1 May 2026Oral drugs
Tinidazole oral
Tinidazole guidance for amoebiasis, giardiasis, trichomoniasis, bacterial vaginitis, and anaerobic infections.
Prescription under medical supervision
This guide page is for structured reference only and does not replace a clinician, pharmacist, or emergency review. Dose choice, route choice, interactions, and safety decisions still need professional judgment.
Therapeutic action
Antiprotozoal, antibacterial (group of nitroimidazoles).
Indications
- Amoebiasis, giardiasis, trichomoniasis.
- Bacterial vaginitis.
- Infections due to anaerobic bacteria such as Clostridium and Bacteroides species.
Forms and strengths
- 500 mg tablet.
Dose and duration
Amoebiasis
The treatment lasts 3 days in intestinal amoebiasis and 5 days in hepatic amoebiasis.
- Child: 50 mg/kg once daily, maximum 2 g daily.
- Adult: 2 g once daily.
Giardiasis, trichomoniasis and bacterial vaginitis
In the event of trichomoniasis, also treat the sexual partner.
- Child: 50 mg/kg single dose, maximum 2 g.
- Adult: 2 g single dose.
Infections due to anaerobic bacteria
According to indication, tinidazole may be used in combination with other antibacterials; treatment duration depends on indication.
- Child over 12 years and adult: 2 g on D1 then 1 g once daily or 500 mg 2 times daily.
Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions
- Do not administer to patients with allergy to tinidazole or another nitroimidazole such as metronidazole or secnidazole.
- May cause gastrointestinal disturbances and, rarely, allergic reactions, brownish urine, headache, and dizziness.
- Risk of antabuse reaction when combined with alcohol.
- Administer with caution in patients taking oral anticoagulants, lithium, or phenytoin.
- Pregnancy: no contra-indication; divide into smaller doses and avoid prolonged use.
- Breast-feeding: significantly excreted in milk; divide into smaller doses and avoid prolonged use.
Source
MSF Essential drugs practical guidelines (January 2026)
This page reproduces the structured reference information for this batch while leaving out the Storage and Remarks sections.
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