[Secnidazole photo]
KEY POINTS
- Secnidazole (Solosec) is a 5-nitroimidazole antimicrobial drug that enters bacterial cells, where it is then reduced to radical anions by bacterial enzymes, which interferes with DNA synthesis in susceptible organisms
- FDA-approved September 17, 2017 for treatment of bacterial vaginosis in adult women
- Has activity versus most organisms known to cause bacterial vaginosis, such as:
- Bacteroides sp.
- Gardnerella vaginalis
- Prevotella sp.
- Mobiluncus sp.
- Megasphera-like type I/II
- Isolates with reduced susceptibility to metronidazole (another introimidazole) also show reduced susceptibility to secnidazole
- Has activity versus most organisms known to cause bacterial vaginosis, such as:
- Typical dose is one 2-gram packet taken orally once
- Is to be sprinkled onto applesauce, pudding, or yogurt then consumed orally within 30 minutes without chewing or crushing the granules
- Not meant to be dissolved in any liquid
- Chronic use is not recommended, beware possible carcinogenicity risk
- People allergic to metronidazole may also be allergic to secnidazole
- Some of the more common side effects to beware are: vulvovaginal candidiasis, nausea, headache, dysgeusia, diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and vulvovaginal pruritus
- No serious adverse events reported in clinical trials
RESOURCES
- Secnidazole Package Insert
- Secnidazole FDA Approval Notice
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases Guidelines [CDC, 2015]
- Secnidazole treatment of bacterial vaginosis: a randomized controlled trial [2017]
- A phase-3, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effectiveness and safety of single oral doses of secnidazole 2 g for the treatment of women with bacterial vaginosis [2016]
- Secnidazole. A review of its antimicrobial activity, pharmacokinetic properties and therapeutic use in the management of protozoal infections and bacterial vaginosis [1996]