Secnidazole
Secnidazole is an antimicrobial used to treat bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis in patients 12 years and older.
🧬 Where this information comes from Click to expand
The clinical label records used on this page are FDA-filed Structured Product Labeling (SPL) retrieved through openFDA. We identified 1 clinical label set within the page’s selected clinical scope after exact ingredient or ingredient-combination matching and applicable route/form matching. Forms, routes, brands, labelers, strengths, and NDC product-record counts are built separately from matching FDA National Drug Code Directory records. The linked DailyMed document is a representative official source for verification, not the page’s only clinical source. View the linked label on DailyMed →
Secnidazole (Solosec) treats bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis by disrupting the DNA of the bacteria and parasites behind them so they cannot grow or survive; on the U.S. market since about 2010, it is usually an alternative to metronidazole, chosen because one packet replaces days of doses. Most people handle it well, with nausea, headache or an odd taste in the mouth being the usual complaints. The thing to watch for is a vaginal yeast infection afterward, with itching or irritation, which is common and treatable, so let your prescriber know if it starts. Skip alcohol during treatment and for at least 2 days after.
Clinical pearls
- Sprinkle the whole packet onto applesauce, yogurt or pudding and eat it within 30 minutes; never dissolve it in liquid.
- For trichomoniasis, sexual partners need treatment at the same time, or the infection can come right back.
- Pause breastfeeding for 96 hours after the dose; pumping and discarding milk during that window keeps your supply going.
- The alcohol rule covers products with ethanol or propylene glycol too, so check labels on liquid medicines and mouthwash.
Patient information guide A plain-language walkthrough of Secnidazole, written from its FDA label.
What Secnidazole is used for
▾
Secnidazole is an antimicrobial used to treat specific infections. Solosec (the oral powder form) is FDA-approved for the following:
- Bacterial vaginosis — Solosec oral powder is approved for female patients aged 12 and older
- Trichomoniasis — Solosec oral powder is approved for patients aged 12 and older; because this is a sexually transmitted infection, sexual partners must be treated simultaneously
How Secnidazole works
▾
Secnidazole is a nitroimidazole antimicrobial. Drugs in this class work by entering bacterial and parasitic cells and interfering with their DNA, which prevents the organisms from replicating and ultimately kills them. This targeted action makes secnidazole effective against the specific bacteria involved in bacterial vaginosis and the parasite Trichomonas vaginalis that causes trichomoniasis.
Like all antimicrobials, secnidazole should only be used for infections that are proven or strongly suspected to be caused by susceptible organisms — this helps slow the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
Secnidazole dosage
▾
Solosec is given as a single oral dose — one packet of granules taken one time only. It can be taken with or without food, at any time of day.
- Sprinkle the full packet onto applesauce, yogurt, or pudding and eat all of it within 30 minutes
- Do not chew or crunch the granules; swallow the mixture gently
- Do not dissolve the granules in any liquid
- For trichomoniasis, sexual partners take the same dose at the same time
Because this is a single-dose treatment, there is no missed-dose concern — but follow all instructions from your prescriber and the label.
Dosing details from the FDA-approved label
From the Secnidazole prescribing information (“Dosage and Administration”). Doses are set by your prescriber for your product, condition, kidney function and age — never change a dose on your own.
