Abstract

Metronidazole is a nitroimidazole antibiotic used for anaerobic infections, protozoan infections, and Helicobacter pylori infections. It may produce rare but well known neurological adverse effects including peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, cerebellar dysfunction, and seizures. We describe three patients with metronidazole-induced reversible cerebellar dysfunctions characterized by abnormal oculomotor findings, dysmetria, and ataxia. The diagnosis of metronidazole toxicity was made clinically and supported by the brain MRI findings. The neurological signs and abnormal signal intensity on MRI resolved after discontinuation of metronidazole.

• Keywords: Metronidazole;Reversible encephalopathy;