Medications and Drugs

1. OTC and Prescription Drug Abuse Slideshow
2. Sex-Drive Killers: Causes of Low Libido
3. Slideshow: Common Allergy Triggers

Brand Names: Pylera

Generic Name: bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pronunciation: BIZ muth sub SIT rate poe TASS ee um, MET roe NYE da zole, TET ra SYE kleen)

• What is bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?
• What are the possible side effects of bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?
• What is the most important information I should know about bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?
• What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?
• How should I take bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?
• What happens if I miss a dose (Pylera)?
• What happens if I overdose (Pylera)?
• What should I avoid while taking bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?
• What other drugs will affect bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?
• Where can I get more information?

What is bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?

Bismuth subcitrate potassium is a mineral.

Metronidazole and tetracycline are antibiotics that fight bacteria in the body.

The combination of bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline is used to treat stomach ulcer with H pylori infection. This medication is usually used together with omeprazole (Prilosec).

This medication may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What are the possible side effects of bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?

Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

• diarrhea that is watery or bloody;
• seizures (convulsions);
• numbness, burning, pain, or tingly feeling in your hands or feet;
• burning or irritation in your throat, chest, or upper stomach;
• fever, chills, body aches, flu symptoms;
• easy bruising or bleeding, unusual weakness; or
• nausea, stomach pain, loss of appetite, itching, dark urine, clay-colored stools, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

Less serious side effects may include:

• stomach pain;
• nausea, upset stomach;
• headache;
• dizziness;
• white patches or sores inside your mouth or on your lips;
• metallic taste in your mouth; or
• vaginal itching or discharge.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is the most important information I should know about bismuth subcitrate potassium, metronidazole, and tetracycline (Pylera)?

Tetracycline passes into breast milk and may affect bone and tooth development in a nursing baby. Do not take this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medication and for at least 1 day after you stop taking it. You may have unpleasant side effects such as fast heartbeats, warmth or redness under your skin, tingly feeling, nausea, and vomiting.

Check the labels of any medicines or food products you use to make sure they do not contain alcohol.

Avoid taking this medication with milk or other dairy products. Also avoid taking iron supplements, multivitamins, calcium supplements, or antacids. These products can make it harder for your body to absorb tetracycline.

Antibiotic medicines can cause diarrhea, which may be a sign of a new infection. If you have diarrhea that is watery or has blood in it, call your doctor. Do not use any medicine to stop the diarrhea unless your doctor has told you to.

Need help identifying pills and medications?
Use the pill finder tool on RxList.