Flagyl vs. Adoxa

• Are Flagyl and Adoxa the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Flagyl?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Adoxa?
• What Is Flagyl?
• What Is Adoxa?
• What drugs interact with Flagyl?
• What drugs interact with Adoxa?
• How Should Flagyl Be Taken?
• How Should Adoxa Be Taken?

Flagyl, Flagyl ER, and Flagyl Injection (metronidazole) and Adoxa (doxycycline) are antibiotics used to treat a variety of bacterial infections.

Flagyl is also used to treat protozoal infections.

Adoxa is also used to treat blemishes, bumps, and acne-like lesions caused by rosacea.

Flagyl and Adoxa are different types of antibiotics. Flagyl is a nitroimidazole antibiotic and Adoxa is a tetracycline antibiotic.

Side effects of Flagyl and Adoxa that are similar include nausea, stomach upset, vomiting, or diarrhea.

Side effects of Flagyl that are different from Adoxa include abdominal cramps, constipation, headache, weight loss, dizziness, dry mouth, dark-colored urine, or a metallic taste in the mouth or changes in taste.

Side effects of Adoxa that are different from Flagyl include skin rash or itching, or vaginal itching or discharge.

Both Flagyl and Adoxa may interact with blood thinners.

Flagyl may also interact with cimetidine, seizure medications, lithium, or disulfiram.

Adoxa may also interact with cholesterol-lowering medications, isotretinoin, tretinoin, antacids, products containing bismuth subsalicylate, minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements, or penicillin antibiotics.

Side effects of Flagyl include:

• nausea,
• abdominal cramps,
• stomach upset,
• vomiting,
• diarrhea,
• constipation,
• headache,
• weight loss (anorexia),
• dizziness,
• dry mouth,
• dark-colored urine, or
• a metallic taste in the mouth or changes in taste.

Uncomfortable side effects that may become serious are:

• fevers,
• pain with urination,
• mouth sores,
• tingling or pricking sensations that may become permanent,
• brain disease, and
• seizures.

Serious but unlikely side effects of Flagyl include:

• unsteadiness,
• seizures,
• mood changes,
• numbness or tingling of the hands or feet, and
• painful urination.

Common side effects of Adoxa include:

• stomach upset,
• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• skin rash or itching, or
• vaginal itching or discharge

What is Flagyl?

Flagyl, Flagyl ER, and Flagyl Injection (metronidazole) are antimicrobial drugs used to treat bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas, amebiasis, and anaerobic bacterial infections.

What Is Adoxa?

Adoxa (doxycycline) is a tetracycline antibiotic used to treat many different bacterial infections, such as urinary tract infections, acne, gonorrhea, and chlamydia, periodontitis (gum disease), and others. Adoxa is also used to treat blemishes, bumps, and acne-like lesions caused by rosacea.

Flagyl may interact with blood thinners or seizure medications.

Flagyl may also interact with cimetidine, lithium, or disulfiram.

Adoxa may interact with cholesterol-lowering medications, isotretinoin, tretinoin, antacids, products containing bismuth subsalicylate, minerals such as iron, zinc, calcium, magnesium, over-the-counter vitamin and mineral supplements, blood thinners, or penicillin antibiotics. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Adoxa is not recommended for use during pregnancy. It may harm a fetus. Consult your doctor to discuss using birth control while taking this medication. This drug passes into breast milk but is unlikely to harm a nursing infant. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Flagyl is supplied in 250 and 500 mg strength tablets, Flagyl ER is available in 750 mg strength tablets, and Flagyl Injection in 500 mg strength in a buffered 100 ml vial. Dosage is quite variable and dependent upon the severity of disease and other considerations made by the treating physician. Most of the serious side effects may occur with any of these three preparations of Flagyl. Flagyl may cause liver enzyme levels to increase; lithium and creatinine levels should be checked to avoid lithium toxicity or renal compromise. Alcohol may increase the side effects of Flagyl. Patients on disulfiram should not take Flagyl until they have had a two week interval without taking disulfiram, especially alcoholic patients, to avoid psychotic reactions. Treatment in pregnant women (during first 3 months is not advised) or women who are breastfeeding should only be done if the benefits outweigh the potential problems. Flagyl passes into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding. Except for use in amebiasis, studies in pediatric patients are not available; Flagyl ER has no pediatric studies.

The usual adult dose of oral Adoxa is 200 mg on the first day of treatment (taken 100 mg every 12 hours or 50 mg every 6 hours) followed by a maintenance dose of 100 mg/day. The maintenance dose may be taken as a single dose or as 50 mg every 12 hours.