Last reviewed 2026-04-20 · How we verify

Metro I.V. In Plastic Container (METRONIDAZOLE)

Metro I.V. In Plastic Container (Metronidazole) is a nitroimidazole antimicrobial drug developed by GD Searle LLC and currently owned by Baxter Healthcare. It is a small molecule modality that has been FDA-approved since 1963 for various bacterial and protozoal infections, including abdominal abscesses, amebiasis, and bacterial endocarditis. The drug is highly bioavailable (99%) and has a half-life of 7.1 hours. Metro I.V. is available as a generic medication, with 38 manufacturers listed in the Orange Book. As an off-patent medication, it is widely available and used to treat a range of infections.

At a glance

Approved indications

• Abdominal abscess
• Abscess of brain
• Abscess of liver
• Acute amebiasis
• Amebic dysentery
• Amebic liver abscess
• B. Fragilis Infections
• Bacterial endocarditis
• Bacterial septicemia
• Bacterial vaginosis
• Bacteroides Brain Abscess
• Bacteroides Empyema
• Bacteroides Endocarditis
• Bacteroides Endometritis
• Bacteroides Endomyometritis
• Bacteroides Joint Infection
• Bacteroides Liver Abscess
• Bacteroides Osteomyelitis
• Bacteroides Peritonitis
• Bacteroides Pneumonia

Boxed warnings

• WARNING Metronidazole has been shown to be carcinogenic in mice and rats (see PRECAUTIONS ). Unnecessary use of the drug should be avoided. Its use should be reserved for the conditions described in the INDICATIONS AND USAGE section below.

Common side effects

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal cramping
• Constipation
• Vomiting
• Anorexia
• Headache
• Epigastric distress
• Dysuria
• Cystitis
• Polyuria
• Incontinence

Drug interactions

• phenobarbital
• phenprocoumon
• warfarin

Key clinical trials

• AI Tool to Reduce Clinician Documentation Burden (NA)
• HIFU Versus Myomectomy for the Treatment of Symptomatic Uterine Fibroids (NA)
• SOAR: Surgery Objective Analysis and Review
• Precision Medicine in Alzheimer's Disease : Integration of Resilience Metrics and Risk Factors - Validation Cohort BioCogBank-AD (NA)
• Comparison of Gait Metrics in Patients With Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury, and Multiple Sclerosis (NA)
• Study of 2 Medicines (Aztreonam and Avibactam) Compared to Best Available Therapy for Serious Gram-negative Infections (PHASE2)
• Diaphragmatic Physiology Similarity Index May Titrate HFNC Flow Setting: A Prospective Observational Study (NA)
• The STop UNhealthy Substance Use Now Trial (NA)

Patents

Primary sources

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