Vitazol (Topical)

Generic name: metronidazole (topical route) [ met-roe-NYE-da-zole ]
Drug class: Topical anti-rosacea agents

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Sep 25, 2022.

Commonly used brand name(s)

In the U.S.

• Metrocream
• Metrogel
• Metrolotion
• Noritate
• Rosadan
• Rosadan Cream Kit
• Rozex
• Vitazol

Available Dosage Forms:

• Gel/Jelly
• Cream
• Lotion

Therapeutic Class: Antiacne Antibacterial

Chemical Class: Nitroimidazole

Uses for Vitazol

Metronidazole topical gel is used to treat inflammatory lesions (pimples and red bumps) caused by rosacea. Rosacea is a skin disease that causes redness and pimples on your nose, cheeks, chin, and forehead.

This medicine is available only with your doctor''s prescription.

Before using Vitazol

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of metronidazole topical gel in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Geriatric

Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of metronidazole topical gel in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more sensitive to the effects of this medicine than younger adults.

Interactions with medicines

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amprenavir
• Bepridil
• Cisapride
• Disulfiram
• Dronabinol
• Dronedarone
• Levoketoconazole
• Mesoridazine
• Pimozide
• Saquinavir
• Sparfloxacin
• Terfenadine
• Thioridazine
• Ziprasidone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Adagrasib
• Alfuzosin
• Amiodarone
• Amisulpride
• Amitriptyline
• Anagrelide
• Apomorphine
• Aripiprazole
• Aripiprazole Lauroxil
• Arsenic Trioxide
• Asenapine
• Astemizole
• Atazanavir
• Azithromycin
• Bedaquiline
• Buprenorphine
• Bupropion
• Buserelin
• Busulfan
• Capecitabine
• Ceritinib
• Chloroquine
• Chlorpromazine
• Cholera Vaccine, Live
• Ciprofloxacin
• Citalopram
• Clarithromycin
• Clofazimine
• Clomipramine
• Clothiapine
• Clozapine
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Dabrafenib
• Dasatinib
• Degarelix
• Delamanid
• Desipramine
• Deslorelin
• Deutetrabenazine
• Dexmedetomidine
• Disopyramide
• Dofetilide
• Dolasetron
• Domperidone
• Donepezil
• Doxepin
• Doxifluridine
• Droperidol
• Ebastine
• Efavirenz
• Entrectinib
• Eribulin
• Erythromycin
• Escitalopram
• Famotidine
• Felbamate
• Fexinidazole
• Fingolimod
• Flecainide
• Fluconazole
• Fluorouracil
• Fluoxetine
• Formoterol
• Foscarnet
• Fosphenytoin
• Fostemsavir
• Galantamine
• Gatifloxacin
• Gemifloxacin
• Gonadorelin
• Goserelin
• Granisetron
• Halofantrine
• Haloperidol
• Histrelin
• Hydroquinidine
• Hydroxychloroquine
• Hydroxyzine
• Ibutilide
• Iloperidone
• Imipramine
• Inotuzumab Ozogamicin
• Itraconazole
• Ivabradine
• Ketoconazole
• Lapatinib
• Lefamulin
• Lenvatinib
• Levofloxacin
• Lumefantrine
• Macimorelin
• Mebendazole
• Mefloquine
• Methadone
• Mifepristone
• Mirtazapine
• Mizolastine
• Mobocertinib
• Moxifloxacin
• Mycophenolate Mofetil
• Mycophenolic Acid
• Nafarelin
• Nelfinavir
• Nilotinib
• Norfloxacin
• Octreotide
• Ofloxacin
• Olanzapine
• Ondansetron
• Osilodrostat
• Oxaliplatin
• Ozanimod
• Pacritinib
• Paliperidone
• Panobinostat
• Papaverine Hydrochloride
• Paroxetine
• Pasireotide
• Pazopanib
• Pentamidine
• Perphenazine
• Pimavanserin
• Pipamperone
• Pitolisant
• Ponesimod
• Posaconazole
• Probucol
• Procainamide
• Prochlorperazine
• Promethazine
• Propafenone
• Protriptyline
• Quinidine
• Quinine
• Ranolazine
• Ribociclib
• Risperidone
• Ritonavir
• Selpercatinib
• Sertindole
• Sertraline
• Sevoflurane
• Sodium Phosphate
• Sodium Phosphate, Dibasic
• Sodium Phosphate, Monobasic
• Solifenacin
• Sorafenib
• Sotalol
• Sulpiride
• Sunitinib
• Tamoxifen
• Tegafur
• Telaprevir
• Telavancin
• Telithromycin
• Tetrabenazine
• Tolterodine
• Toremifene
• Trazodone
• Triclabendazole
• Trimipramine
• Triptorelin
• Vandetanib
• Vardenafil
• Vemurafenib
• Venlafaxine
• Vilanterol
• Vinflunine
• Voclosporin
• Voriconazole
• Vorinostat
• Warfarin
• Zuclopenthixol

