 days. It is very stressful on your body. My diverticulitis is better, but the side effects of the treatments take a toll on your body. I find too, if I stick to taking a good probiotic with slippery elm and drink daily a full glass with a teaspoon of psyllium husk mixed in, I do not have any issues. But if I backside and slack off performing this daily regimen, then I flare up. Pizza, especially pepperoni, is a BIG NO-NO."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2022

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "I have never written a review in my life on an antibiotic. I’m here for three reasons. 1) Warn everybody about the severe side effects this can have and sadly 2) nobody, including my close friends and family, believe it’s true. 3) It might have helped stomach but not sure yet. I took Flagyl for four days. The nausea and diarrhea for me were not bad the first day. Day 2, 3, and 4 turned into the darkest moments of my life. Memory loss, extreme confusion, heart palpitations. Overall just the worst headaches and depression ever. I’m four days off of it and can’t drive safely or do directions. Headaches continue. I want my life and brain back. The doctors and family think it’s “all in my head.” Absolutely devastating to deal with. If they only knew. These are 100% real effects that can happen to you. Find an alternative!! Do not take this without a full explanation from your doctor!!"

• Kyr...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 21, 2015

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "Bread is the key. I've taken metronidazole 500 mg 2 times a day for 7 days. This is my 9th set of them, seeing that I'm prone to BV. Every time I get them, I get nauseous, sick headaches, stomach pains, weak, and the taste is the worst thing in life. It always hits my tongue or back of my throat. I never finish a bottle, I always leave about 3-4 pills because I can never finish, and the symptoms clear after about 3 days. Well, after my last visit, that is why it always comes back, you have to take the whole dosage. But it was such a hard pill I never could. Well, this time I learned to wrap them in bread. Problem solved!!! I wrap it around the bread and just swallow it. It's like you never took a pill :) No taste, no headaches, no nausea, and I even take it without food sometimes. No symptoms whatsoever! This is a big help in my life because I've dealt with this for a year and a half back to back because I have a very sensitive body! Now, if I ever need to take them, everything is perfectly fine :) I recommend doing that because I believe the taste is what causes the symptoms... at least for me."

• Try...
• December 17, 2014

For Bacterial Vaginosis "Okay, so before I took this, I read all the reviews on here. I was frightened. So I began a 7-day process, 2 pills a day. The odor went away the 2nd day. I guess it started smelling normal. I was very pleased it didn't have that fishy smell anymore. However, I still discharged, and on the last day, I discharged so much! The doctor and nurse said it's just cleaning everything out. Overall, I was pleased. The effects I did have were dizziness, headaches, abdominal pain, and somewhat nauseous. What was weird was that one day my mouth tasted like what it smelled like. It smelled and tasted in my mouth like a little bit of bleach. Oh, and the pills aren't that bad tasting when you get used to it."

• Sev...
• November 3, 2016

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Diverticulitis "Taking Flagyl and Cipro for diverticulitis, and got all the symptoms as everyone else. Dry mouth, headaches, funny taste in mouth, diarrhea, and generally feel sluggish, tired, and beside myself. Though I was the only one feeling like crap, but the pain is gone, and I too am on a better diet. Seven days left, and I am throwing these empty bottles in the trash!"

• RaR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2017

For Diverticulitis "I was diagnosed with a mild case of diverticulitis. I had severe abdominal pain, mainly on the left side, a low-grade fever, and a headache. I was prescribed Flagyl every 6 hours for 10 days and Bactrim every 12 hours for 10 days. Ugh... 60 pills..... I felt much better abdominal-wise after 2 days, but the side effects were horrible! Sour stomach and headaches... After day 4, I decided to do some research. I learned that you should space these meds at least an hour apart (helped a ton). You should also eat a piece of bread or have something on your stomach when you take them. Drink as much water as you can and take prebiotics and probiotics to help your stomach stay balanced. I was also recommended to take a Leaky Gut Repair health supplement."

• mtl...
• May 14, 2011

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Diverticulitis "I have been taking this for almost a week for a diverticulitis flare up and if this ever happens again I will ask if there is something else I can take. I agree, I think this has made me sicker than I originally was. General listlessness, very dizzy, weird hunger pangs, and foods don't taste good or the same as they did. Headaches! Looking forward to the last dose. A nurse friend suggested eating Activia yogurt while taking this to help with stomach problems."

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2018

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Diverticulitis "I went to my doctor for lower abdominal pain and was told I had diverticulitis. I was prescribed Flagyl and Cipro. It started out with nausea, so I called my doctor because I had terrible nausea, and I was prescribed Zofran. I still have two and a half days left, and it's absolute torture! I have never had side effects like this: debilitating nausea, headaches, chills and sweats, lethargy, metallic taste, diarrhea, and I am having trouble sleeping because of the nausea and my upset stomach. I kind of feel like I have the flu without a fever. I am up right now at 4 a.m., sipping ginger ale, trying to get through the night. The pain in my abdomen has subsided. This medication is very harsh on the body."

• Ele...
• September 6, 2014

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I experienced a couple of side effects: metallic taste in mouth, sore throat, abdominal pain, loose stools, headache, nausea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and a yeast infection at day 5! Side effects aside, this stuff works. All symptoms of bacterial vaginitis disappeared by day 2. Take some probiotics while taking this and hopefully you can avoid a yeast infection. Felt like the longest week of my life. I need a drink (you have to avoid alcohol on this)."

• Oce...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2014

For Bacterial Infection "I feel horrible. I have one more day left (I was prescribed metronidazole intravaginally for five days) and amen to that. Although it has worked wonders and gotten rid of an infection I've had for years and could never completely eradicate, these side effects are horrible. I've been dizzy, have had terrible headaches, eye pain, aches all over my body, absolutely no appetite (I'm repulsed by any food!), when I force myself to eat, I get sick immediately after, gnawing stomach pains, pressure-like back pains, pain in my actual ovaries, grogginess, constantly tired but sleeping is beyond difficult (I somehow managed four hours last night), when I do sleep, it's not refreshing at all, and exercising is practically impossible."

• Dem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2020

Flagyl (metronidazole) for Bacterial Infection "I went to my doctor following finishing a Z-pack and was having painful urination. I thought I had a UTI, however, it turned out to be bacterial vaginitis (BV). The physician at a local urgent care put me on generic metronidazole, 500 mg, two times daily. I am on day 4 and was unable to work due to severe back pain, headache, and nausea. I have taken this medication before, but I don't think I've ever taken it orally for 7 days. At this point, I'm going back in to see my doctor and ask for something else. I can't afford to miss work the rest of the week!"