- Bacterial Vaginosis (female patients 12 years of age and older)
- A single 2-gram packet of granules taken once orally, without regard to the timing of meals
- Sprinkle entire contents of packet onto applesauce, yogurt or pudding and consume all of the mixture within 30 minutes without chewing or crunching the granules; a glass of water may be taken afterward; not intended to be dissolved in any liquid
- Trichomoniasis (patients 12 years of age and older)
- A single 2-gram packet of granules taken once orally, without regard to the timing of meals
- Treat sexual partners with the same dose and at the same time; sprinkle on applesauce, yogurt or pudding and consume within 30 minutes
Read the label’s full dosing text
2 DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION Bacterial Vaginosis (female patients 12 years of age and older): Administer a single 2-gram packet of granules once orally, without regard to the timing of meals. ( 2.1 ) Trichomoniasis (patients 12 years of age and older): Administer a single 2-gram packet of granules once orally, without regard to the timing of meals. Treat sexual partners with the same dose and at the same time. ( 2.2 ) Sprinkle entire contents of packet onto applesauce, yogurt or pudding and consume all of the mixture within 30 minutes without chewing or crunching the granules. A glass of water may be taken after the administration of SOLOSEC to aid in swallowing. ( 2.3 ) SOLOSEC is not intended to be dissolved in any liquid. ( 2.3 ) 2.1 Recommended Dosage for Bacterial Vaginosis The recommended dosage of SOLOSEC for the treatment of bacterial vaginosis in female patients 12 years of age and older is a single 2-gram packet of granules taken once orally, without regard to the timing of meals [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . 2.2 Recommended Dosage for Trichomoniasis The recommended dosage of SOLOSEC for the treatment of trichomoniasis in patients 12 years of age and older is a single 2-gram packet of granules taken once orally, without regard to the timing of meals [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . Since trichomoniasis is a sexually transmitted disease, treat sexual partners with the same dose and at the same time [see Indications and Usage (1.2) ] . 2.3 Instructions for the Preparation and Administration of SOLOSEC Open the SOLOSEC packet by folding over the corner (marked by an arrow) and tearing across the top. Sprinkle the entire contents of the SOLOSEC packet onto applesauce, yogurt or pudding [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . The granules will not dissolve. Consume all of the mixture within 30 minutes without chewing or crunching the granules. A glass of water may be taken after the administration of SOLOSEC to aid in swallowing. The granules are not intended to be dissolved in any liquid. Avoid consumption of alcoholic beverages and preparations containing ethanol or propylene glycol during treatment with SOLOSEC and for at least 2 days after completing therapy [see Adverse Reactions (6.2) , Drug Interactions (7.2) , and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ].
Read the full Dosage and Administration section on DailyMed →
Secnidazole side effects
▾
Most people tolerate Solosec well. The most commonly reported side effects include:
Common side effects
- Vulvovaginal candidiasis (a vaginal yeast infection)
- Nausea
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Vulvovaginal itching (pruritus)
- Vomiting
- Dysgeusia (altered taste)
- Vaginal yeast infection (vulvovaginal candidiasis) — the most common, affecting about 1 in 10 women treated for bacterial vaginosis
When to get medical help
- Signs of a yeast infection that won't go away or gets worse — you may need antifungal treatment
- Signs of a serious allergic reaction: rash, swelling, difficulty breathing — seek emergency care
- If you have Cockayne syndrome, do not take this medication — contact your doctor immediately if you've been prescribed it
Contact your doctor if you develop signs of a vaginal yeast infection — unusual discharge, itching, or irritation — as you may need antifungal treatment. Seek emergency care for any signs of a serious allergic reaction, such as rash, swelling, or trouble breathing.
Secnidazole warnings and precautions
▾
- Vaginal yeast infections: Solosec can disrupt vaginal flora and trigger a yeast infection. Watch for new itching, discharge, or irritation and call your doctor if symptoms appear.
- Cockayne syndrome: Solosec is contraindicated (must not be used) in patients with Cockayne syndrome. A related drug, metronidazole, has caused severe, sometimes fatal liver failure in these patients very rapidly after starting treatment.
- Possible long-term cancer risk: Related drugs caused tumors in animals with long-term use. A single dose of Solosec is unlikely to carry the same risk, but repeated use should be avoided.
- Antibiotic resistance: Using Solosec when it isn't needed contributes to drug-resistant infections. Use only when prescribed for a confirmed or suspected infection.
Secnidazole interactions
▾
Secnidazole has a small number of important interactions to know about:
- Alcohol (including ethanol or propylene glycol in products): Do not drink alcohol or use products containing ethanol or propylene glycol during treatment or for at least 2 days after. Combining them can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, and headache.
- Combination oral contraceptives (e.g., ethinyl estradiol plus norethindrone): No meaningful interaction — Solosec can be taken at the same time as these contraceptives without concern.
Interactions listed in the FDA-approved label
From the Secnidazole prescribing information (“Drug Interactions”): what the manufacturer studied or reported to the FDA.
- Oral contraceptives (ethinyl estradiol plus norethindrone): There was no clinically significant drug interaction between secnidazole and the combination oral contraceptive, ethinyl estradiol plus norethindrone. SOLOSEC can be co-administered with combination oral contraceptives.
