Question Internal Parasites. Metronidazole not in OZ. What to use now?

[Jeffcameron]

I went to my LFS today to pick up a medication to treat internal parasites. After doing a lot of research to work out the best treatment metronidazole kept coming up. It is readily available in the US but here in Australia you need a prescription from a doctor to get it according to the LFS owner.

The owner basically told me not to waste my money on the praziquantel meds that he stocked for internal parasites. He said he uses metronidazole but can''t sell it to me and that I just need to go to the doctor for a prescription to get some myself.

I have slight hesitation in going to the doctor because I don't feel it's what the public health system should be used for.

Anyway my question is: Is there anyone who lives in Australia who knows of a good medication for treating internal parasites that's readily available?

Thanks everyone.

 

[claudicles]

Metronidazole (flagyl) is used specifically for anaerobic bacteria and it is one of the few on the market useful for that class. I can't remember its efficacy in parasites. Scratching my head a bit. I rarely treat parasitic infections in humans. Lots of bacterial infections but not parasites. Tinidazole has a similar spectrum of action to metronidazole. Trade name Fasigyn. Pretty sure that is prescription only too. Have you checked out the worming treatments? Mebendazole is in some of those and quite possibly has efficacy.

 

[Aquarist]

Metronidazole can be purchased in the link above. I'm not certain that they ship to Australia but it wouldn't hurt to check.

Best wishes for your fish!
Ken

 

[Jeffcameron]

Metronidazole (flagyl) is used specifically for anaerobic bacteria and it is one of the few on the market useful for that class. I can't remember its efficacy in parasites. Scratching my head a bit. I rarely treat parasitic infections in humans. Lots of bacterial infections but not parasites. Tinidazole has a similar spectrum of action to metronidazole. Trade name Fasigyn. Pretty sure that is prescription only too. Have you checked out the worming treatments? Mebendazole is in some of those and quite possibly has efficacy.

I've been to 3 LFS's around me and they have very little in terms of parasite/worm treatments. I'll try another store a bit further away tmw and ask about Mebendazole. Thanks for your suggestions

Metronidazole can be purchased in the link above. I'm not certain that they ship to Australia but it wouldn't hurt to check.

Best wishes for your fish!
Ken

Thanks Ken. I put in my shipping details and it gave me an estimated cost of $69 for shipping!!! I'm not that confident that even if I did purchase Metronidazole from the US that it would get past customs.

 

[Jeffcameron]

Well I decided to go to a vet this afternoon to try my luck there. The vet a spoke to didn't feel comfortable prescribing Metronidazole as he was not a fish specialist. He then gave me details of a collegue at another clinic who could help but when I rang I discovered he wasn't in untill Thurs.

There must be someone living in oz who's used medications to treat internal parasites. I feel time is against me as my GT just won't eat anything, I have Garlic Guard arriving tmw hopefully so I can try and entice him to eat something before I find a suitable treatment for his internal parasite.

Oh and Claudicles...Mebendazole is apparently prescription only too.

Has anyone used Praziquantel to treat internal parasites because I could get that in tablet form but heard it's no good?

 

[claudicles]

Sorry Jeff. I didn't realise mebendazole was listed as S4. Praziquantel is too according to the MIMS I have at hime. I have a more current one at work but I am pretty sure the schedule won't have changed for a drug that has been on the market for so long. Surely if you go to a fish specialist vet they should be able to prescribe you metronidazole. I can't help you on the timing. Even if you go to your GP they may not prescribe you a drug for your pet from an ethical stand point, also with the same degree of discomfort that your non fish specialist vet did not. Thursday may be your best bet.

 

[Jeffcameron]

Thanks Claudicles. Yeah I think I'll make an appointment today for the fish vet specialist so I can get a prescription for Metronidazole as further research has lead me to believe it's the best treatment for the syptoms observed. And I don't feel comfortable going to a doctor for a prescription because I feel it's abusing the public Health system. Thanks again for your reply.

 

[ryanr]

If you can find someone that sells Sera medicaitons, they have a range that might be of assitance to you:
http://www.sera.de/index.php?id=344&L=1

You could also try this online shop (Aussie based) to see if they have something to suit

 

[Jeffcameron]

If you can find someone that sells Sera medicaitons, they have a range that might be of assitance to you:
http://www.sera.de/index.php?id=344&L=1

You could also try this online shop (Aussie based) to see if they have something to suit

Thanks Ryan. Sera med Professional Flagellol looks like it would do the trick but I can't find that anywhere in Australia either. The other site only had the standard parasite tablets containing Praziquantel.

I've booked an appointment with a fish vet for thurs afternoon so that better fix the problem because I'm sure it won't be cheap!!!

 

[claudicles]

Keep us posted.

 

[Jeffcameron]

Well I went to the specialist fish vet this afternoon and ran through the problem with him. I went in armed with video footage, water and stool samples.

He agreed 100% with the treatment of using Metronidazole for my particular case. He also agreed that Praziquantel would likely be ineffective against internal parasites in the intestinal tract.

The cause is apparently set on by stress. Apparently the particular organism that is causing the problem can live dormant in fish but cause problems if undue stress arrises. I would say the stress of being moved about so much after 2 years of being in the one place triggered the problem in my fish. It is also apparently not contagious so that's a relief.

Well treatment is to crush up and dissolve 6 tablets of Metronidazole 400mg in warm water and add to tank with filters off. Filters can be turned back on when the mixture has had time to dissolve through the tank. This needs to be repeated every day for a week whilst doing a 15% water change every second day during that period.

Fingers crossed this does the trick!

 

[Aquarist]

Hello Jeff,

I'm glad that you got the medication you were looking for! Best wishes!

KEn

 

[ryanr]

Good one Jeff!
Let us know how you go.

 

[Jeffcameron]

Ok for everyone who has been following this I've finally had some success!

The initial Metronidazole treatment seemed to help a little bit as my GT began eating little bits of blood worm after about the 5th day of treatment. He never really got his appetite back though and still had stringy poo sometimes. I gave it a few weeks but no improvement so I contacted a friend who was able to get her sister (a doctor) to prescribe me some more Metronidazole. My LFS owner told me to try a longer treatment period and do less frequent water changes so I gave it a go. I treated the tank for 10 days using six 400mg Metronidazole tablets daily. On about the 9th day out of nowhere my GT had his appetite back and personality back!!!

He is now eating anything and everything and his colour is looking much better. Well this was certainly not a cheap nor easy venture but I am so glad my GT has fully recovered

 

[Lucy]

That sounds great! I'm glad things have turned around for you.

 

[claudicles]

Great to hear. Wow, fancy having to give double the human dose to treat a small fish! Yep, I know, you have to dose one tank size, not fish size but still I hadn't considered that.