title: How often does metronidazole induce pancreatitis?
abstract: Two case reports of metronidazole-induced pancreatitis raised the question of how often this reaction occurs. Of 6485 patients who received 7704 computer-recorded prescriptions for metronidazole from a health maintenance organization, none were hospitalized for pancreatitis while taking the drug or within the following month. Accordingly, the upper 95% confidence limit for the occurrence rate of metronidazole-induced pancreatitis requiring hospitalization is 3.9/10,000 prescriptions and 4.6/10,000 recipients; the true rates are probably lower. Severe pancreatitis appears to be a rare adverse reaction to metronidazole.
authors.affiliation: Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, Oakland, California.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: J V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Selby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010195:Pancreatitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing
chemical_list: D008795:Metronidazole