- Alcohol (alcoholic beverages and preparations containing ethanol or propylene glycol): Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, and headache have been reported when SOLOSEC was taken concomitantly with alcohol. Avoid during SOLOSEC therapy and for 2 days after treatment is stopped.
Read the label’s full interactions text
7 DRUG INTERACTIONS 7.1 Oral Contraceptives There was no clinically significant drug interaction between secnidazole and the combination oral contraceptive, ethinyl estradiol plus norethindrone [see Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] . SOLOSEC can be co-administered with combination oral contraceptives (e.g., ethinyl estradiol plus norethindrone). 7.2 Alcohol Alcoholic beverages and preparations containing ethanol or propylene glycol should be avoided during SOLOSEC therapy and for 2 days after treatment is stopped. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, dizziness, and headache have been reported when SOLOSEC was taken concomitantly with alcohol [see Dosage and Administration (2.3) , Adverse Reactions (6.2) and Clinical Pharmacology (12.3) ] .
Not a complete list. The label covers the interactions the manufacturer studied or reported, and our own interaction database does not cover every medicine either. Bring your full medication list, including vitamins and herbal products, to your pharmacist.
Before taking Secnidazole
▾
- Tell your prescriber if you are allergic to secnidazole, metronidazole, tinidazole, or any other nitroimidazole drug
- Do not take Solosec if you have Cockayne syndrome — there is a risk of serious, potentially fatal liver damage based on experience with a related drug
- Let your doctor know if you are pregnant — human safety data are limited
- Do not breastfeed during treatment or for 96 hours (4 days) after your dose; you may pump and discard milk during this period and use stored milk or formula instead
- Solosec is approved for patients aged 12 and older; safety and effectiveness in children under 12 have not been established
- Older adults (65+) were not well represented in clinical trials; discuss any concerns with your prescriber
What Secnidazole does in the body
▾
The precise relationship between secnidazole blood levels and its clinical effect is not fully characterized. Studies have shown that secnidazole does not cause a clinically meaningful change in the heart's electrical activity (QTc interval) at the recommended dose or even at three times that dose, so it is not considered a significant heart rhythm risk at standard use.
How your body processes Secnidazole
▾
After a single oral dose of Solosec granules mixed with applesauce, secnidazole is absorbed and reaches peak blood levels in about 4 hours. Blood levels gradually decline over the next several days. Food — whether a high-fat meal or the type of soft food used to take the granules (applesauce, pudding, or yogurt) — does not meaningfully change how much of the drug is absorbed. The drug distributes widely through the body with relatively low binding to blood proteins.
How to store Secnidazole
▾
Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F); excursions permitted to 15°C to 30°C (59°F to 86°F) .
Written from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
Supplements & herbs that interact with Secnidazole
46 supplements and herbal products have documented interactions with Secnidazole in the licensed clinical database we use. Most are manageable — but your pharmacist should know about everything you take, including vitamins and herbals.
- Major · 1
- Moderate · 35
- Minor · 10
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — see our data sources & update cadence. Not medical advice: an interaction being documented does not mean it will happen to you; do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Nutrient depletion considerations
Secnidazole has been associated with lower levels of 7 nutrients in the clinical literature. This does not mean a deficiency will occur — it means these may be worth discussing with your pharmacist or healthcare provider, especially with long-term use.
- Higher significance · 6
- Moderate · 1
Educational information from a licensed clinical database (Natural Medicines) — not medical advice. Do not start or stop medications or supplements without professional guidance.
Secnidazole: pharmacist answers to common questions
Quick, plain-English answers to the questions patients ask most about Secnidazole — the kind of thing our pharmacy team would talk through with you at the counter.
How do I actually take this medication? It looks different from a regular pill.
▾
Do I really only take it once? That seems too simple.
▾
I've heard you shouldn't drink alcohol with antibiotics. Does that apply here?
▾
What side effects should I watch out for?
▾
Can I breastfeed while taking this?
▾
Does this medication affect my birth control pills?
▾
Is Secnidazole available over the counter?
▾
When was Secnidazole first available?