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Carbamazepine
• Cyclosporine
• Lithium
• Milk Thistle

Interactions with food/tobacco/alcohol

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Other medical problems

The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:

• Blood disease, history of or
• Nerve problems—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

Proper use of Vitazol

This section provides information on the proper use of a number of products that contain metronidazole. It may not be specific to Vitazol. Please read with care.

It is very important that you use this medicine only as directed by your doctor. Do not use more of it, do not use it more often, and do not use it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. To do so may cause unwanted side effects or skin irritation.

This medicine comes with a patient information leaflet. Read and follow the instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.

This medicine is for use on the skin only. Do not get it into your eyes, nose, mouth, or vagina. If it does get on these areas, rinse it off right away with water.

To use the topical gel:

• Wash your hands with soap and water before and after using this medicine.
• Make sure your skin is clean and dry before you apply this medicine.
• Apply a thin layer of this medicine to the affected area of the skin.
• You may apply cosmetics after applying this medicine.

Dosing

The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor''s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.

• For topical dosage form (gel):
  • For rosacea:
    • Adults—Apply to the affected area of the skin once a day.
    • Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.

Missed dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, apply it as soon as possible. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

Keep out of the reach of children.

Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.

Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.

Precautions while using Vitazol

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to see if the medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects.

If your symptoms do not improve within a few days, or if they become worse, check with your doctor.

This medicine may cause nerve problems (eg, peripheral neuropathy). Check with your doctor right away if you have burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations, unsteadiness or awkwardness, or weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet.

Skin reactions, including contact dermatitis, may occur while using this medicine. Check with your doctor right away if you have blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin or itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin.

This medicine may cause eye irritations. Check with your doctor right away if you have red, sore eyes or tearing of the eyes.

Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.

Vitazol side effects

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.

Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:

Less common

• Bladder pain
• blistering, burning, crusting, dryness, or flaking of the skin
• bloody or cloudy urine
• blurred vision
• body aches or pain
• chest tightness
• chills
• cough producing mucus
• diarrhea
• difficult, burning, or painful urination
• difficulty breathing
• dizziness
• ear congestion
• fever
• frequent urge to urinate
• general feeling of discomfort or illness
• headache
• itching, scaling, severe redness, soreness, or swelling of the skin
• joint pain
• loss of appetite
• loss of voice
• lower back or side pain
• muscle aches and pains
• nausea
• pounding in the ears
• shivering
• slow or fast heartbeat
• sore throat
• stuffy or runny nose
• sweating
• trouble sleeping
• unusual tiredness or weakness
• vomiting

Incidence not known

• Burning, numbness, tingling, or painful sensations
• unsteadiness or awkwardness
• weakness in the arms, hands, legs, or feet

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:

Rare

• Back pain

Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

Vitekta

Generic name: elvitegravir [ EL-vi-TEG-ra-vir ]
Drug class: Integrase strand transfer inhibitor

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 3, 2022.

What is Vitekta?

Vitekta is an antiviral medication that prevents human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) from multiplying in your body.

Vitekta is used with other antiviral medications to treat HIV, the virus that can cause the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Elvitegravir is not a cure for HIV or AIDS.

Vitekta is usually given after other HIV medicines have been tried without success.

Warnings

You should not use Vitekta if you are also taking dofetilide (Tikosyn).

Before taking this medicine

You should not use Vitekta if you are allergic to elvitegravir or if you are also taking cobicistat (Stribild, Tybost) or any other medicines that contain elvitegravir.

To make sure Vitekta is safe for you, tell your doctor if you have:

• liver disease, especially hepatitis B or C.

Vitekta is not expected to harm an unborn baby. However, HIV can be passed to your baby if you are not properly treated during pregnancy. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant and take all of your HIV medicines as directed to control your infection.

