AboutDr Alan Galbraith Expertise I can answer most questions on most drugs. Answers can be given in either technical or layperson terminology. My main areas of interest are psychiatric, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular drugs.
Experience I have been a university lecturer/head of department for almost thirty years, but am now retired. My research interests were alcohol, smoking and cardiovascular disease.
Organizations Institute of Biology, London.
Publications Author of "Fundamentals of Pharmacology" 5th Edition published in November 2007 by Pearson Education, Australia.
About a month ago I took a single dose of Fasigyn (Tinidazole) (2g i think) for a Giardia infection. About 1-2 weeks after I started getting body jerks at night and involuntary muscle twitching during the day. Do you think it could be a result of the Tinidazole? I've heard some antibiotics can cause/bring about epilepsy. Just wondering if I should be concerned...
ANSWER: Dear Adrienne
Yes, it could be the tinidazole but after the two weeks break I would think it unlikely. You are also right about this drug cause epileptiform (not epilepsy) convulsions but this is extremely rare. If these continue I would let your doctor know so you can have a neurological examination to determine the cause and treatment. It could just be a form of restless leg syndrome which is not at all uncommon and fortunately can easily be treated.
Regards
Alan galbraith
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QUESTION: Thankyou for your prompt reply, I will go and see my doctor. If it is the Tinidazole that is cause, do you think it is likey to resolve? It dismays me that this might be permanant, as there was not even a medical information leaflet included when I got the fasigyn warning that this is a possibility. Is there a statistic for the risk of this happening that you know of? Many thanks again.
Answer Dear Adrienne
Convulsions and neurological disorders occur in about 1 in a thousand patients on tinadazole and are therefore considered rare. I still doubt that one dose would lead to this after two weeks and think the most likely scenario is another cause. As far as I can discern, the symptoms if due to tinadazole are not permanent.
