Pylera and Metallic Taste: What Users Say

• Hea...
• September 8, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "So I am currently on Pylera for H. pylori. This is Day 8, and I can honestly say this is the worst. The first 5-6 days were fine! I was upbeat, then on day 7, I started feeling pregnant. I can smell everything, I can’t eat anything at all! I have no appetite. I throw up every morning, the nasty metal taste in my mouth, so tired, and feel like I never get any sleep. I don’t know what to do since I have to take the medication after meals, and I can’t eat, and I can’t miss a dose. I have to force myself to eat, but the nausea is horrible. I have mood swings, a fast heart rate.... BASICALLY FEEL LIKE I AM DYING SLOWLY. But I have to stick this through if I want to recover."

• Geo...
• September 11, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm back again to tell of my ordeal with Pylera antibiotic. This medication is not a joke. I had all the side effects, the most difficult is loss of appetite and metallic taste in my mouth. I didn't want to even see food or go near it. I was tired and lost weight within 3 days of taking this medication. I had to ignore every social gathering and stay home, cancel all my assignments, and lay in bed helplessly. I thought I would not survive the 10 days. I remember one night I went out in the middle of the night, frustrated and calling the emergency line the doctor gave me. They encouraged me to stay on the course until I finish my last dose yesterday. I feel sorry for everyone who has gone through this, and I wish one day we live without sickness or if there should be an easy way of healing sickness. Please be mentally and physically prepared before taking this medication. I will be doing a breath test in a couple of weeks to see if my sickness is eradicated, speaking from Germany. Thank you."

• Anonymous
• December 9, 2011

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I felt pretty bad for the first couple of days. What really helped me was eating a full meal before each dose. On the dose that you take before bed, I ate a banana, dry toast, and kefir probiotic drink. This really helped me not to feel nauseous in the morning. I also took a probiotic tablet in the morning. I drank a lot of water and chewed gum for the metallic taste. If you stick with it, the medicine will work. My doctor had me continue on the probiotics after finishing these medicines."

• Ola...
• May 28, 2013

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "It's my 10th day. The first 3 days, I had a general feeling of being ill, like all was not well, but I couldn't place my hands on the illness, but I was strong enough to work. I felt slightly lethargic and had a metallic taste in my mouth, which my pharmacist had warned me about. I didn't feel nauseous, but by the 4th day, I woke up feeling good and bursting with energy and felt like my body was asking for the next dose close to the time of taking the next dose. I ate a good meal before each dose, and it decreased any feeling of unease. My stool is black, a lot more, and is like coffee grounds. I wish my doctor had told me about taking probiotics to replace good bacteria."

• H...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 10, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm on day 9. Number one side effect for me has been the inability to focus on one thought for more than a few seconds, which has affected my work. It really is a brain fogger! On day 5, the metallic taste/sour mouth was pretty awful all day, but it abated gradually over the last few days. If I don't drink a lot of water (20 oz or more) with each dose, my urine is very dark, which is scary, but drinking more water does help. I agree with the comments that you should eat a full meal with each dose, even at bedtime. It is rough doing the schedule and getting in the food, water, and pills four times a day. On a few days, I had to set an alarm and get back up at midnight or 1 am to take the last dose. Stick with it, power through the 10 days."

• Anonymous
• October 26, 2009

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I've been taking Pylera for the last 5 days, and I'm feeling really bad. The most horrible effect is that metallic taste I have in my mouth 24 hours a day. I just can't stand it anymore, and I have 5 days of treatment remaining."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I can honestly say I was scared to start my regimen of Pylera and omeprazole since I’m very sensitive to medication. The only side effects I had were dark stool, metallic taste, and dizziness. I started out every morning taking ginger capsules for the dizziness and probiotics for my gut. I also ate before each dose of Pylera and drank plenty of water. It was a little intimidating to see the box of antibiotics before I started, but I did it!"

• Mes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 12, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Had an endoscopy a few weeks ago for the main purpose of dilating the esophagus. I received a call a week later telling me about the H. pylori, so I began the regimen 7 days ago. Today has been the worst of the 7 days, I am very dizzy and nauseous. I am never hungry, so it's been difficult to force-feed just to get the pills down. I have headaches and a metallic taste in my mouth. The two worse times are lunch and dinner. I'm only 107 lbs, so may just cut back a pill on my own, pray that helps. I have neck pain and headaches, but that could be due to a nerve block on the neck done 8 days ago. Will repost after the breathing test. I was told to stay away from Motrin, which helps with my neck pain, that's another aggravation. No bowel issues."

