Diarrhea is the most common symptom experienced by people suffering from giardiasis. Other common symptoms include abdominal cramps, gas, nausea, and bloating.1
If you have giardiasis, you may notice symptoms about a week after being infected, however, some people don't notice symptoms for up to 25 days.1,2 Other people may be asymptomatic, meaning they have the disease but don't notice any symptoms at all.
Giardia symptoms normally last anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks.1 However, they can vary from person to person, and they may depend on the amount of contaminated matter ingested, the length of time you've been infected, and a number of other factors.
Common symptoms of giardiasis1
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Gas
- Nausea or upset stomach
- Bloating
- Greasy stools that tend to float
- Dehydration and weight loss
Complications of giardiasis
Giardiasis has been associated with other gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, and in fact, it may be misdiagnosed as IBS.3,4 Giardiasis has also been linked to other health complications such as reactive arthritis and urticaria/pruritus or other skin disorders.5-7
Important Safety Information
WARNING: POTENTIAL RISK FOR CARCINOGENICITY
Carcinogenicity has been seen in mice and rats treated chronically with metronidazole, another nitroimidazole agent. Although such data have not been reported for tinidazole, the two drugs are structurally related and have similar biologic effects. Its use should be reserved for the conditions described in INDICATIONS AND USAGE.
Tindamax® is a prescription antibiotic used to treat certain infections caused by bacteria and parasites. It is approved for treating trichomoniasis, also known as "trich," and bacterial vaginosis, or "BV" (in non-pregnant, adult women). It is also approved for treating giardiasis, also known as "giardia," amebiasis, and amebic liver abscess in patients age 3 and older.
Important Safety Information
Tindamax® is not for everyone. You should not take Tindamax® if you are in the first trimester of pregnancy. If you are nursing, Tindamax® can pass through your breast milk, so you should not take it unless you stop breastfeeding during your prescription and for 3 days after your last dose.
Tindamax® can lead to a temporary reduction in your white blood cells, so if you have been diagnosed with a blood disorder, talk to your doctor before starting a prescription.
Do not take Tindamax® if you have a history of sensitivity to tinidazole or related drugs in the nitroimidazole family. Reactions can range from mild itching, hives, or fever to Stevens-Johnson syndrome, which is a rare, life-threatening skin condition.
Certain drugs may interact with Tindamax®, so always tell your doctor about the medications you're taking before you start a prescription.
Take each dose of Tindamax® with food to lessen the risk of stomach upset and other GI side effects. Avoid any alcoholic beverages while taking Tindamax® and for 3 days afterward.
If you are undergoing hemodialysis while taking Tindamax® on the same day, consult your doctor for the appropriate dose of Tindamax®. An additional half-dose of Tindamax® at the end of dialysis may be recommended.
Antibacterial drugs, including Tindamax®, do not treat viral infections such as the common cold. When taking Tindamax® to treat a bacterial infection, it is very common to feel better early in your prescription; however, you should keep taking the medication as directed and for as long as directed by your doctor. Skipping doses or not taking all of your medication can make Tindamax® less effective. It can also allow the bacteria to build up resistance to the drug, so that it won't be treatable with Tindamax® or similar drugs in the future.
The most common side effects of Tindamax® are a metallic or bitter taste, nausea, weakness, fatigue, discomfort, indigestion, cramps, vomiting, loss of appetite, headache, dizziness, and constipation.
Some patients taking Tindamax® may also develop a yeast infection, which can require treatment with an anti-fungal drug. Talk to your doctor if you notice any unusual symptoms.
Certain patients taking Tindamax® have experienced seizures or nerve problems, with symptoms such as numbness or tingling of the hands or feet. Other side effects included vertigo, unsteady movements, insomnia, or drowsiness. Stop taking Tindamax® if you develop any abnormal symptoms.
Tinidazole, the key ingredient in Tindamax®, is related to a drug called metronidazole, which has been linked to cancer in lab rats and mice that received the drug over long periods of time. Although these effects have not been reported for tinidazole, the two drugs are chemically related and have similar effects on the body. Therefore, Tindamax® should only be used to treat infections it has been approved to treat.
To report negative side effects, contact Mission Pharmacal Company at 1-800-298-1087 or the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.
- Giardia Infection [Internet]. CDC; 2004 [accessed 2008 July 10]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/giardiasis/2004_PDF_Giardiasis.pdf
- Giardia: Drinking Water Fact Sheet [Internet]. United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water; 2000 Sept [accessed 2008 Jul 10]. Available from: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/criteria/humanhealth/microbial/giardiafs.pdf
- Stark D, van Hal S, Marriott D, Ellis J, Harkness J. Irritable bowel syndrome: a review on the role of intestinal protozoa and the importance of their detection and diagnosis. Int J Parasitol. 2007 Jan;37(1):11-20. Epub 2006 Oct 12.
- Grazioli B, Matera G, Laratta C, Schipani G, Guarnieri G, Spiniello E, Imeneo M, Amorosi A, Focà A, Luzza F. Giardia lamblia infection in patients with irritable bowel syndrome and dyspepsia: a prospective study. World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Mar 28;12(12):1941-4.
- Yoder JS, Beach MJ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Giardiasis surveillance--United States, 2003-2005. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2007 Sep 7;56(7):11-8.
- Mahmoud MS, Salem AA, Rifaat MM. Human giardiasis as an etiology of skin allergy: the role of adhesion molecules and interleukin-6. J Egypt Soc Parasitol. 2004 Dec;34(3):723-37.
- González-Gay MA, Cereijo MJ, Aguero JJ, Sánchez-Andrade A, López Roses L. [Reactive arthritis and infestation by Giardia lamblia] Rev Esp Enferm Dig. 1991 Oct;80(4):269-70.
