Metronidazole (most commonly prescribed as Metrogel 1%) is a prescription drug that is available in several formulations. As an oral treatment metronidazole is known as flagyl. Topical metronidazole is available as noritate, metrogel, rozex, metrogel 1%, metrolotion and metrocream.
What is metronidazole ? well scientifically it is a white to pale yellow crystalline powder. Metronidazole is a member of the imidazole class of anti-bacterial agents and is classified as an antiprotozoal and anti-bacterial agent.
When taken orally, metronidazole is known as flagyl. Flagyl is used for a wide variety of infections including those in the adbomen, bones, joints, nervous system, respiratory tract, skin, as well as vaginal and intestinal infections.
A bit of history
Curatek Pharmaceuticals developed and submitted the New Drug Application for Metrogel in 1988. Since its introduction by Curatek, MetroGel has become the most widely prescribed therapy in the United States for rosacea. In 1993 Curatek Pharmaceuticals sold metrogel to Galderma Laboratories. Galderma has since introduced other variants of Metrogel, namely MetroLotion and MetroCream. Galderma is also an interesting company for rosacea sufferers because they have purchased Collagenex, who are developing a product we know as sansrosa.
Curatek, continued to market MetroGel-Vaginal (metronidazole vaginal gel, 0.75 percent) for bacterial vaginosis. MetroGel-Vaginal was introduced in the U.S. in 1992.
How does metrogel work ? well amazingly after all these products have been marketed and many studies done, the mechanisms by which metronidazole acts in reducing the inflammatory lesions of rosacea are in the main unknown.
Dermik markets a 1%, once a day formulation of metronidzole called Noritate.
Metrogel was responsible for generating sales of about $75 million in 2004.
The patent on the branded product by Galderma expired on June 6, 2006. Fougera is poised to make generic metrogel available, having had tentative approval to produce a generic metrogel.
In July of 2005 Galderma announced that 1 percent metrogel had gained FDA approval. The vehicle is a water-based formulation and contains no alcohol. The formulation was `enhanced with HSA-3′. HSA-3 is described as a combination of ingredients including betadex, niacinamide (vitamin B3), and propylene glycol.”
Metrogel Ingredients
METROGEL (metronidazole gel), 1% is an aqueous gel; each gram contains 10 mg of metronidazole in a base of betadex, edetate disodium, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylparaben, niacinamide, phenoxyethanol, propylene glycol,propylparaben and purified water.
So Why all the Metro-products ?
Despite quite a lot of activity in the marketing and development of the metronidazole treatments (lotion, cream, gel, generic equivalents, nortitate 1%, metrogel 1%, once per day, twice per day etc) this particular research paper Metronidazole in the treatment of rosacea: do formulation, dosing, and concentration matter? suggests that the different formulations and treatment frequency make little difference to the treatment outcome.
Thus if you are already using one formulation of metronidazole, changing to another gel/cream vehicle doesn’t appear to be able to offer any additional benefits.
Does Metrogel help with the Redness?
Officially, Metrogel is only indicated for the papules and pustules of rosacea – this is what it was tested against. Some users of Metrogel do find a reduction in redness as a result of the anti-inflammatory actions of metronidazole, but you should probably consider this a bonus rather than a given.
Interesting Research
Some of the more interesting published papers on rosacea and metrogel, and other metronidazole treatments include ;
Topical Metronidazole Maintains Remissions of Rosacea
Topical metronidazole therapy for rosacea.
The efficacy of topical metronidazole in the treatment of ocular rosacea.
Metrogel Coupon
Galderma offers a Savings Coupon for Metrogel that offers 1% Co-pay Card, allowing you to pay no more than $20 when refilling your prescription. If you have insurance, that is. This current coupon offer expires at the end of 2011.
Featured Products
Related Articles:
- Galderma: 1 percent metrogel prescribing information
- So just How Does Metrogel Work ?
