Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline and Bad Taste: What Users Say

• Nik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 21, 2014

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "UPDATE: The Pylera worked! The bacteria have been eradicated! I completed my 10-day treatment on April 7, 2014. The only side effect was some mild nausea (I just ate a little more) and a bad taste in my mouth (lots of sugar-free gum). I am waiting 30 days to test to see if the bug is gone. I will come back on here with the results of the endoscopy."

• Cal...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2019

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on day 7 of this Pylera pill. I really hope it works because I don’t think I can do it again. The headaches, the nausea, the weird taste started after day 4. It’s hard to find things to eat, so if anyone has ideas, please share. Full meals are helpful and lots of water. Fresh fruits, no dairy. It’s very draining, so lots of rest is needed. Glad I found this site. Stay strong."

• Its...
• September 19, 2019

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I've been taking Pylera for 6 days. It's the worst experience I've had with taking this medication. I have all the side effect symptoms. Nausea and the bitter taste are the worst ones. I can't hardly eat, and I've thought about just giving up. This is supposed to be a good medicine, but the side effects will have you second-guessing yourself. I don't think I could make it to day 10. Twelve pills a day are too much meds to take in for anyone. I'm praying that I could get through this. At least they should be able to prescribe you something for nausea. On top of that, I stay sleepy all the time. This med sucks!!"

• Anonymous
• April 20, 2010

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I don't really know how to rate a medicine; I just share my experience. My doctor warned me that this antibiotic is very harsh and I might feel bad during the course. However, I am taking it for 8 days, and the only side effect I encountered is a bitter taste in my mouth, but it's not a problem. I just drink a lot and chew gum when it gets really bitter. I am of a slim and petite complexion (100 lb only), so I expected to have bad side effects, but I feel quite normal. Also, I am eating well before taking medicines (more veggies), drink lots of water, take strong probiotics (50 billion), and drink organic kefir with live culture before going to bed and taking the bedtime portion of Pylera."

• GAA...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 9, 2022

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "H. pylori. (13.00) Pylera 4x3 + omeprazole 2x1 for 10 days. All doses were taken at the same time 6-7 am/12 pm/6 pm/12 am. Days 1-3 were insane. The nausea - exorcism-like!! I cut all the dairy, multivitamins, products high in calcium and iron. No alcohol. No cigarettes or vaping, which as a smoker I had no cravings at all. Pills after meals and with a little bit of food, it helped to ease the nausea slightly. Was afraid it could affect the treatment. I made sure I was not laying down for 10 mins post-pills. Currently day 9, most symptoms became better after day 5. However, then I felt very exhausted mentally and physically and nearly cried every time taking pills, even when symptoms were not as bad as at the beginning. Over the 9 days, I had many changing side effects: nausea, muscle contractions, dark stools, back and chest rash, sweating, lightheadedness, fever, loss of appetite, sadness, sensitivity to noises and light, fatigue, sour taste, and bloating that never went away :/"

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2019

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I was terrified to take this medication after reading about other users' experience. I did experience some of the common side effects, such as headache, fatigue (especially on day 8), some diarrhea, a bitter taste in my mouth, etc., but it was not as bad as described by others. It is critical to eat a full meal prior to taking it and a good snack at bedtime (one time I took it on an empty stomach at night and had bad diarrhea the next morning). Directions call for taking it with 8 oz of water, but I drank more. Having large scheduled meals and drinking a lot of water was challenging, but it seems to help with side effects. Staying away from dairy, red meat, and spicy foods was difficult. My doctor recommended taking probiotic Align for 1 month after finishing the course to restore good bacteria."

• Tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2018

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm just finishing my 10-day protocol, and I am hoping that I never, ever have to take this poison again. Yes... I felt like I was being poisoned with some toxic combo pill pack. It was horrible. I just knew the 'ends justified the means,' so I pushed through. The side effects I experienced were extreme fatigue, headaches/migraines, dark stools, phlegm, blurry vision, body aches, heart palpitations with cough (which I had to go to the ER for because I almost passed out), neck pain, weird taste in mouth, loss of appetite, nausea, and stomach cramping. It's a good thing I don't work, or else I probably would've been fired. I was literally in bed almost the entire time. So, no... uh-uh... not taking this stuff again."

