Open AccessMetronidazole-related neurotoxicity in a referral hospital
Author(s) -
Roshan Koul,
Saggere Muralikrishna Shasthry,
Archana Ramalingam,
Shiv Kumar Sarin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
indian journal of medical sciences/indian journal of medical sciences (print)
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1998-3654
pISSN - 0019-5359
DOI - 10.25259/ijms_267_2020
Subject(s) - metronidazole , medicine , neurotoxicity , ataxia , drug , peripheral neuropathy , liver abscess , antibiotics , abscess , surgery , toxicity , pharmacology , psychiatry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology
Objectives: Metronidazole is commonly used drug in almost all the fields of medicine. Commonly patients use medication for a shorter time than was prescribed, but in this report, the patients have used medication for long time based on ultrasound images. This study aims to assess metronidazole-related neurotoxicity at this hospital. Material and Methods: All the patients with diagnosis of amebic liver abscess, who developed neurotoxicity with metronidazole, were evaluated retrospectively. Results: Ten patients with metronidazole neurotoxicity were seen from April 2017 to March 2019. All ten had peripheral neuropathy; one each had in addition cerebellar ataxia and new onset seizures. Conclusion: A preventable toxic effect with metronidazole has to be recognized early during drug therapy for hepatic amebic abscesses. A dose adjustment during therapy helps in preventing this neurotoxicity. The patients have to be educated that metronidazole should not be continued on ultrasound images.