- 1 Percent Metrogel from Galderma
- Generic Metrogel soon Fougera
- Metrogel less irritating than Finacea
- Periostat and metrogel better than Metrogel alone
- Rosac Cream vs. Metrocream
- Galderma wants to own the Rosacea Market
153 Comments over 4 pages ↓
I have to tell you that I just saw my derm yesterday who helped me tremendously with stage 2 rosacea when I first went to her around two years ago. She took me off dairy,(cows) and told me to hold off on nuts, fish, sulfites, a long list of things………the dairy being the most important. She is a gifted research scientist and medical doctor and professor at UCLA. Her name if Madelene Heng,…..She is in the business for the right reason; that is to help people. The very first thing she does with her patients is photograph their problem areas. Then she educates her patients on what is happening to their pores and why. I had a reinfection…….was really bummed cause I am off of dairy and I mean almost 100%. She told me the Cetaphil I had been using and the Cereve were clogging my pores, I am not kidding……she says the ph is a 7 on those items and we need a ph of 5, or I need a ph of 5, I am not sure if everyone suffering from this should. I must admit that as my skin was dry i was dabbing on a little coconut oil and that was a big no no as well. But here it is within 24 hours and my skin is 70% better. She gave me a topical solution, told me to continue with the curcumin gel which she sells to her patients at COST….which i have been using anyway. She is the most reasonably priced doctor and gave me all kinds of time via an email as i live an hour from her office. She does that!!!!!!!! She will do it now f you like! She was going to let me send her a photograph if I couldn’t come in! She is amazing. really. The real point of me writing was to address the question above…..she showed me picture after picture of her patients, their before and their after. She is a healer, and a doctor. Her program which may include anti biotics, or topicals or diflucan or whatever , or not, but always includes the healing, skin saving gel. She has me now using neutragena orange glycerin bar soap, a ph 5, the gel and pure aloe and/or diluted glycerin (add a little water to it when applying / from health food stores) to moisten. and a neutragena 70 sun screen….also a ph of 5. everything else from them she said was not the right ph. Anyway……the severe rosacea, i mean stage 10 rosacea and acne she has helped and i saw it with my own two eyes from her endless photographs. What to eat, you ask? I did. Anyway, just had roasted turkey with mung bean and red rice pilaf made from scratch, with flash sauteed in the same pan spinach and a butter lettuce salad with avo, tomatoe and garlic, apples, onions. Used coconut milk in the turkey gravy and olive oil only. lots of spices, like garlic, and curry, etc…
Back to Dr. Heng, she said she could not cure something if she didn’t know the cause, and she is all over it……obviously i am impressed with her. I was washing my face twice a day with that Cetaphil, having no idea!!!!!!!!! For many people all dairy is necessary to get off of and I am now considering stopping with the goat and sheep dairy as well, although I am already doing so much better. It’s a crazy world, I know, and it’s really hard to give up something you were taught was really good for you. Best of luck to all, there is massive help out there, don’t give up.
I’m so intrigued by your posts can you help me out with what you’re using as a moisturizer I’m not sure I quite understand thank you very much for the information!!
…..”"but always includes the healing, skin saving (curcumin) gel, (it’s called psoriagold and it lasts a year, you use so little, and she sells it to her patients at cost!) . She has me now using neutragena orange glycerin bar soap, a ph 5, the gel (psoriagold) and pure aloe (i am using “epicuran” and “audrey’s” seeing which one is better) and/or 100% pure glycerin, the vegetable glycerin is from a company called “now”. add a little water to cut it when applying / from health food stores) to moisten. and a neutragena 70 sun screen….also a ph of 5. everything else from them she said was not the right ph.”
that is what i am doing to moisturize. also drinking lots of water, and she wants me to drink carrot juice for the vitamin A……she said the pills were not good enough. i was taking beta caretene 25000 iu’s and she said it was nothing, not even what they say it is. she is the research scientist, i believe her. so i just juiced 12 ozs of carrot juice.
but again diet is the most important. if the system is clogged, you have to stop clogging it up and fix the issue. dairy these days cloggs people up. processed sugar and carbs create imbalance and yeast, infections, and bacteria etc. i cannot do the scientific explanation any justice….but it’s a multi tiered issue that needs a multi tiered approach. i only write all this because i promised if i got help i would help others.
there are other supplements she recommends, but i would really suggest checking her out. she has written a book, and she is available for consults via email….hope this helps you!