Metronidazole-induced Metallic Taste: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aims: This study aimed to estimate the incidence rate of metallic taste side effects in a patient who received metronidazole versus tinidazole and link it to the safety profile for metronidazole. Study Design: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Place and Duration of Study: This study where written and revised in the pharmaceutical care department at general network for healthcare providers Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. between Mar 2021 and Dec 2021. Methodology: Literature searches were conducted in the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Statistical analysis was performed using Review Manager (RevMan) Version 5.4 software. Results: Our meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials studies confirm that there is a slight increase in the rate of metallic taste adverse effects. Around one-fifth of patients who were treated with tinidazole had developed an incidence rate (5.1%) higher than the patient who treated with metronidazole. Our data shows that the incidence rate of metallic taste adverse effects in patients who received metronidazole was 15.5% (58/373) while the incidence rate in patients who received tinidazole was 20.6% (104/505). But the overall rate of metallic taste adverse effects was not statistically significantly different (RR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.45 to 2.55; P = 0.87). also, there was statistical heterogeneity in the included studies (I2 = 75%). Conclusion: In our meta-analysis, the incidence rate of metronidazole-associated metallic taste adverse effects was slightly lower than the incidence rate of tinidazole-associated metallic taste adverse effects. It is not statistically significant as the result shows but still shifting the patient to metronidazole instead of tinidazole may decrease the incidence rate of metallic taste by (5.1%) and give good coverage for the microbial than tinidazole.

Automated summary

The meta-analysis showed that the incidence rate of metallic taste adverse effects was slightly higher in patients treated with tinidazole compared to metronidazole. However, the overall difference was not statistically significant, suggesting that shifting patients to metronidazole may lead to a slight decrease in metallic taste incidence rate.