▾
Answers drafted from the FDA-approved label with AI and reviewed by our pharmacy team. How we use AI →
More about Secnidazole on HelloPharmacist
Secnidazole forms and strengths (how it comes)
Secnidazole is available in 1 form. Different forms and brands can have different approved uses, doses, schedules, and directions. Follow the instructions for your exact product, and do not switch forms without guidance from your prescriber or pharmacist.
Need a version that does not list lactose, a gluten source, a dye or gelatin? Inactive ingredients differ by manufacturer: see Secnidazole inactive ingredients by manufacturer.
Oral powder
How this form is used
- Solosec is used to treat bacterial vaginosis in female patients 12 years and older
- Solosec is used to treat trichomoniasis in patients 12 years and older
- Solosec is given as a single dose for both conditions
- Solosec: Open the packet by folding and tearing across the top, then sprinkle the entire contents onto applesauce, yogurt, or pudding
- Solosec: Eat all of the mixture within 30 minutes — do not chew or crunch the granules
- Solosec: Do not dissolve the granules in any liquid; a glass of water may be taken after to help swallowing
- Solosec: Avoid alcohol and products containing ethanol or propylene glycol during treatment and for at least 2 days after
Secnidazole on the U.S. market: products, makers and brands
How Secnidazole appears in the FDA’s National Drug Code Directory — including its dosage forms, strengths, brand names, manufacturers, and FDA-listed product records. These are directory records, not sales or prescription volume.
1 company lists 1 Secnidazole product record with the FDA, mostly as oral powder; the earliest marketing or approval year on record is 2010. Brand names on the directory include Solosec; the rest are generics.
Also listed with the FDA, not a patient dose form: Powder (7) — bulk drug substance sold to compounders/manufacturers and multi-item kits. These aren’t counted in the dose-form total above.
How widely Secnidazole is used (Medicaid data)
A general measure of how commonly Secnidazole is prescribed, based on Medicaid — one of the largest public drug programs. The figure below is prescriptions filled in Q2–Q4 2025, summed across every form and brand of the drug.
Think of this as a proxy for how widely Secnidazole is used, drawn from freely available public data. Medicaid is just one program — these numbers don’t include Medicare, other government coverage, or commercial and cash-pay prescriptions, so real-world use is higher than what’s shown here.
How commonly is Secnidazole prescribed? Of the 1,601 medications we measure, Secnidazole ranks #1,393 by Medicaid prescriptions — more than 13% of them.
Utilization by Secnidazole product
Pick a product to see its own Medicaid numbers. Each chip is one clinical product — a specific strength & dosage form as defined by RxNorm — with brand-name and generic versions combined.
secnidazole 2000 MG Oral Granules
Summed across the 1 of 2 listed NDC products with Medicaid activity — every brand and generic of this exact strength & form. RxNorm 1946692
Shares are of the Medicaid prescriptions shown here. Product grouping follows RxNorm (the National Library of Medicine’s drug terminology), so “one product” means one strength & dosage form regardless of manufacturer. Dollar figures are gross Medicaid reimbursement before mandatory rebates — rebates (often large, especially for brand-name drugs) are confidential, so actual net cost to Medicaid is lower than shown.
Source: Medicaid State Drug Utilization Data (CMS), aggregated by generic ingredient — summed across every NDC (all brands, strengths, salt forms and dosage forms) of Secnidazole, and across all states and both fee-for-service and managed-care claims. A general popularity signal; it excludes Medicare, commercial insurance and cash prescriptions, so it is not total U.S. use. Based on the 1 of 2 listed Secnidazole NDCs with Medicaid activity.
Compare Secnidazole products
A representative set of FDA-listed product records for Secnidazole — across manufacturers, strengths, and dosage forms, grouped by form with each product’s manufacturer and how the FDA approved it. The same medicine may be made and packaged by different companies, so a single drug can have many directory entries. (It’s also why a refill can look different — a new shape, color, or box — even though it contains the same medication.)
