Tinidazole Explained

Tinidazole, sold under the brand name Tindamax among others, is a medication used against protozoan infections. It is widely known throughout Europe and the developing world as a treatment for a variety of anaerobic amoebic and bacterial infections. It was developed in 1972 and is a prominent member of the nitroimidazole antibiotic class.[1]

It is on the World Health Organization's List of Essential Medicines.[2]

Medical uses

Tinidazole may be a therapeutic alternative in the setting of metronidazole intolerance. Tinidazole is used to treat Helicobacter pylori, Amoebic dysentery, Giardia and Trichomonas vaginalis.[3]

Side effects

Drinking alcohol while taking tinidazole causes an unpleasant disulfiram-like reaction, which includes nausea, vomiting, headache, increased blood pressure, flushing, and shortness of breath.

Half-life

Elimination half-life is 13.2 ± 1.4 hours. Plasma half-life is 12 to 14 hours.

Notes and References

  1. Book: Ebel K, Koehler H, Gamer AO, Jäckh R . Imidazole and Derivatives. . In Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . 2002 . Wiley-VCH . 10.1002/14356007.a13_661 . 3527306730 .
  2. Book: ((World Health Organization)) . World Health Organization model list of essential medicines: 22nd list (2021) . 2021 . 10665/345533 . World Health Organization . World Health Organization . Geneva . WHO/MHP/HPS/EML/2021.02 . free .
  3. Edwards DI . Nitroimidazole drugs--action and resistance mechanisms. I. Mechanisms of action . The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy . 31 . 1 . 9–20 . January 1993 . 8444678 . 10.1093/jac/31.1.9 .