If you're experiencing symptoms of giardiasis and you think you may be infected — especially if you have any of the common risk factors — talk to your doctor or healthcare provider today. He or she can provide the correct diagnosis and make sure that you get the treatment you need.
Giardiasis can be difficult to diagnose because its symptoms are similar to those of other infections.1 To correctly diagnose giardiasis, your doctor may ask you to provide stool samples.
Even if you're infected, you can expel Giardia organisms in some bowel movements and not others, so you may need to provide multiple stool samples taken over the course of several days.1 Your doctor will perform laboratory tests on the samples to detect Giardia organisms.
Important Safety Information
WARNING: POTENTIAL RISK FOR CARCINOGENICITY
Carcinogenicity has been seen in mice and rats treated chronically with metronidazole, another nitroimidazole agent. Although such data have not been reported for tinidazole, the two drugs are structurally related and have similar biologic effects. Its use should be reserved for the conditions described in INDICATIONS AND USAGE.
Contraindications
- Prior history of hypersensitivity to tinidazole or other nitroimidazole derivatives
- First trimester of pregnancy
- Nursing mothers, unless breast-feeding is interrupted during tinidazole therapy and for 3 days following the last dose
Warnings and Precautions
- Seizures and neuropathy have been reported. Discontinue Tindamax if abnormal neurologic signs develop
- Vaginal candidiasis may develop with Tindamax and require treatment with an antifungal agent
- Use Tindamax with caution in patients with blood dyscrasias. Tindamax may produce transient leukopenia and neutropenia
Adverse Reactions
Most common adverse reactions for a single 2 g dose of tinidazole (incidence >1%) are metallic/bitter taste, nausea, weakness/fatigue/malaise, dyspepsia/cramps/epigastric discomfort, vomiting, anorexia, headache, dizziness and constipation. To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Mission Pharmacal Company at 1-800-298-1087 or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch
This material is intended to provide basic information. Patients should discuss all medical advice, diagnosis, and treatment with their healthcare provider.
Please see full Prescribing Information
- Krueger A, Schulkin J, L Jones J. Survey of obstetrician-gynecologists about giardiasis. Infect Dis Obstet Gynecol. 2007;2007:21261.
