Prescription medication · Topical Antibiotic (Rosacea)
metronidazole topical
Also sold as MetroGel. This medicine treats rosacea.
Data updated 2026-05-15
- 45,816
- FDA reportsOften reported
- 2
- InteractionsFew interactions
- $0.38
- Generic price (NADAC)
What the data shows
metronidazole topical (MetroGel) is a prescription Topical Antibiotic (Rosacea), reported at a middle-of-the-pack volume (45,816 FDA reports), with 2 documented drug interactions.
Reporting volume reflects how widely a drug is used and studied, not how dangerous it is, a FAERS report documents a temporal association, never proof of cause.
metronidazole topical (MetroGel) is a prescription Topical Antibiotic (Rosacea). This medicine treats rosacea.
Metronidazole gel is a medicine that you put on your skin. It helps treat rosacea.
Verify with FDA → · CMS NADAC pricing →
Drug Pricing (NADAC)
Generic Price
$0.38/unit
Generic Available
Yes (1 manufacturer)
Pricing data from NADAC (CMS), effective December 18, 2024. Compare all drug costs →
What it does
This medicine treats rosacea.
Common side effects
Burning, Skin irritation, Dryness
Key warnings
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to metronidazole, parabens, or any of the other ingredients.
The sections below are summarized in plain English from metronidazole topical's FDA-approved prescribing information. They describe what the official label says, and are not personal medical advice.
How It Works
Metronidazole is an antiprotozoal and antibacterial medicine. It's not fully known how it works for rosacea. It may reduce inflammation and kill certain germs.
How to Take It
Apply a thin layer of the gel to the affected areas. Do this twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. Make sure to wash the area before you put the gel on. You can use makeup after applying the gel.
This is a plain-language summary of metronidazole topical's FDA labeling, not individualized dosing advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before changing how you take this medication.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
It is not known if this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is also not known if this medicine passes into breast milk.
This is a plain-language summary of metronidazole topical's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber about pregnancy or breastfeeding on this medication.
Missed Dose
Apply the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and continue with your regular schedule.
This is a plain-language summary of metronidazole topical's FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber what to do about your specific missed dose.
Storage
Store the gel at room temperature, between 68° to 77°F.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 45,816 FDA adverse event reports.
Most-reported reactions
Adverse reactions in FAERS for metronidazole topical, by number of reports
- Feeling sick to your stomach
Feeling sick to your stomach
3,317 reports
- Loose, watery stools
Loose, watery stools
2,622 reports
- Throwing up
Throwing up
2,212 reports
- Fever
Fever
2,205 reports
- Head pain
Head pain
2,127 reports
- General pain
General pain
2,047 reports
- Stomach pain
Stomach pain
2,008 reports
- Feeling tired
Feeling tired
1,848 reports
- Feeling lightheaded
Feeling lightheaded
1,611 reports
- Sudden kidney damage
Sudden kidney damage
1,501 reports
What this shows Bars show how often each reaction was reported, not how likely it is to happen, a report records a temporal association, never proof that the drug caused it.
Reports over time
Adverse-event reports filed for metronidazole topical each year to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
Year-to-year volume tracks usage, prescribing, and scrutiny, not a change in per-patient risk. Source: FDA FAERS.
Where metronidazole topical sits
metronidazole topical has more FDA adverse-event reports than 71% of the drugs FAERS tracks. A high position reflects how widely a drug is used and watched, not how dangerous it is.
Percentile across all drugs PlainMeds tracks by FAERS report volume. The dot is metronidazole topical; the line is the median (50th percentile).
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 45,816 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 1999–2025.
Total Reports
45,816
Reports Mentioning Death
5,167
11.3% of reports — not proof of cause
Hospitalization Reports
18,836
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | NAUSEA | 3,318 |
| 4 | DIARRHOEA | 2,621 |
| 5 | VOMITING | 2,211 |
| 6 | PYREXIA | 2,205 |
| 7 | HEADACHE | 2,127 |
| 8 | PAIN | 2,047 |
| 9 | ABDOMINAL PAIN | 2,009 |
| 10 | FATIGUE | 1,847 |
| 11 | DIZZINESS | 1,611 |
| 12 | ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY | 1,501 |
| 13 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 1,495 |
| 14 | DYSPNOEA | 1,493 |
| 15 | MALAISE | 1,430 |
| 16 | RASH | 1,293 |
| 17 | DRUG HYPERSENSITIVITY | 1,248 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to metronidazole, parabens, or any of the other ingredients.
Known Drug Interactions
Drug interactions Oral metronidazole has been reported to potentiate the anticoagulant effect of coumarin and warfarin resulting in a prolongation of prothrombin time.
Mechanism: Metronidazole can increase the blood-thinning effects of warfarin. This makes your blood take longer to clot and increases your risk of bleeding.
What to do: Your doctor should check your blood clotting levels more often while you are using these medicines together.
Drug interactions Oral metronidazole has been reported to potentiate the anticoagulant effect of coumarin and warfarin resulting in a prolongation of prothrombin time. The effect of topical metronidazole on prothrombin time is not known.
Mechanism: While the oral version of this medicine is known to thin the blood, it is not yet known if the skin cream version has the same effect.
What to do: Talk to your doctor about using both forms of this medicine to ensure they are safe for you.
This is a plain-language summary of interactions documented in FDA labeling, not individualized advice. Ask a pharmacist or prescriber before combining medications.
Common Questions
Can I use other skincare products with this gel?
How long will it take to see results?
What should I do if my skin becomes very irritated?
Can I use this gel on other parts of my body?
What if I accidentally swallow some of the gel?
Can I go out in the sun after applying this?
Is it okay to drink alcohol while using this medicine?
What do I do if I get the gel in my eyes?
How long should I use this gel?
Can I buy this over the counter?
What are the common side effects of metronidazole topical?
Does metronidazole topical interact with other medications?
What drug class is metronidazole topical?
Is metronidazole topical safe during pregnancy?
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What the FDA Data Shows for metronidazole topical
The FDA label for metronidazole topical (sold under brand names such as MetroGel) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Topical Antibiotic (Rosacea) class. This medicine treats rosacea. Official labeling lists 4 commonly reported side effects, including Burning, Skin irritation, Dryness.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 45,816 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated minor severity. NADAC pricing from CMS shows a generic unit cost of $0.38.
Report counts do not establish causation, a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Pricing: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: September 12, 2025
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Data currency: FDA FAERS adverse-event reports through 2025, CMS NADAC acquisition-cost pricing effective December 2024, compiled and last refreshed May 2026. See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a correction.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book - approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed - NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) - post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm - standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files - federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database - current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages