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Metronidazole

Prescription ANDA TE AB Official labelling
Informational index, not medical advice. Content is reproduced from public FDA and NLM data. Always confirm against the manufacturer's current prescribing information. Report adverse events to FDA MedWatch.

Overview

Brand name
Metronidazole
Generic name
Metronidazole
Dosage form
Lotion
Route
Topical
Marketing category
ANDA · ANDA
Labeler
Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC
Product type
Human Prescription Drug
DEA schedule
Not scheduled
Active ingredients
2
NDC product codes
2
Packages
2
Data completeness
76% of corroborating sources present

Active ingredients

Source: NDC Directory
Active ingredients and strengths as listed in the NDC Directory.
Ingredient Strength RxCUI Monograph
Metronidazole 7.5 mg/g 2702348 View
Metronidazole 7.5 mg/mL 2702348 View

Forms, strengths and routes

Source: NDC Directory
Dosage form
Lotion
Route of administration
Topical
Presentations
4

Pharmacologic classes are listed in the class section below.

Pharmacologic class

Source: NDC Directory
Established pharmacologic classes (EPC), mechanisms of action (MoA), chemical structures (CS) and physiologic effects (PE).
Class Type Browse
Nitroimidazole Antimicrobial [EPC] EPC All 15 members
Nitroimidazoles [CS] CS All 15 members

Regulatory status

Source: Drugs@FDANDC Directory
Application number
077197
Application type
ANDA · Abbreviated New Drug Application
Approval date
May 24, 2006
Sponsor
FOUGERA PHARMS
Products on application
1
Submissions recorded
1
Products approved under application 077197.
Product Trade name Form Strength Ingredient Status TE Flags
077197-001 METRONIDAZOLE LOTION METRONIDAZOLE Prescription AB

Therapeutic equivalence

Source: Orange Book
TE code
AB
Reference Listed Drug
No
Reference Standard
No

What this rating means: Therapeutically equivalent — bioequivalence demonstrated by in vivo or in vitro testing

Codes beginning with “A” indicate products the FDA considers therapeutically equivalent. Codes beginning with “B” indicate bioequivalence has not been established. See methodology.

Approval history

Source: Drugs@FDA
Most recent submissions on application 077197.
Type No. Action Status Date Review
Original application 1 Approved May 24, 2006 —

Review documents

  • 0 · Original application · May 25, 2006

Prescribing information

Source: openFDA Drug Labeling

Reproduced verbatim from the Structured Product Labeling submitted to the FDA (effective 20260128). This is the manufacturer's labelling text, not a summary and not advice.

HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20260128 HUMAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG · 20240930

Indications and Usage

openFDA Drug Labeling

INDICATIONS AND USAGE Metronidazole topical lotion is indicated for topical application in the treatment of inflammatory papules and pustules of rosacea. CLINICAL STUDIES A controlled clinical study was conducted in 144 patients with moderate to severe rosacea, in which metronidazole topical lotion was compared with its vehicle. Applications were made twice daily for 12 weeks during which patients were instructed to avoid spicy foods, thermally hot foods and drinks, alcoholic beverages, and caffeine. Patients were also provided samples of a soapless cleansing lotion and, if requested, a moisturizer. Metronidazole topical lotion was significantly more effective than its vehicle in mean percent reduction of inflammatory lesions associated with rosacea and in the investigator's global assessment of improvement. The results of the mean percent reduction in inflammatory lesion counts from baseline after 12 weeks of treatment and the investigators' global assessment of improvement at week 12 are presented in the following table: Efficacy Outcomes at Week 12 Mean Percent Reduction in Inflammatory Lesion Counts from Baseline Metronidazole Topical Lotion N=65 Vehicle Lotion N=60 55% 20% Investigators' Global Assessment of Improvement (percent change from baseline) Worse No Change Minimal Improvement Definite Improvement Marked Improvement Clear Metronidazole Topical Lotion N=65 5% 12% 11% 32% 32% 8% Vehicle Lotion N=60 15% 27% 23% 15% 20% 0% The scale is based on the following definitions: Worse: Exacerbation of either erythema or quantitative assessment of papules and/or pustules. No Change: Condition remains the same. Minimal Improvement: Slight improvement in the quantitative assessment of papules and/or pustules, and/or slight improvement in erythema. Definite Improvement: More pronounced improvement in the quantitative assessment of papules and/or pustules, and/or more pronounced improvement in erythema. Marked Improvement: Obvious improvement in the quantitative assessment of papules and/or pustules, and/or obvious improvement in erythema. Clear: No papules or pustules and minimal residual or no erythema.

Dosage and Administration

openFDA Drug Labeling

DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Apply a thin layer to entire affected areas after washing. Use morning and evening or as directed by physician. Avoid application close to the eyes. Patients may use cosmetics after waiting for the metronidazole topical lotion to dry (not less than 5 minutes).

Contraindications

openFDA Drug Labeling

CONTRAINDICATIONS Metronidazole Topical Lotion is contraindicated in individuals with a history of hypersensitivity to metronidazole or to other ingredients of the formulation.

Adverse Reactions

openFDA Drug Labeling

ADVERSE REACTIONS In a controlled clinical trial, safety data from 141 patients who used metronidazole topical lotion (n=71), or the lotion vehicle (n=70), twice daily and experienced a local cutaneous adverse event which may or may not have been related to the treatments include: local allergic reaction, metronidazole topical lotion 2 (3%), lotion vehicle 0; contact dermatitis, metronidazole topical lotion 2 (3%), lotion vehicle 1 (1%); pruritus, metronidazole topical lotion 1 (1%), lotion vehicle 0; skin discomfort (burning and stinging), metronidazole topical lotion 1 (1%), lotion vehicle 2 (3%); erythema, metronidazole topical lotion 4 (6%), lotion vehicle 0; dry skin, metronidazole topical lotion 0, lotion vehicle 1 (1%); and worsening of rosacea, metronidazole topical lotion 1 (1%), and lotion vehicle 7 (10%). The following additional adverse experiences have been reported with the topical use of metronidazole: skin irritation, transient redness, metallic taste, tingling or numbness of extremities, and nausea.

Drug Interactions

openFDA Drug Labeling

Drug Interactions: Oral metronidazole has been reported to potentiate the anticoagulant effect of warfarin and coumarin anticoagulants, resulting in a prolongation of prothrombin time. The effect of topical metronidazole on prothrombin time is not known.

Description

openFDA Drug Labeling

DESCRIPTION Metronidazole Topical Lotion, 0.75% contains metronidazole, USP, at a concentration of 7.5 mg per gram (0.75% w/w) in a lotion consisting of benzyl alcohol, carbomer 941, cyclomethicone, glycerin, glyceryl stearate, light mineral oil, PEG-100 stearate, polyethylene glycol 400, potassium sorbate, purified water, steareth-21, stearyl alcohol, and sodium hydroxide and/or lactic acid to adjust pH. Metronidazole is an imidazole and is classified therapeutically as an antiprotozoal and antibacterial agent. Chemically, metronidazole is 2-methyl-5-nitro-1 H -imidazole-1-ethanol. The molecular formula is C 6 H 9 N 3 O 3 and molecular weight is 171.16. Metronidazole is represented by the following structural formula: Structural Formula

How Supplied / Storage and Handling

openFDA Drug Labeling

HOW SUPPLIED Metronidazole Topical Lotion, 0.75% is supplied in the following size: 2 fl. oz. (59 mL) plastic bottle – NDC 68308- 712 -59 Storage: Store at controlled room temperature 68° - 77°F (20° - 25°C). Protect from freezing. Marketed By: Mayne Pharma Raleigh, NC 27609 1-844-825-8500 Product of Canada P58196-0 Revised Sept 2024

Adverse event reports

Source: openFDA FAERS
64,630
FAERS reports mentioning this drug
as of 2026-09-25T03:42:24+00:00
A report count is not a risk measure. FAERS accepts voluntary and mandatory reports without establishing causation, and reporting is influenced by how widely a drug is used, how long it has been marketed, and media attention. FDA states that reports “do not prove that the drug caused the event”. Compare rates, not totals.

Attributed to this product's most-reported active ingredient: METRONIDAZOLE. Combination products with more than six active ingredients are not attributed, because a report count summed across a long ingredient list measures the list, not the medicine.

Packaging and NDCs

Source: NDC Directory
Every National Drug Code package associated with this medication. The NDC is the identifier used for dispensing, billing and pharmacovigilance in the United States.
Package NDC Product NDC Labeler Description Marketing start
0168-0383-60 0168-0383 Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC 59 mL in 1 BOTTLE, PLASTIC (0168-0383-60) May 24, 2006
68308-712-59 68308-712 Mayne Pharma Inc. 1 BOTTLE in 1 CARTON (68308-712-59) / 59.7 g in 1 BOTTLE February 10, 2025
0168-0383 0168-0383 Fougera Pharmaceuticals, LLC — May 24, 2006
68308-712 68308-712 Mayne Pharma Inc. — February 10, 2025

Sources for this page

Every dataset that contributed a fact to this page.
Dataset Agency Used for
NDC Directory FDA Identity, ingredients, strengths, forms, routes, labelers, packages
Drugs@FDA FDA Application, sponsor, submissions, review documents, marketing status
Orange Book FDA Therapeutic equivalence codes, reference drug flags, patents, exclusivity
Drug Labeling FDA / NLM Prescribing information reproduced above
FAERS FDA Adverse event report counts

Generated September 25, 2026 · 12 sections on this page.