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METROGEL

Generic: metronidazole

Verified·Apr 23, 2026
Manufacturer
Galderma
NDC
0299-3820
RxCUI
577237
Route
TOPICAL
ICD-10 indication
L71.9

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About METROGEL

What is this medication?

Metrogel is a topical prescription medication that contains the active ingredient metronidazole. It is primarily used for the treatment of inflammatory lesions, such as bumps and pimples, caused by a skin condition known as rosacea. By applying the medication directly to the affected areas of the face, it helps to manage the redness and irritation associated with this chronic condition.

While the exact way the drug works for rosacea is not entirely clear, it is believed to possess anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties that help clear the skin. Patients usually apply a thin layer to the face once or twice daily as instructed by their healthcare provider. It is meant for external use only and should be used consistently to see improvements in skin appearance.

Copay & patient assistance

Detailed copay and financial assistance information is not publicly available for this medication at this time. Please consult your pharmacist or the manufacturer's official patient support program for more details.

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Prescribing information

From the FDA-approved label for METROGEL. Official source: DailyMed (NLM) · Label effective Nov 27, 2023

Indications and usage
1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE METROGEL, 1% is indicated for the topical treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea. METROGEL, 1% is a nitroimidazole indicated for the topical treatment of inflammatory lesions of rosacea. ( 1 )
Dosage and administration
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Cleanse treated areas before the application of METROGEL. Apply and rub in a thin film of METROGEL once daily to affected area(s). Cosmetics may be applied after the application of METROGEL. For topical use only, not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. Cleanse treated areas before the application of METROGEL. ( 2 ) Apply and rub in a thin film of METROGEL once daily to affected area(s). ( 2 ) Cosmetics may be applied after the application of METROGEL. ( 2 ) Not for oral, ophthalmic, or intravaginal use. ( 2 )
Contraindications
4 CONTRAINDICATIONS METROGEL is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to metronidazole or to any other ingredient in the formulation. METROGEL is contraindicated in those patients with a history of hypersensitivity to metronidazole or to any other ingredient in this formulation. ( 4 )
Warnings and precautions
5 WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Neurologic Disease : Peripheral neuropathy, characterized by numbness or paresthesia of an extremity has been reported in patients treated with systemic metronidazole. Peripheral neuropathy has been reported with the post approval use of topical metronidazole. Immediate reevaluate METROGEL therapy if abnormal neurologic signs appear. (5.1) Blood Dyscrasias : METROGEL is a nitroimidazole; use with care in patients with evidence of, or history of, blood dyscrasia. (5.2) Contact Dermatitis : If dermatitis occurs, patients may need to discontinue use. ( 5.3 ) Eye Irritation : Topical metronidazole has been reported to cause tearing of the eyes. Avoid contact with the eyes. ( 5.4 ) 5.1 Neurologic Disease Peripheral neuropathy, characterized by numbness or paresthesia of an extremity, has been reported in patients treated with systemic metronidazole. Peripheral neuropathy has been reported with the post approval use of topical metronidazole. Immediately reevaluate METROGEL therapy if abnormal neurologic signs appear. Administer metronidazole with caution to patients with central nervous system diseases. 5.2 Blood Dyscrasias METROGEL is a nitroimidazole; use with care in patients with evidence of, or history of, blood dyscrasia. 5.3 Contact Dermatitis Irritant and allergic contact dermatitis have been reported with METROGEL. If dermatitis occurs, patients may need to discontinue use. 5.4 Eye Irritation Topical metronidazole has been reported to cause tearing of the eyes. Avoid contact with the eyes.
Drug interactions
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Oral metronidazole has been reported to potentiate the anticoagulant effect of coumarin and warfarin, resulting in a prolongation of prothrombin time. Use caution when prescribing for patients who are receiving anticoagulant treatment. Oral metronidazole has been reported to potentiate the anticoagulant effect of coumarin and warfarin, resulting in a prolongation of prothrombin time. Use caution when administering METROGEL concomitantly to patients who are receiving anticoagulant treatment. ( 7 )
Adverse reactions
6 ADVERSE REACTIONS The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling: Neurologic Disease [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.1 ) ] Contact Dermatitis [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.3 ) ] Eye Irritation [ see Warnings and Precautions ( 5.4 ) ] Most common adverse reactions (incidence > 2%) are nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection, and headache. ( 6 ) To report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Galderma Laboratories, L.P. at 1-866-735-4137, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch 6.1 Clinical Trials Experience Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice. In a controlled clinical trial, 557 subjects used METROGEL and 189 subjects used the gel vehicle once daily for up to 10 weeks. The following table summarizes selected adverse reactions that occurred at a rate of ≥1% and at a higher rate than vehicle: Table 1: Adverse Reactions That Occurred at a Rate of ≥1% and Higher Than Vehicle in Subjects Treated with METROGEL for Up to 10 Weeks Preferred Term METROGEL Vehicle (N= 557) N (%) (N= 189) N (%) Influenza 8 (1.4) 1 (0.5) Upper respiratory tract infection 14 (2.5) 4 (2.1) Urinary tract infection 6 (1.1) 1 (0.5) Headache 12 (2.2) 1 (0.5) Contact dermatitis 7 (1.3) 1 (0.5) Hypertension 6 (1.1) 1 (0.5) Table 2:Local Cutaneous Signs and Symptoms of Irritation That Were Worse Than Baseline in Subjects Treated with METROGEL for Up to 10 Weeks METROGEL Vehicle Sign/Symptom (N= 544) N (%) (N= 184) N (%) Dryness 138 (25.4) 63 (34.2) Mild 93 (17.1) 41 (22.3) Moderate 42 (7.7) 20 (10.9) Severe 3 (0.6) 2 (1.1) Scaling 134 (24.6) 60 (32.6) Mild 88 (16.2) 32 (17.4) Moderate 43 (7.9) 27 (14.7) Severe 3 (0.6) 1 (0.5) Pruritus 86 (15.8) 35 (19.0) Mild 53 (9.7) 21 (11.4) Moderate 27 (5.0) 13 (7.1) Severe 6 (1.1) 1 (0.5) Stinging/burning 56 (10.3) 28 (15.2) Mild 39 (7.2) 18 (9.8) Moderate 7 (1.3) 9 (4.9) Severe 10 (1.8) 1 (0.5) The following additional adverse reactions have been reported with the topical use of metronidazole: transient redness, metallic taste, tingling or numbness of extremities, and nausea. 6.2 Post Marketing Experience The following adverse reaction has been identified during post-approval use of topical metronidazole. Because this reaction is reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to reliably estimate the frequency or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure. Nervous System Disorders: Peripheral neuropathy Ophthalmic Adverse Reactions: Tearing of the eyes
Use in pregnancy
8.1 Pregnancy Risk Summary Available data have not established an association between metronidazole use during pregnancy and major birth defects, miscarriage or other adverse maternal or fetal outcomes. No fetotoxicity was observed after oral administration of metronidazole in pregnant rats or mice. The available data do not allow the calculation of relevant comparisons between the systemic exposures of metronidazole observed in animal studies to the systemic exposures that would be expected in humans after topical use of METROGEL. The background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population is unknown. All pregnancies have a background risk of birth defect, loss, or other adverse outcomes. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.