• Min...
• April 29, 2014

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Today is my 9th day on this medication. The first day, I had no symptoms. As the days went by, it got worse-very nauseous every day after that. I am extremely tired and have a metal taste in my mouth all day that makes me even more sick to my stomach. I recommend chewing gum. Some cramping and black stool. I hope this medicine takes care of the problem. Taking a breathing test in a month-fingers crossed."

• Bel...
• May 19, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Day 3, and these are the symptoms I've experienced: dizziness, anxiety attacks, numbness in toes and fingers, joint pain, nasal congestion, metallic taste in mouth, funny stuffed ear sensation, paresthesia all over, dark stool, low blood sugar if I don't eat every 3 hours, loss of appetite, nausea, brain fog, eye pain, blurred vision, muscle weakness, back pain, malaise, funny feeling in the pit of my stomach, gas, belching, off balance, jaw pain, speech difficulty, irritation, agitation... I am praying that these symptoms will stop today. My doctor told me to tough it out. There must be a better treatment for H. pylori."

• Jon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm on day 9, and apart from a constant metallic taste in my mouth (not so bad), then I have no other side effects. I have cut all dairy and alcohol as recommended for the ten days. If it kills the bacteria and I feel fine taking it, then I'm a happy camper!"

• CeC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 28, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Today is my last day taking 14 pills a day (WooHoo!!) and I wish I would have found this post sooner. It's calming to see I'm not alone in all of these side effects. End of Day 1-10: dark/brownish colored urine (really freaked me out!). Day 2-10: metallic taste. Day 3: slight headache. Day 4: slight headache, decreased appetite. Day 5: decreased appetite. Day 6: decreased appetite, dark stool. Day 7: fatigue, dark stool. Day 8: intense headache, fatigue, black stool. Day 9: peripheral neuropathy left leg and foot (again freaked out!), extreme fatigue, black stool. Day 10: numb toes left foot, EXTREME fatigue, black stool. Mucusy off and on throughout (running nose, phlegm, light vaginal discharge)."

• Nik...
• June 22, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am 28 and going to lap band procedure next month. I was tested positive for H. pylori, so I was prescribed Pylera and was terrified reading all the reviews. I am now on day 4, and I have to say I have none of the side effects I have read about on forums. I can say the only thing I have experienced is the metallic taste in my mouth, dry mouth, and slight acid reflux, which is tolerable. My stool is fairly normal (just a bit darker), no headaches, no nausea, etc. I still follow the nutritionist's orders, take my protein shakes in the morning with it, but have cut out my vitamins until I finish this medication. FYI: You will still pay a large amount for this med, even with insurance. I fortunately have a really good insurance holder (Oxford) and still had to come out of pocket $100 for these pills."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 16, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I was given Pylera after being diagnosed with H. Pylori. I am a very active and healthy 41-year-old male. I'm 5'7" and 150 lbs. I will tell everyone that this medicine is TOUGH! All the way around. I'm on Day 6 of a 14-day regimen. I constantly have a metallic taste in my mouth, a slight headache, and severe nausea. I started the Pylera Saturday and have thrown up most every day and sometimes multiple times a day. I tried working on the meds, but I find it VERY difficult. I've had to use vacation days while on this medicine. I just physically cannot do it with the extreme fatigue and nausea/vomiting that I'm experiencing. I also have dark stools and diarrhea at times. My urine is also dark. My doctor did call in Zofran 4 mg for nausea on Day 4. The Zofran has helped. But I will say that my girlfriend says that I'm acting more like myself despite the severe side effects. It's like I'm being poisoned, is the best way I personally can describe Pylera. Good luck to all."

• CRZ...
• September 14, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "What an experience . . . By day 3, food was beginning to taste funny, and there was a metallic taste in my mouth. By day 6, my throat hurt, my neck hurt, swallowing was uncomfortable, my urine was darkening, and stools as well. By day 8, hives started, thrush in my mouth, and I had difficulty sleeping, mostly due to the itch of hives. After a couple of days after completion, hives were gone, but I am now almost 6 weeks past my last day of medicine and still have a bit of metallic taste, some foods still do not taste 'right,' and I am experiencing diarrhea on and off. Tough, tough treatment."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I just finished 10 days. It was really hard. Tested positive for H. pylori after endoscopy, as well as gastritis. No ulcers. Pylera really wrecked my stomach. Side effects for me: metallic taste, nausea, dizziness, acid reflux, lack of appetite, excessive burping, sour stomach, gnawing gut, dark green stools. Recommend asking the doctor for anti-nausea meds, which helped a bit. Did not eat dairy, took probiotics every day. Force-feed yourself plain meals to help with meds. Also took omeprazole twice a day. Hope it gets better - so far, I feel awful!"

