Clinical medicine profile
Ornidazole
Nitroimidazole antimicrobial / antiprotozoal
- Route
- ORAL / IV / TOPICAL / VAGINAL
- Schedule
- POM
- ATC
- Not assigned
- PPB status
- registered
Safety essentials
The information most likely to change a prescribing or dispensing decision.
Contraindications
- Hypersensitivity to nitroimidazoles.
- First trimester use traditionally avoided unless essential (practice evolving — follow current obstetric guidance).
- Disulfiram within 2 weeks.
Precautions
- Avoid alcohol during and for 24–72 h after (disulfiram-like reaction).
- Neurologic toxicity with prolonged/high dose (neuropathy, seizures).
- Metallic taste common.
- Dark urine possible.
Dosing matrix
Population and organ-function guidance, shown together for faster comparison.
Dosing is indication-, age-, weight- and organ-function-specific for this INN. Do not use class averages for high-risk patients. Confirm the exact regimen in the current SmPC and Kenya Standard Treatment Guidelines. Typical professional workflow: (1) confirm indication, (2) check renal/hepatic function, (3) screen interactions/allergies, (4) select dose/route/duration, (5) define monitoring.
Paediatric dosing is weight- and age-based; use a paediatric formulary / SmPC. Do not extrapolate adult tablets without calculation.
Metabolites accumulate in renal failure; review dosing in ESRD.
- CrCl 0–120: Confirm renal dosing in product SmPC / primary label.
Hepatic metabolism — reduce dose in severe liver disease.
Use, effects & interactions
Indications
- Therapeutic use is agent- and indication-specific within the class (Nitroimidazole antimicrobial / antiprotozoal).
- Use according to culture results, national guidelines (Kenya STG/EML where applicable) and the current product SmPC.
- Amoebiasis, trichomoniasis.
Adverse effects
- Metallic taste, nausea, anorexia, headache.
- Serious: peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, seizures (rare), severe hypersensitivity, Stevens–Johnson (rare).
Drug interactions
Open multi-drug checker ↗- Cornerstone for anaerobic coverage and protozoa (giardia, amoeba, trichomonas).
- Combine with other agents for mixed aerobic–anaerobic infections as indicated.
- Warn every patient about alcohol.
Mechanism & disposition
It is a selective for anaerobic bacteria due to their ability to intracellularly reduce imidazole which covalently binds to DNA, disrupt its helical structure, inhibiting bacterial nucleic acid synthesis.
Read complete mechanism
It is a selective for anaerobic bacteria due to their ability to intracellularly reduce imidazole which covalently binds to DNA, disrupt its helical structure, inhibiting bacterial nucleic acid synthesis.
1–2 hours
8–24 hours
ORAL / IV / TOPICAL / VAGINAL
including abscesses and CSF. Hepatic
Pregnancy, lactation & diet
Widely used in later pregnancy for BV/trichomoniasis in many protocols; avoid unnecessary first-trimester exposure — follow current guidance.
Single-dose regimens often compatible with pumping/timing advice; prolonged high dose — review.
Brands & loaded prices
| Brand | Manufacturer | Pack | Observed price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Additional labeling:2 | B | tabs 1g 2's | Unavailable |
| DAZOLIC | Not recorded | 500MG TABS 10*S | KES 289.42Daima Chemist price-list reference ↗ Source date not recorded · verify current price |
| Giro | Panacea | tabs 500mg 10 x10's | Unavailable |
| Giro | Afya Index / Retail Reference | tabs 500mg 4's | KES 840.00afya_index_book |
| Granid? | NICPharma | tabs 500mg 10's | Unavailable |
| Granid? | NICPharma | Susp 125mg/5ml 30ml | Unavailable |
| Granid? | Afya Index / Retail Reference | tabs 1g 1x2's | KES 210.00afya_index_book |
| ORNICARE | KRISHNA CHEMISTS LTD | Tablet | Unavailable |
| Seole? | Afya Index / Retail Reference | tabs 500mg 10 x 10's | KES 55.00afya_index_book |
Sources & review state
Decision support only. Confirm patient-specific decisions against the current product SmPC, Kenya STG/EML, and professional judgement.