If you are pregnant, your name may be listed on a pregnancy registry. This is to track the outcome of the pregnancy and to evaluate any effects of Vitekta on the baby.

Women with HIV or AIDS should not breast-feed a baby. Even if your baby is born without HIV, the virus may be passed to the baby in your breast milk.

How should I take Vitekta?

Vitekta is usually taken once per day. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.

Take with food.

Vitekta must be taken together with ritonavir (Norvir) and one other HIV medicine. Your doctor may prescribe one of the following:

• atazanavir (Reyataz);

• darunavir (Prezista);

• fosamprenavir (Lexiva);

• lopinavir/ritonavir combination (Kaletra); or

• tipranavir (Aptivus).

If you are switched from one of these medicines to another, your Vitekta dose needs may change. Carefully follow your doctor''s dosing instructions.

While using Vitekta, you may need frequent blood tests.

Use all medicines as directed by your doctor. Read the medication guide or patient instructions provided with each medication. Do not change your doses or medication schedule without your doctor''s advice. Every person with HIV or AIDS should remain under the care of a doctor.

Use your medicines regularly to get the most benefit. Get your prescriptions refilled before you run out of medicine completely.

Store Vitekta in the original container at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

Dosing information

Usual Adult Dose of Vitekta for HIV Infection:

With once-daily atazanavir/ritonavir or twice-daily lopinavir-ritonavir: 85 mg orally once a day with food
With twice-daily darunavir/ritonavir, fosamprenavir/ritonavir, or tipranavir/ritonavir: 150 mg orally once a day with food

Comments:
-The manufacturer product information should be consulted for the recommended dosing regimen for atazanavir/ritonavir, lopinavir-ritonavir, darunavir/ritonavir, fosamprenavir/ritonavir, or tipranavir/ritonavir; this drug should not be used with other dose regimens or HIV-1 protease inhibitors.
-This drug should not be used with cobicistat and protease inhibitors.

Use: In combination with a ritonavir-boosted HIV protease inhibitor and at least 1 other antiretroviral drug, for the treatment of HIV-1 infection in antiretroviral therapy-experienced patients

What happens if I miss a dose?

Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What to avoid

Avoid taking an antacid within 2 hours before or 2 hours after you take Vitekta. Some antacids can make it harder for your body to absorb elvitegravir.

Taking HIV medication will not prevent you from passing HIV to other people. Do not have unprotected sex or share razors or toothbrushes. Talk with your doctor about safe ways to prevent HIV transmission during sex. Sharing drug or medicine needles is never safe, even for a healthy person.

Vitekta side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have any signs of an allergic reaction to Vitekta: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Vitekta may increase your risk of certain infections or autoimmune disorders by changing the way your immune system works. Symptoms may occur weeks or months after you start treatment with Vitekta. Tell your doctor if you have:

• signs of a new infection--fever, night sweats, swollen glands, mouth sores, diarrhea, stomach pain, weight loss;

• chest pain (especially when you breathe), dry cough, wheezing, feeling short of breath;

• cold sores, sores on your genital or anal area;

• rapid heart rate, feeling anxious or irritable, weakness or prickly feeling, problems with balance or eye movement;

• trouble speaking or swallowing, severe lower back pain, loss of bladder or bowel control; or

• swelling in your neck or throat (enlarged thyroid), menstrual changes, impotence, loss of interest in sex.

Common Vitekta side effects may include:

• diarrhea;

• nausea; or

• headache.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect Vitekta?

Tell your doctor about all medicines you use, and those you start or stop using during your treatment with Vitekta, especially:

• bosentan;

• buprenorphine, naloxone;

• dexamethasone;

• ketoconazole;

• methadone;

• St. John''s wort;

• hepatitis C medications - boceprevir or telaprevir;

• hormonal birth control - ills, injections, implants, skin patches, vaginal rings;

• other HIV or AIDS medicines - didanosine, efavirenz, nevirapine;

• seizure medication - carbamazepine, oxcarbazepine, phenobarbital, phenytoin; or

• tuberculosis medicine - rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may interact with elvitegravir, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide.

Where can I get more information?

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Vitekta only for the indication prescribed.

Frequently asked questions

• Genvoya vs Stribild for HIV - How do they compare?

Further information

Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances.

Medical Disclaimer

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