• Jsi...
• June 19, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Everyone's different, but for me personally, 26 years old, 160 pounds, sort of in shape. I felt permanently hungover with a metallic taste in my mouth. Lack of sleep last week really hit me. Try to stay active or entertained. Take time off work if you can. After a while, everything feels like a dream."

• Liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Today is my 10th day of Pylera medicine. Days 1 to 3 were okay except for black stool and I had a little bit of a stomach ache, but from days 4 until 7, I felt tiredness, nausea a few times, a horrible metal taste in my mouth, occasional abdominal pain, and sometimes dizziness. Days 8 to 10 were just fine except for the bad taste. Guys, if I could do it, you could do it. What I did: drank a lot of water at regular intervals, took light meals, do not, and yes, do not take sugary items (I did once, and that day the stomach ache was horrible), kept the same time for the medicine, and had 2 bananas daily. Took the medicine after the meal with omeprazole. Now I have to wait 8 weeks before the stool test, hope it’s gone. But from tomorrow, no capsules."

• mam...
• March 25, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on my 7th day at Pylera, and so far, everything is good. Yes, I feel a little bit tired, had a few headaches, especially in the mid-frontal head, and I had a metallic taste every morning; however, I've been eating better. I had some diarrhea the first days, and now my stools are better. It is annoying to take 12 pills a day and be on top of schedules. I also take probiotic yogurt, even though my gastroenterologist did not tell me about it. I hope this works."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on day 8. Finally starting to feel somewhat normal again. This medicine has made me feel horrible. The first few days, I was extremely agitated with crying bouts that are completely abnormal for me. My doctor told me that it's a side effect, but I have seen several people mention the same issue. I still have a general feeling of being anxious and feeling ill. Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and headaches have all been frequent. Stool is very black. Metallic taste and dry mouth. I can say eating well before each dose and drinking water seems to have helped. I wish my doctor had given me more information, so I was at least prepared. I won't know until 3 months if it works - for my breath test. If it works, I suppose it is worth it."

• Swa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 9, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Dear Community, Just wanted to share our experience. My wife and I both were infected with H. pylori. We decided to do the treatment together, so there was support to encourage each other. It’s a battle for 10 days, our doctor had warned us of the fact that the treatment is worse than the infection. One requires a lot of mental strength during these 10 days. So, meditation helps. Symptoms of the drug: - We both had a metallic taste in our mouths - I felt dizzy on day 2 after a 5K run. (We both stopped exercising.) - On day 6, my wife had a very bad stomach pain, and this got me worried, she was knocked out the whole day. She took 2 Buscopans to relax her stomach. - Overall tiredness for all the days. Important: Our doctor did not advise us to NOT take yogurt, and we both did, mainly due to this lapse, my wife had the stomach pain. Prep yourself 1 month before by eating clean and taking probiotics. We will test in the next 14 days. Fingers crossed. All the best!"

• koh...
• April 30, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "What helped me was to be prepared for everything that could go wrong: - I talked to my doctor to prescribe me antifungal medication - I quit eating sugar (completely) - I took strong probiotics 2 times per day (about 15 billion live cultures), at least 2 hours distance from the antibiotics. - I made myself a plan with the hours when I have to eat/take probiotics/take medication. - I planned to start on a Wednesday, so that there is only one weekend in between. You can plan to have it over 2 weekends. Side effects: - The first night was bad, I shivered and had a terrible headache. The next day I got diarrhea and some fever. Took rehydration salts and a lot of mint tea. - Next days it got better, except for the metallic, bitter taste (chewing gum helped a lot), sometimes my tongue got darker and the stool was absolutely weird. For me, it was crucial to know why I need to go through this and to look at antibiotics as allies, not enemies. If you have concerns, talk to your doctor openly."

• Nat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 24, 2025

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Today, I am starting my eighth day of treatment. I don’t know how I will get through this day and the next two. The treatment is extremely difficult; each day feels like a new challenge. On the third day, I developed severe chest pain, numbness in my hands, anxiety, insomnia, dry mouth with a metallic taste, headaches, fatigue, dark stool and urine, and overall poor well-being. I wanted to call an ambulance twice because my heart was worrying me. Now, I need to take my next morning dose of medication, but I keep postponing it. To everyone who has completed this treatment—my deepest respect. And to those going through it now, I wish you strength to endure this nightmare!"

• Had...
• April 29, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Day 7, not so bad for me, the reviews really scared me. Slight headaches, metal taste in my mouth. That's about it, hope it works. Good luck."