tinidazole
Meaning of tinidazole: Tinidazole is an antiprotozoal drug for infections such as giardiasis and trichomoniasis, with an investigational role in certain stomach infections still being studied.
Definition of tinidazole
Tinidazole is a medication used to treat infections caused by protozoa, single celled parasitic organisms, including amebiasis, giardiasis, and trichomoniasis. It belongs to a class of drugs called antiprotozoal agents, and it works by damaging the genetic material of susceptible organisms, disrupting their ability to survive and reproduce.
Tinidazole is generally taken by mouth, often as a short course rather than an extended one, and it is also active against certain anaerobic bacteria, organisms that grow without oxygen, which allows it to be used for some bacterial infections in addition to its antiprotozoal role.
Tinidazole is also being studied as part of combination treatment for Helicobacter pylori, a stomach bacterium linked to ulcers and, in some cases, low grade gastric lymphoma, though this use is separate from its established, approved role against protozoal infections.
Also known as
Used in a sentence
Tinidazole was prescribed for a confirmed case of giardiasis.
Good to know
Tinidazole is closely related to metronidazole and both drugs can cause a significant reaction when combined with alcohol, an interaction that is relevant when either medication is prescribed.