| Strength | Route | Manufacturer / Labeler | Category ⓘ | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 💊Oral powder | ||||
| 2 g/4.8 g | Oral | Evofem Inc. | NDA | View NDC → |
Showing 1 of 1 products — FDA National Drug Code Directory. See every product, package size and price: browse all 1 Secnidazole NDCs →
Secnidazole side effects reported to the FDA (FAERS)
After a medicine reaches the market, patients, doctors and drugmakers can send the FDA reports of problems they think may be linked to it. Here’s what’s been reported for Secnidazole — a signal of what to watch for, not proof the drug caused it.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). These are voluntary reports — they don’t prove the drug caused the effect, and counts reflect how often something was reported, not how often it actually happens. Reports also often name the very problem the medicine is taken for — a common reason to file one is that the drug didn’t help — so for a pain reliever you may see “pain” high on the list; that points to why the report was filed, not to the drug causing the symptom. This counts every report that lists Secnidazole in any role, so the total runs higher than the FDA’s official dashboard, which counts only cases where the drug is the suspect. For the authoritative figures, see the FDA FAERS Public Dashboard. Always talk to your pharmacist or doctor.
Secnidazole FDA approval history
How Secnidazole went from FDA review to the pharmacy shelf — the key milestones in its regulatory journey.
Source: Drugs@FDA.
Secnidazole recall history
A recall is when a specific batch of a medicine is pulled from the market — usually a manufacturing issue, not a problem with the drug itself. Class I is most serious, Class III least.
The FDA’s enforcement reports list no Secnidazole recalls since July 2021.
✅No Secnidazole recalls on record since July 2021Source: FDA enforcement (recall) reports, via openFDA; our copy was last updated Sep 24, 2026.
RxNorm Concept Web — From Ingredient to Every Form and Strength
This page starts with one ingredient concept (IN). The branches below show its dose-form concepts (SCDF), then the available clinical drug and strength concepts (SCD). Combination products remain separate concepts with their own pages.
RxCUI 36314 1 dose form · 1 strength
-
Dose form (SCDF) Oral Granules RxCUI 1946691In current FDA listingsClinical drug / strength (SCD) 2000 MGRxCUI 1946692
Look up RxCUI 36314 in the RxCUI Atlas →
RxNorm is the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s normalized drug vocabulary. Its concept hierarchy can include forms that are not currently marketed; the status on each branch compares that concept with current FDA listings. RxCUIs identify vocabulary concepts, not individual packages or manufacturers.
Secnidazole supply and shortage status
Whether Secnidazole is in short supply in the U.S. right now, plus any shortage history the FDA has on record. A shortage usually reflects a manufacturing or demand issue — not a safety problem with the drug.
Source: openFDA, from the FDA Drug Shortages database.
💵 What Secnidazole costs pharmacies (NADAC benchmark)
The national average invoice price pharmacies pay for the drug itself, from CMS's NADAC survey (data as of Sep 30, 2026). This is a supply-cost benchmark — not a retail price and not what you'd pay at the counter.
| Form | Strength | Pharmacy acquisition benchmark | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Granule · Oral | 2 g/4.8 g | $281.96 each | NDC details & price history |
Source: CMS National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC), a survey of retail pharmacy invoice prices. Benchmarks shown are the range across package sizes of a representative product for each form and strength — other manufacturers' products may differ.
Secnidazole brand names
Secnidazole is sold under one brand name in the FDA directory — Solosec. A brand and its generic contain the same active ingredient; the brand name belongs to one company's product.
Who makes Secnidazole: manufacturers and labelers
One company lists Secnidazole products with the FDA. By number of product records, the largest are Evofem Inc.. Labelers include manufacturers and repackagers; the product in your bottle depends on which one your pharmacy stocks.
Secnidazole drug class (RxNorm)
Secnidazole belongs to the Nitroimidazole Antimicrobial class.
Classified by RxNorm RxClass — the U.S. National Library of Medicine's standardized drug-classification service (Established Pharmacologic Class from the FDA, the ATC drug family from the WHO, and mechanism of action). Reference only, not medical advice.
Sources for this Secnidazole page
Core label, product, RxNorm, safety, and utilization data on this page come from the sources identified below. AI-written, editorial, and licensed sections are labeled separately.
How this page is built
HelloPharmacist combines public FDA and NLM records and does not author the underlying clinical facts. The plain-language sections are written with AI from the FDA-approved label text and reviewed by our pharmacy team before publication. Evofem Inc. is the representative DailyMed label linked for verification and dates. This is general education, not medical advice: always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about your own medicines. How we build and review drug pages →