Label text is reproduced as-is from the FDA-approved label. We do not paraphrase, summarize, or omit. Content above is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your prescribing clinician or pharmacist before making decisions about your medication.

Conditions we've indexed resources for

Click a condition to see copay cards, grants, and PA rules specific to it. For the full list of FDA-approved indications, see Prescribing information above.

Medicare Part D coverage

How METROGEL appears across Medicare Part D plan formularies nationally. Source: CMS monthly Prescription Drug Plan file (2026-04-30).

Covered by plans

0%

2 of 5,509 plans

Most common tier

Tier 1

On 100% of covering formularies

Prior authorization required

0%

of covering formularies

TierFormularies on this tierShare
Tier 1 (preferred generic)1
100%

Step therapy: 0% of formularies

Quantity limits: 0% of formularies

Coverage breadth: 1 of 65 formularies

How to read this:plans on the same formulary share tier + PA rules. Your specific plan's copay depends on (a) the tier above, (b) your plan's cost-share for that tier, (c) whether you're in the initial coverage phase or past the 2026 $2,000 out-of-pocket cap. For your exact plan, check its Summary of Benefits or log in to your Medicare.gov account. Copay cards don't apply to Medicare (federal law).

Prior authorization & coverage

PayerPAStep therapyCopay tier

Medicare Part D

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How this page is sourced

  • Drug identity verified against openFDA NDC Directory.
  • Label text (when shown) originates from NLM DailyMed.
  • Copay and assistance URLs verified periodically; if you hit a broken link, tell us.