Any alternative to Metronidazole?

Is there any alternative to Metronidazole? I have problems with some penicillin's and have been prescribed this for an abscess in my gum. I have had Metronidazole before, and felt dreadful- dizzy, couldn't get up, sick, numbness, which may or may not have been migraine triggered by this. I have started the course, but a day and a half into it, I am getting the same symptoms as before. I suspect the Metronidazole, but dentist says to put up with it. It is very difficult to do that. Any suggestions?
Greig

Thanks for your answers. I'm not drinking alcohol, so there can't be any problem there. I'm pretty shaky etc, again, symptoms I experienced before. I admit, I am not sure if it is a reaction to the drug, or if the drug has brought on migraine symptoms (I get painless migraine with aura) or whether it is simply as a result of being in pain etc with an abscess. I have made an appointment to see my GP on Tuesday. I am not sure whether to persist with the tablets or not. It is a five day course and tomorrow will be day 3.

Yes an alternative is clindamycin and in serious cases, one of the newer fluoroquinolone antibiotics. For example, moxifloxacin, levofloxacin, gatifloxacin etc.. You'll need a prescription for any of these, so get off to a doctor or dentist a.s.a.p. before it gets worse. If you're sensitive to the penicilin family of antibioics you are probably also sensitive to the cephalosporin group too. Tell the doctor about your sensitivity. Incidentally metronidazole (Flagyl), and alcohol will give the mother of all hangovers. Absolutely, no alcohol consumption when you are on that very good antibiotic.
Doc. Dan.

Get to a doctor a.s.a.p. have him/her examine you and get switched to clindamycin. You should not have to endure dizziness nor great pain. 3 days is a long enough time to determine if an antibiotic is working.
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Metronidazole is a very good antibiotic, but it can make you very sick to your stomach and also having a metallic taste in the mouth. Since you are allergic to penicillins a reasonable choice for you could be Clindamycin. It also targets most of the microorganisms sensitive to Metronidazole. You can tell the doctor that prescribed it to you to change it to Clindamycin or whatever he considers better.

Hope it helps, good luck!

I agree with the previous posters. I just wanted to reiterate about the alcohol. DO NOT take any alcohol with Metronidazole - it will make you very sick.

Yes!Try Clindamicin. and of course,as with metronidazole,no alcohol intake during the treatment!!!

The best thing to do in teh first place wouldve been to tell your dentist that your allergic to Metronidazole, coz if you had a worse reaction this time, u coudlve wound up in hospital and yeah not very good.

Just make sure that you dont ever get that drug again!

Metronidazole would not be my first choice as an alternate to penicillins. We would probably skip the cephalosporins unless you had a previous history of taking them with no problem. Erythromycin is usually the next "go-to" antibiotic and then either clindamycin or Cipro and it's cousins. Some are using Levaquin, but I don't think a once daily dosing is really working well for dental infections.