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Tindamax

How is giardiasis treated?

If you're diagnosed with giardiasis, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic for you to take orally. Tindamax® is effective for treating giardiasis.

  • Tindamax® is recommended as one of the drugs of choice for the treatment of giardiasis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
  • Tindamax® is the only single-dose oral therapy approved to treat giardiasis.
  • Single-dose Tindamax® for giardiasis has demonstrated cure rates of 80 to 100 percent.

Simple dosing with high cure rates

The recommended Tindamax® dosing for giardiasis is a single 2-gram dose for adults and a single dose of 50 mg/kg (up to 2 grams) for children.

As shown in Figure 1, a summary of results from multiple studies, the average giardiasis cure rate for a single dose of tinidazole is 90% in both adults and children.

Results of treatment studies for GI infections

Chart summarizing results from multiple studies on the efficacy of Tindamax<sup class='reg'>®</sup> in GI-related infections. Average giardiasis cure rate was 90% for a single dose of 2 g in adults and 50 mg/kg (up to 2 g) in children.

† 8 randomized, comparative studies.2-8 Cure rates ranged from 80%-100%.

‡ 4 randomized, comparative studies.2,9-11 Cure rates ranged from 86%-93%.

§ 7 randomized, comparative studies;2,12-17 4 studies utilized at least 3 days of tinidazole. Cure rates ranged from 81%-100%.

Figure 1

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.

Tindamax® is a prescription antibiotic used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria and parasites. It is approved for treating trichomoniasis, also known as "trich," and bacterial vaginosis, or "BV" (in non-pregnant, adult women). It is also approved for treating giardiasis, also known as "giardia," amebiasis, and amebic liver abscess in patients age 3 and older.

Important Safety Information

Tindamax® is not for everyone. You should not take Tindamax® if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy. If you are nursing, Tindamax® can pass through your breast milk, so you should not take it unless you stop breastfeeding during your prescription and for 3 days after your last dose.

Tindamax® can lead to a temporary reduction in your white blood cells, so if you have been diagnosed with a blood disorder, talk to your doctor before starting a prescription.

Do not take Tindamax® if you have a history of sensitivity to tinidazole or related drugs in the nitroimidazole family. Reactions can range from mild itching, hives, or fever to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is a rare, life-threatening skin condition.

Certain drugs may interact with Tindamax®, so always tell your doctor about the medications you're taking before you start a prescription.

Take each dose of Tindamax® with food to lessen the risk of stomach upset and other GI side effects. Avoid any alcoholic beverages while taking Tindamax® and for 3 days afterward.

If you are undergoing hemodialysis while taking Tindamax® on the same day, consult your doctor for the appropriate dose of Tindamax®. An additional half-dose of Tindamax® at the end of dialysis may be recommended.

Antibacterial drugs, including Tindamax®, do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. When taking Tindamax® to treat a bacterial infection, it is very common to feel better early in your prescription; however, you should keep taking the medication as directed and for as long as directed by your doctor. Skipping doses or not taking all of your medication can make Tindamax® less effective. It can also allow the bacteria to build up resistance to the drug, so that it won't be treatable with Tindamax® or similar drugs in the future.

The most common side effects of Tindamax® are a metallic or bitter taste, nausea, weakness, fatigue, discomfort, indigestion, cramps, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, and constipation.

Some patients taking Tindamax® may also develop a yeast infection, which can require treatment with an anti-fungal drug. Talk to your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.

Certain patients taking Tindamax® have experienced seizures or nerve problems, with symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the hands or feet. Other side effects included vertigo, unsteady movements, insomnia, or drowsiness. Stop taking Tindamax® if you develop any abnormal symptoms.

Tinidazole, the key ingredient in Tindamax®, is related to a drug called metronidazole, which has been linked to cancer in lab rats and mice that received the drug over long periods of time. Although these effects have not been reported for tinidazole, the two drugs are chemically related and have similar effects on the body. Therefore, Tindamax® should only be used to treat infections it has been approved to treat.

To report negative side effects, contact Mission Pharmacal Company at 1-800-298-1087 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

  1. Bakshi JS, Ghiara JM, Nanivadekar AS. How does tinidazole compare with metronidazole? A summary report of Indian trials in amoebiasis and giardiasis. Drugs. 1978;15 Suppl 1:33-42.
  2. Jokipii L, Jokipii AM. Single-dose metronidazole and tinidazole as therapy for giardiasis: success rates, side effects and drug absorption and elimination. J Infect Dis. 1979 Dec;140(6):984-8.
  3. Kyrönseppä H, Pettersson T. Treatment of giardiasis: relative efficacy of metronidazole as compared with tinidazole. Scand J Infect Dis. 1981;13(4):311-2.
  4. Gazder AJ, Banerjee M. Single-dose treatment of giardiasis in children: a comparison of tinidazole and metronidazole. Curr Med Res Opin. 1977;5(2):164-8.
  5. Nigam P, Kapoor KK, Kumar A, Sarkari NB, Gupta AK. Clinical profile of giardiasis and comparison of its therapeutic response to metronidazole and tinidazole. J Assoc Physicians India. 1991 Aug;39(8):613-5.
  6. Krishnamurthy KA, Saradhambal V. Single dose therapy of giardiasis: A comparative study of tinidazole and metronidazole in pediatric patients. Indian Pediatr. 1978 Jan;15(1):51-6.
  7. Speelman P. Single-dose tinidazole for the treatment of giardiasis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 1985 Feb;27(2):227-9.
  8. Swami B, Lavakusulu D, Devi CS. Tinidazole and metronidazole in the treatment of intestinal amebiasis. Cur Med Res Opin. 1977;5(2):152-6.
  9. Singh G, Kumar S. Short course of single daily dosage treatment with tinidazole and metronidazole in intestinal amebiasis: a comparative study. Cur Med Res Opin. 1977;5(2):157-60.
  10. Misra NP, Gupta RC. A comparison of short course single daily dosage therapy of tinidazole with metronidazole in intestinal amoebiasis. J Int Med Res. 1977;5(6):434-7.
  11. Kundu SC, Sen A, Bhattacherjee TD, Dasgupta DP, Majumdar S, Moorkerjee PK, Mukerjee AB. Comparative evaluation of tinidazole and metronidazole in the treatment of amoebic liver abscess. J Ind Med Assoc. 1977 Sep 16;69(6):127-9.
  12. Islam N, Hasan K. Tinidazole and metronidazole in hepatic amoebiasis. Drugs. 1978;15 Suppl 1:26-9.
  13. Khokhani RC, Garud AD, Deodhar KP, Sureka SB, Kulkarni M, Damle VB. Comparative study of tinidazole and metronidazole in amoebic liver abscess. Curr Med Res Opin. 1977;5(2):161-3.
  14. Mathur SN, Itigi A, Krishnaveni, Rai V. Tinidazole and metronidazole in the treatment of amoebic liver abscess. J Int Med Res. 1977;5(6):429-33.
  15. Simjee AE, Gathiram V, Jackson TF, Khan BF. A comparative trial of metronidazole v. tinidazole in the treatment of amoebic liver abscess. S Afr Med J. 1985 Dec 21;68(13):923-4.
  16. Mendis S, Dharmasena BD, Jayatissa SK. Comparison of tinidazole with metronidazole in the treatment of hepatic amoebiasis: a controlled double blind study. Ceylon Med J. 1984 Jun;29(2):97-100.
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