About trichomoniasis treatment

How to treat trichomoniasis

If you have trichomoniasis, an antibiotic called metronidazole can be used to treat it. There are 2 different dosages for the infection in tablet form, which must be swallowed.

These are:

• a course of metronidazole 400mg tablets taken twice each day for 7 days
• a single dose of 2g taken together (5 400mg tablets)

While the 2g dose is simpler to use, there is a greater chance of side effects. Whichever dosage you use to treat trichomoniasis, they both work to stop the growth of parasites that are causing the infection.

Metronidazole can be taken by most adults for trichomoniasis, although it is not suitable for some people. To make sure the tablets are safe for you to take, you should speak to your doctor if you:

• have had a previous allergic reaction to metronidazole
• have liver problems
• are pregnant
• feel you will struggle to stop drinking alcohol while taking metronidazole
• are having dialysis

Symptoms should go during treatment, but if they remain, you should speak to your doctor. You may need further tests as your symptoms could be caused by a different STI, especially if they remain or come back after treatment.

You should continue taking metronidazole tablets until you have completed the course, even if symptoms go. Should you stop treatment early, there is a chance the infection may come back.

Can you get trichomoniasis treatment over the counter?

No. Trichomoniasis treatment is only available via prescription. If you do not feel comfortable going to a doctor in person to get treated for trichomoniasis, you can use our service to get approved and prescribed treatment. Your trichomoniasis treatment can be delivered directly to your door, giving you a discreet service.

If you have any questions about treatment, you can message a doctor for free through your account.

Trichomoniasis treatment side effects

As with any treatment, you can get side effects from trichomoniasis treatment. Although not everyone will get them, there are some side effects worth looking out for.

Common side effects of metronidazole tablets include:

• headaches
• constipation
• nausea or vomiting (feeling or being sick)
• diarrhoea
• a funny taste of metal

Although rare, there are serious side effects you may get when taking trichomoniasis treatment.

You should stop taking treatment right away and seek medical help if you have:

• severe stomach pain
• problems with your eyesight
• yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)
• hallucinations
• difficulty speaking

Trichomoniasis treatment safety information

Trichomoniasis treatment is generally safe for most people, but certain risk factors could affect how well the treatment works. If you have sex for instance, you and your partner will both need treatment. You should avoid sex until the infection is cured, which usually takes about a week. If you are pregnant you should speak to your GP or midwife to make sure the treatment is safe for you.

You should not drink alcohol while using trichomoniasis treatment or for 48 hours after finishing treatment. This is because alcohol may react with metronidazole, which can result in unpleasant side effects.

This includes:

• stomach pain
• nausea or vomiting (feeling or being sick)
• hot flushes
• headaches

It is best to wait two days after treatment has finished before you drink alcohol again. As well as avoiding alcohol, some medicines may interact with trichomoniasis treatment and could affect how long it works for, decrease its effect, or increase side effects.

Common medications which can interact with trichomoniasis treatment include:

• lithium (medicine that controls mood disorders)
• anticoagulants (medicine to prevent blood clots)
• astemizole (an antihistamine)
• disulfiram (used to support the treatment of alcohol use disorder)

People who have treatment for trichomoniasis can get it again. If your symptoms do not go away or they come back after you finish treatment, you may need to be tested for other sexually transmitted infections.

Other factors can interact with trichomoniasis treatment, such as:

• kidney dialysis (this removes metronidazole tablets from the blood)
• liver problems (you may be advised to use a lower dose of treatment or use it less often)

If you use metronidazole tablets to treat trichomoniasis, it is best to swallow the tablet whole with a drink of water, after you have eaten food. If you forget to take a metronidazole tablet and it is nearly time to take your next one, you should skip the forgotten one completely. Do not take 2 at the same time to make up for a forgotten tablet.

Other ways to treat trichomoniasis

While most people use metronidazole for trichomoniasis treatment, some may be allergic to the antibiotic. In this case, your doctor may prescribe another antibiotic like tinidazole to get rid of the infection.