Metronidazole..long term side effects, anxiety and panic attack!

I took a single dose of the Metronidazole gel two nights ago, and immediately felt "off." Next morning felt really "not right" but went to work anyway. All day I fought intense emotional swings, feeling constantly like I would burst into tears. Also, discharge was copious, where the day before it was almost cleared up (I'd been doing alternative treatments on my own with homeopathics and probiotics). I should mention that the doctor prescribed this without waiting for my culture test results, which turned out to be negative for both BV and yeast.

Had to leave work yesterday because I could not concentrate, could not keep my emotions in check, extremely irritable, short fuse, on the verge of sobbing, just an emotional wreck. The moment I came in the door, I burst into tears and could not stop crying. Fortunately my husband was working at home yesterday and took care of me. I slipped into a deep depression, lethargy, and malaise for the rest of the day and night, which is still lingering today. I have not taken any more doses after that first one; returned to my homeopathic remedies and probiotics and the discharge is once again gone.

Yesterday I felt like I was in the worst PMS in my entire life, and I am post-menopausal -- periods stopped three years ago. It also felt like my insides were falling out (not a physical sensation; hard to describe). Today I've felt like I'm fighting to stay afloat in quicksand; had to leave work early again and come home. I feel like I'm just slipping down a slope, struggling to stay upright.

Doctor said he'd never heard of this type of reaction (seriously? Depression is listed as a common side effect!) and had nothing to tell me other than that he could put me on an oral dose of the drug. HELL NO! I want NOTHING to do with Metronidazole ever again!

Today the doctor's office called to check on me and I reiterated my symptoms, updated for today. They said they'd put it in my chart as an "allergic reaction." BULL!! I haven't had any immune system reactions -- this is purely emotional devastation, with a few weird physical sensations but no hives, rash, swelling, etc.

I will be reporting this to the FDA.

Hi, I know this is an old discussion bit just wondering how your progress has been going. I've just finished a course of metronidazole and I had extreme anxiety and mood swings as well as stomach issues. I've finished 3 days ago and still am not getting any better which is terrifying. I feel like I have no quality of life anymore.

I took it for a week about 6-7 weeks ago. I was doing crazy things while realizing they were not correct, but did them anyway. At my job I tackled some record keeping stuff that I had been putting off for five years. I HAD to do it and worked nonstop on it until done, and was cross with anyone who got in my way. At home I was screaming for no reason and throwing things. I have never been this way before. On that bad night I felt that I couldn't sleep in my house, so I went to my car. I was unable to settle, so I left the car at midnight and ran all over the neighborhood, fighting weird urges such as entering a construction site and jumping off of a stone wall. I went home and cried and apologized to my husband, and finally went to bed. I stopped taking the drug and went to see my doctor. He said not to take the metronidazone anymore, which I had already done. I slowly got better after a few days. Then I slowly got worse. It was so slow that I didn't notice it was abnormal. For a while it felt like I was just in a funk or had PMS. Only when it reached a level that I could not function did I realize it was much more than a funk. I am scared of everything, such as paying bills, trying to use a coupon, going to work, going to the store, doing every step of my job. I know the fear is irrational, yet it changes nothing. My heart pounds and I get dizzy. I cry over everything. I have been taking small amounts of xanax at night because it helps the heart pounding go away so that I can fall asleep. I took half of a xanax pill yesterday because I needed to go to the store but was paralyzed with fear. 0.25 mg of xanax has been enough to take the edge off, but I have the fear of getting addicted to it. I had a scheduled appointment with my ob-gyn dr, so I brought this up. He dismissed it as perimenopause and prescribed a low dose of zoloft, which I have been taking for two days. I have an appointment with my PCP in a half hour. I will ask for mirtazapine, because I read that it helped someone else. I hope it helps because I am not functioning anywhere near acceptable at work. It's embarrassing and I am ashamed, which just makes the anxiety worse and makes me feel even more paralyzed.