• Pyl...
• September 9, 2017

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm only on day 2, and I had to call out of work because I've felt nauseous all day. Yesterday I was nauseous, but today is 10x worse. I have chills, loose stools, woke up with a weird taste in my mouth last night, and I'm sick to my stomach. I've barely gotten out of bed all day, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to complete 10 days of this medication. I feel like I've been poisoned, and it's slowly killing me."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2017

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on day 5 and all I can say is I hope this Pylera helps. I've been getting a bad taste in my mouth, insomnia, which makes it so hard to function. Also headaches, stomach pain, extreme fatigue, mood swings, dark stools and urine, loss of appetite, etc. But I am hopeful that this works versus all the other antibiotics I've taken. It seems like a never-ending battle, just about a year now, and getting aggravated with this and being so limited on what to and not to eat to upset me. Hoping for the best. Good luck to all."

• Ear...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 31, 2018

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Last day on Pylera, and I am happy for this to be over. Overall, not bad at all. Diarrhea the first few days, followed by odd-smelling black bowel movements three times a day, every day. Weird taste in my mouth off and on. Today, I will say I am exhausted. I work a physically demanding job outdoors, and of course, the heat was high all week, but I was able to push through it... not bad at all, honestly."

• R3b...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2019

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I have been taking this drug for 2 days now, and the side effects I am dealing with at the moment are (dark stool, weird taste, tiredness, bad mood, and anxiety). Other than that, everything is good. I hope this medicine will be effective, my doctor prescribed it for 20 days :(."

• don...
• April 28, 2017

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Let me start by saying everybody's experiences are different, but after reading all the reviews, I seriously expected the worst. I am now on day 7, the first day was okay, 2nd day slight headaches, 3rd day when I went to bed, I had a stomach spasm. Once I went to the bathroom, I was fine. Yes, you have headaches, but I take Advil for them. Slightly constipated, and the stool is dark, urine was dark, but the worst of it all for me was the nasty taste in my mouth. No vomiting, no diarrhea, just make sure you eat with your meals and take a probiotic. I take Accuflora. I read some people say don't eat yogurt, I did, and I was just fine. 3 more days to go, let's all pray this works. Oh, and I missed just one day of work."

• mar...
• May 12, 2019

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I tried to eradicate H. pylori in 2 with different types of antibiotics, but they failed to work. I started Pylera, and I'm on day 4 and had the minimum side effects (darker stool, bad taste in mouth off and on), dry mouth, but it went away with lots of water. So far, so good. I'll wait a while to retest. I have big hopes for this drug to work and kill the bacteria. Stay positive, drink lots of water, avoid dairy, and take it regularly. I took it at 11 and 6 around the clock, 4 times daily after meals with omeprazole."

• Tuc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 19, 2017

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "This is my third time that I have had the H. pylori bacteria and my first time taking Pylera. Well, personally, it has not been a fun ride, and the side effects have not been positive for me. I've been having terrible headaches, dizziness, feeling like I'm going to vomit, and a horrible taste in my mouth even with water. The positive side is I'm not hungry like I used to, so I force myself to eat something in order to take this medication. I have already missed a day from work because I was not able to keep myself focused, and the headaches are killing me. Staying positive."

• Jro...
• August 21, 2017

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm on day 3, and so far, it hasn't been as bad for me as it has been for others. I have a bad taste in my mouth, lack of appetite, dark stools, and I'm really tired between 1-5 pm. Good luck to everyone else who's in the same boat."

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

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline 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."

• ADM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 10, 2021

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm on day 3 of treatment, I get side effects of headaches, body aches. I get very tired and sleepy after taking this medicine. I also have a weird taste in my mouth, even water tastes weird to me. I feel heavier even though I have been eating less and healthier, and I feel general inflammation in my body, especially in my legs and feet. No nausea so far, thank goodness! I hope this treatment works."

• koh...
• April 30, 2021

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline 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."

