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 →
NADAC price trail: METRONIDAZOLE TOPICAL 0.75% GL
Same CMS presentation as the headline generic unit price above (2 effective dates). Adjacent % compares consecutive NADAC releases for this description only, not a patient out-of-pocket quote. Latest step: -14.9% vs prior release.
| Effective | NADAC / unit | vs prior | NDCs |
|---|---|---|---|
| February 21, 2024 | $0.4467/GM | - | 1 |
| December 18, 2024 | $0.3799/GM | -14.9% | 3 |
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.
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
- Nausea
Nausea
3,318 reports
- Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea
2,621 reports
- Vomiting
Vomiting
2,211 reports
- Pyrexia
Pyrexia
2,205 reports
- Headache
Headache
2,127 reports
- Pain
Pain
2,047 reports
- Abdominal Pain
Abdominal Pain
2,009 reports
- Fatigue
Fatigue
1,847 reports
- Dizziness
Dizziness
1,611 reports
- Acute Kidney Injury
Acute Kidney Injury
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) 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.
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.
This is a plain-language summary of FDA-label interaction records and does not provide individual medication-combination directions.
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?
What pregnancy or breastfeeding source fields are listed for metronidazole topical?
Related Medications in Topical Antibiotic (Rosacea)
Other drugs grouped near metronidazole topical - same-class peers and common alternatives.
adapalene
Differin
Compare with metronidazole topical →
apremilast
Otezla
Apremilast (Otezla/Otezla XR) is a medicine that can help adults and children manage psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis.
Compare with metronidazole topical →
azelaic acid
Finacea, Azelex
Azelaic acid gel is a topical medicine that helps treat rosacea.
Compare with metronidazole topical →
benzoyl peroxide
Benzac, PanOxyl
Benzoyl peroxide is a topical medicine that fights germs on your skin.
Compare with metronidazole topical →
betamethasone
Diprosone, Luxiq
Betamethasone dipropionate cream is a strong steroid medicine used on the skin.
Compare with metronidazole topical →
Compare beyond drug class
Nationwide peers by FAERS volume & death-report share
Two PlainMeds-derived comparison paths for metronidazole topical: nearest FDA FAERS report volume and nearest death-report share among drugs with at least 1,000 logged reports, excluding same-class neighbors listed above. Counts reflect reporting volume, not proven individual harm.
Similar FAERS report volume
Nearest drugs by total FAERS reports. This record: 45,816.
Similar death-report share
Nearest drugs by FAERS death-report share. This record: 11.28%.
- tadalafil Δ 0.02 pts · 96,629 reports · PDE5 Inhibitor 11.29%death share
- pantoprazole Δ 0.02 pts · 240,800 reports · Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) 11.25%death share
- zaleplon Δ 0.03 pts · 1,538 reports · Non-Benzodiazepine Hypnotic (Z-Drug) 11.25%death share
- terazosin Δ 0.04 pts · 7,436 reports · Alpha-1 Blocker 11.24%death share
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
FDA bioequivalence and label-record context for narrow therapeutic index medicines
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
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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 are separate source-record fields. This page is a public FDA/CMS registry and does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions.
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. This registry does not provide medication decisions.
Last updated: September 12, 2025
PlainMeds is rendered directly from FDA openFDA/FAERS extracts, DailyMed labels, and CMS drug-pricing files, no number is typed in by an editor. FAERS counts, recalls, shortages, and price figures on this page are queried live from those federal extracts. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of 2026-05-15. Primary sources: openFDA / FAERS, DailyMed and CMS Part B ASP.
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 from the source snapshot dated . See our methodology for per-source dates and refresh cadence. Spot a figure that looks wrong? Report a data issue.
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