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" What is it used for?  Treating spots and redness associated with a chronic skin disorder called acne rosacea.    How does it work? Rozex cream and gel both contain the active ingredient metronidazole, which is a type of medicine called an antibiotic. Metronidazole is used to treat infections caused by bacteria and other micro-organisms called protozoa.  Metronidazole kills bacterial and protozoal cells by interfering with their genetic material (DNA). It damages the DNA and also prevents the bacteria and protozoa from forming new DNA.  Metronidazole is applied to the skin to treat a chronic inflammatory condition called acne rosacea. In this condition there is long-term inflammation of the cheeks, nose, chin, forehead, and/or eyelids, with increased redness or acne-like eruptions in these areas of the face.  Metronidazole is used to help clear up spots and cysts associated with the condition, and it also reduces redness. It is not fully understood how metronidazole helps in rosacea, because no specific bacteria have been found to cause the condition. However, it is thought to work by controlling any infection and reducing inflammation in the skin. It usually takes two to three months of applying metronidazole to the skin to clear up the spots, so it is important to persevere with the treatment as prescribed by your doctor, even if it doesn&amp;#039;t seem to make much difference to start with.    How do I use it?  Rozex cream or gel should be applied to the affected areas of the face twice a day, morning and evening. Wash and dry the face before applying Rozex. Apply the cream or gel in a thin layer, taking care to avoid the eyes, and rub it in well.  Wash your hands after application. If you forget an application don&amp;#039;t worry, just carry on as before. Keep using Rozec regularly twice a day for as long as your doctor tells you to. Repeat courses may sometimes be needed, or your doctor may recommend using it on a long-term or intermittent basis. Follow the instructions given by your doctor.   Warning!  This medicine is for external use on the face only. Take care to avoid getting the cream or gel in the eyes or inside the nostrils or mouth. If you accidentally get the cream or gel in these areas, rinse it out with plenty of warm water. Avoid exposing the treated areas of skin to strong sunlight or sunlamps because this can make the treatment less effective. If your skin becomes irritated while using the cream or gel you should use it less frequently or stop using it for a few days. If irritation persists, consult your doctor. When taken by mouth metronidazole can interact with alcohol, causing unpleasant reactions such as hot flushes, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, headache and palpitations. This is very unlikely to happen if you drink alcohol while using Rozex on your skin, because only small amounts of metronidazole are absorbed into the blood. However, if you have a reaction like this after drinking alcohol you should avoid drinking alcohol until after you have finished your course of treatment with Rozex.   Not to be used in  This medicine is not recommended for children.   This medicine should not be used if you are allergic to one or any of its ingredients. Please inform your doctor or pharmacist if you have previously experienced such an allergy. If you feel you have experienced an allergic reaction, stop using this medicine and inform your doctor or pharmacist immediately.   Pregnancy and breastfeeding Certain medicines should not be used during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, other medicines may be safely used in pregnancy or breastfeeding providing the benefits to the mother outweigh the risks to the unborn baby. Always inform your doctor if you are pregnant or planning a pregnancy, before using any medicine.  This medicine passes into the bloodstream in very low amounts after application to the skin. However, as its safety during pregnancy has not been fully established it should only be used during pregnancy if considered essential by your doctor. Ask your doctor for further advice. When metronidazole is taken by mouth it passes into breast milk. Even though when this medicine is applied to the skin it is only absorbed into the bloodstream in very low amounts, it should not be used by breastfeeding mothers unless considered essential by your doctor. Seek further medical advice from your doctor.   Side effects Medicines and their possible side effects can affect individual people in different ways. The following are some of the side effects that are known to be associated with this medicine. Just because a side effect is stated here, it does not mean that all people using this medicine will experience that or any side effect.  Common (affect between 1 in 10 and 1 in 100 people)  Skin discomfort (burning or stinging) or irritation at application site. See warning section above. Skin dryness, redness or itching. Worsening of rosacea. See your doctor if you think this medicine is making your skin worse.   Uncommon (affect between 1 in 100 and 1 in 1000 people)  Tingling or numbness. Watery eyes if applied too closely to the eyes. Metallic taste. Nausea.   Unknown frequency  Inflammation of the skin (contact dermatitis).   The side effects listed above may not include all of the side effects reported by the medicine&amp;#039;s manufacturer. For more information about any other possible risks associated with this medicine, please read the information provided with the medicine or consult your doctor or pharmacist. If you think you have experienced a side effect from a medicine or vaccine you should check the patient information leaflet. This lists the known side effects and what to do if you get them. You can also get advice from your doctor, nurse or pharmacist. If they think its necessary they&amp;#039;ll report it for you. You can also report side effects yourself using the yellow card scheme website: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard.   How can this medicine affect other medicines? When this medicine is applied to the skin it is absorbed into the bloodstream only in very low amounts and so is very unlikely to affect any other medicines that you are taking by mouth. On very rare occasions, people taking coumarin anticoagulant medicines such as warfarin have found that using this medicine has enhanced the effect of their anticoagulant.   Other medicines containing the same active ingredient Other brands of metronidazole that are applied to the skin:   Acea gel. Anabact gel. Metrogel. Metrosa gel. Rosiced cream. Zyomet gel.  Metronidazole for oral, rectal and vaginal use:  Flagyl tablets. Flagyl suppositories. Metrolyl suppositories. Norzol suspension. Zidoval vaginal gel.  Metronidazole tablets, suspension and injection are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.    Further reading For background information about our medicine factsheets, including the references used to produce them, click here.  Last updated 01.12.2014 "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/skin-and-hair/a6553/rozex-cream-and-gel-metronidazole/>