• Ras...
• January 15, 2018

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I'm currently on day 4 of a 20-day regimen. Drinking plenty of water and getting plenty of rest has helped counter the side effects of this medicine. By day 2, I was exhausted. I slept the majority of the day and night and did not understand that it was because of the medicine until I began reading reviews. Day 3, I experienced headaches throughout the day. I have also experienced extreme moodiness, dark stools, and an aftertaste in my mouth since beginning the medicine. This is my 2nd treatment, and I'm optimistic because I would not want to go through this again. I'm not sure how my next couple of weeks at work will be. I have stopped taking my multivitamins so that the antibiotic won't have any interference, so my energy levels are low."

• Fli...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2016

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "On day 5, taking amoxicillin 1000 mg 2x daily, clarithromycin 500 mg 2x daily, and omeprazole 20 mg 2x daily. Feeling a lot better already, but minor stomach pains still... don't know if from meds or pylori. I have a bitter taste in my mouth, and it's worse in the mornings. I eat small meals, mostly fruits and veggies except acidic ones. No sweets at all. Read sweets make pylori multiply. I'd say so far so good, but 9 days of treatment left. Sure hope this regimen works, 'cause 6 months that regimen didn't work, or it came back. I'm 63 years young. Good luck all :)"

• N A...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2023

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I finished this medication a week ago. My side effects during treatment included nausea and fatigue, as well as a strange taste in my mouth. Other side effects after treatment included black stool, fatigue, and brain fog. My strength is still weak, and I took days off too. Do not worry about taking this medication, side effects differ from one person to another. Make sure you drink plenty of water."

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

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Today is my 10th day of Pylera medicine. Day 1 to 3 was okay except black stool and had a little bit of stomach ache, but from day 4 until 7, I felt tiredness, nausea felt once or twice, a horrible metal taste in my mouth, occasional abdominal pain, and sometimes dizziness. Day 8 to 10 is 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 medicine, had 2 bananas daily. 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."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2025

Bismuth subcitrate potassium / metronidazole / tetracycline for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I went through a Pylera treatment back in February, after 2 courses of antibiotics failing to eradicate the bacteria. Dosage was 3 tablets 4 times a day. Very harsh. Pretty much since the beginning the side effects were really bad. Extreme nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, dark stools, dark urine, awful taste in my mouth, headaches, and extreme tiredness. I ended up taking 1 week off work. Treatment was for 10 days. After finishing it, nausea started to ease in a couple of days, as well as dark urine and stools. Unfortunately for me, the easiness didn't last long. A few weeks later, I started having these episodes with extreme fatigue, awful nausea, loss of appetite, body aches, especially lower back, weakness, weight loss, and symptoms still going on. I ended up with oral thrush as well. I have been on sick leave for 2 weeks and numerous sick days' notice in between. No matter the amount of GP and hospital appointments, exams, and tests, doctors cannot figure out what's wrong with me."

• Mik...
• January 21, 2022

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "The medicine was not what I thought it would be. It kept me feeling sick all day. My last 5 days were the worst days for me. My urine was super dark, stool was very dark, and I felt like I wanted to throw up every day. I was so glad to finish my last dose it wasn't funny. When I finished taking the medicine, I had a bad taste in my mouth, and I no longer had the taste for soda. Every soda is nasty now, so I drink water now. I want to know if the medicine worked until I do my next check-up with the doctor. Prior to taking the meds, I constantly had gas and heartburn on a regular basis. Currently, I haven't had these symptoms as of yet."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Taken for H. pylori and giardia infection, I was prescribed tetracycline 4x daily, metronidazole 3x daily, + omeprazole, a 14-day course. I'm on day 10, and it's brutal. Side effects are constant nausea, anxiety, body aches, and insomnia. The anxiety seems to be worse when I take the tetracycline, especially at night with heartburn. Have to spread the meds out a few hours apart since the tetra needs to be taken on an empty stomach. There's a constant bitter taste in my mouth, and no foods sound appetizing. Cold liquids make the bitter taste much worse, so avoid ice drinks. I've had dark foamy urine and diarrhea, but the rumbling gas and stomach pains I had before treatment are decreased. It honestly feels like you're poisoning yourself, but stick with it and read reviews to know it's not abnormal. Added a spore probiotic and a Sboullardi taken 2 hours apart from meds so yeast won't multiply from the antibiotics."