General Info:

Metronidazole is an antibiotic. It fights bacteria in your body. Metronidazole is used to treat infections such as abdominal infections, skin and tissue infections, bone and joint infections, gynecologic infections, and respiratory tract infections.
Metronidazole may also be used for other purposes.

Metronidazole is effective against anaerobic bacteria, single-celled organisms that can live in environments with very little oxygen. Some examples of infections from anaerobic bacteria include bacterial peritonitis, a disease of the abdomen; liver abscess, and abscesses of the Fallopian tubes and ovaries. Metronidazol is also used to treat intestinal parasites like Giardia lamblia and amoeba, which cause amoebic dysentery (a colon infection which can bring about bloody diarrhea), and vaginitis (a vaginal inflammation caused by the Trichomonas parasite).
Metronidazol gets rid of the infection by blocking the functions of the invading parasites and bacterial cells, causing them to die off. Sometimes Metronidazole is used in combination with other antibiotics for a more effective treatment.

Metronidazole is the generic name of several brands of medication. The most common of these brands are Flagyl and Protostat. There is even a Metronidazole treatment for the skin, MetroGel, which is used to remedy acne rosacea (a skin infection characterized by redness and pimples), and a Metronidazole-based vaginal gel for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis (a pregnancy-related or sexually transmitted disease caused by harmful bacteria).

Metronidazole is relatively safe to take when you are trying to fight off an infection, the drug does have accompanying counter-indications and side-effects. Alcohol should be avoided when taking Metronidazol. A combination of the two can cause flushing, palpitations, nausea and vomiting. Some cold and cough medicines can also contain alcohol, so avoid these as well.

Brand name(s):
Acromona, Anagiardil, Arilin, Atrivyl, Benzoylmetronildazole, Bexon, Clont, Cont, Danizol, Deflamon, Efloran, Elyzol, Entizol, Eumin, Flagemona, Flagesol, Flagil, Flagyl, Flegyl, Fossyol, Giatricol, Gineflavir, Helidac, Klion, Klont, Meronidal, Methronidazole, Metrogel, Metrolag, Metrolotion, Metrolyl, Metromidol, Metronidaz, Metronidazolo, Metrotop, Mexibol, Monagyl, Monasin, Nalox, Neo-Tric, Nida, Nidagel, Noritate, Novonidazol, Orvagil, Protostat, Rathimed, Sanatrichom, Satric, Takimetol, Trichazol, Trichex, Trichocide, Trichomol, Trichopal, Trichopol, Tricocet, Tricom, Trikacide, Trikamon, Trikojol, Trikozol, Trimeks, Trivazol, Vagilen, Vagimid, Vertisal, Wagitran, Zadstat