Pylera and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2014

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I completed the 10 days of Pylera on September 18. The first few days were not too bad, though like others think, the sheer number of pills each day is inconvenient and overwhelming---especially when you take other meds as well. On or about the 4th day, things changed. I was able to go to work, but the last 6 days were really hard: explosive diarrhea, headaches, bloat, gas, extreme fatigue, irritability, inexplicable crying bouts, and loss of appetite. I felt a bit better the first few days after the medication was finished, but now one week later, I am still experiencing the side effects! I feel worse than when I started the meds. When does it stop? Please share experiences."

• Abd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2024

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I started taking Pylera for my H. pylori infection, and it’s been a tough experience. As someone with IBS and a sensitive vagus nerve, I was extra sensitive to the side effects. In the beginning, I felt extreme anxiety, fatigue, and strong stomach pain. The dizziness and constant worry were overwhelming at times, especially with university commitments. I'd get panic attacks and wouldn't know how to react. On the 5th day, I noticed improvements. The stomach pain and anxiety became less frequent, though I still experience occasional discomfort. I’ve managed the symptoms by staying hydrated, eating soothing foods like oats and ginger tea, and following a dosing schedule. Despite the overwhelming number of doses, I’m pushing through and nearing the end of my treatment. Pylera is powerful, but it’s definitely intense, especially for those with sensitive stomachs or anxiety issues. Be prepared for the journey. I hope it was worth it."

• hyv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Just gotta say to everyone that we all have different experiences and reactions to medicine, the side effects people talk about shouldn’t scare. I followed through with the antibiotic + omeprazole, 12 a day/2 a day each, making sure to stay hydrated and eat very well before each dose, added natural remedies and probiotics onto the mix as well to surround the bacteria like they do in battle. I went through little to no side effects, the only ones I had were dark stools because the bismuth is strong and makes your stool either dark green or absolute black, a bit of cramps here and there on the first days, and that’s totally normal, minimal cramps mean the antibiotic is doing its job. Tons of water kept the nausea away, double the suggested amount. Fatigue wasn’t so prominent, I only felt very sleepy towards the end of the day. Now I don’t have as much gas, no more diarrhea, I feel refreshed and good."

• Mr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Today is my 10th and final day of taking Pylera (thank goodness). It is very powerful stuff and starts killing bacteria immediately! Unfortunately, the good ones too. The first 3 days or so, I had a lot of diarrhea, dizziness, numbness in my extremities, fatigue, and NO appetite. I was only able to eat fruit smoothies, dairy-free yogurt, and broth soups. As a result, I lost almost 15 lb of weight, and not the good kind. I had to call out of work due to my symptoms and lack of energy. Just be cautious if you take this antibiotic and get lots of rest."

• Ang...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 4, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I just finished my 10-day course of Pylera, and I can't believe I got through it. My side effects were bad nausea, even with food, black stools, dark urine, extreme fatigue, headache, feverish feeling, and it seems like every bit of phlegm in my body is coming out one way or another. My nose runs like a sieve, and also phlegm is running down my throat constantly. Just awesome. I feel like I've been ingesting poison and calling it medicine. I'm hoping this takes care of the infection because I've been profoundly ill for over a year, not realizing what was making me so sick until my EGD uncovered Helicobacter. The only thing I can advise is to be kind to yourself, don't expect too much of yourself, try to not work if possible."

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

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

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

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."

• Anonymous
• June 11, 2017

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."

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2014

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I've been off of Pylera for 5 days, and just now feeling a little better. The worst has been diarrhea/loose stool for 14 days. Tested negative for C-Diff, thank God. The nausea and fatigue were also just as bad. I went on probiotics 2x daily and a yogurt a day right after treatment. I still have strong urges to use the bathroom as soon as I get up, but things appear to be slowing down. I am on 3 different ointments due to fissure/hemorrhoid, and still feeling fatigued. Worst treatment I have ever experienced, but had little choice after Prepak failure. I give it a '1' only in terms of side effects. If my UBT comes back negative at the end of the month, I give it a '10.' My suffering was then worth it."

• 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."

• 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)."

• 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)."

• pho...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2018

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I must be one of the lucky ones. I had few side effects. Loose black stool and slight dizziness, a little disoriented and a bit fatigued - trouble focusing. I followed the advice here: kept my stomach full, avoided calcium two hours before and two after (so there is a short window a couple of times a day that got named 'puddin' time'). Overall, I am healthy for my 67 years, so maybe that helps. I just finished over the weekend, so I can't comment on its effectiveness."

• 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."

• Kin...
• April 9, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I feel like I have been poisoned. Even though people react differently to every medication, I'm sure this one beats all bad side effects by a long way. After having H. pylori, I began with Pylera treatment for 10 days... couldn't get through it for more than 7 days as my health started taking a heavy toll. Headaches, mood swings, bloating, painful constipation, extreme fatigue, chills, and then I stopped when I had a hives allergic attack, which obliged me to stop working. I'm an otherwise healthy 32-year-old who has had her life turned upside down by Pylera. After stopping treatment, I noticed I had developed an oral thrush due to antibiotics killing my intestinal flora and was sick in bed. Be warned as to the bad side effects and look for natural remedies!"

• Bev...
• October 30, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I was diagnosed with H. pylori approx 6 years ago, and it took care of it. It recently came back. It made me very sick, my stomach was in pain day and night. Doc prescribed Pylera again. The first 3 days were hard. Dizzy, stomach pain, anxiety, can't think clearly, extreme fatigue. I took probiotics and always have, I learned this years ago with stomach problems. I am now on day 6, things are getting better and better. Stay strong, this is a nasty bacteria. I will let you know the end result after day 10. I'm not going to lie, it has been hard, might want to consider taking a couple of days off or start on a weekend."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 18, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I’m so happy I read these other reviews. My only side effect is fatigue, I mean exhausted. Plus, all these pills, 12 a day. I'll just be happy when this cycle ends. My GI put me on Linzess at the same time as this, and I’m still constipated. I swear I need a stick of dynamite. I’ve been drinking my Miralax every other day. Stools do come out hard and dark. I haven't had any issue other than the fatigue. I’m hoping I get rid of the H. pylori because it caused serious anemia for me. Found mine through an endoscope. Fingers crossed."

• Nev...
• May 31, 2015

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Never take this drug. There are other alternatives. I am on my 6th day, and I have numbness in my hands, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, extreme fatigue, and now I am breaking out in acne all over my body. Talk to your Dr about other alternatives. This is horrible beyond explanation."

• Arr...
• December 26, 2017

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I was expecting the worst when I read the reviews here. I even threw away my original prescription due to the reviews here. But symptoms (fatigue for the last 4-5 years, lack of appetite, and occasional nausea) were getting too severe to ignore, so I had to bite the bullet and just go for it. As it turns out, this experience wasn’t nearly as bad as the reviews here. On a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest level of discomfort, I’d give this drug a 4. I had some diarrhea, weakness, and moments of nausea. But I never came close to throwing up. I’m not going to say it was easy, but it wasn’t all that bad either. It wasn't anything remotely close to the nightmare scenarios I saw written here. Maybe I’m just lucky?"

• jae...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2016

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am on my 5th day of this drug treatment, and it has been hard. People say don't read the negative reviews before you start the treatment, but for me, it was helpful to know what to expect. The first 2 days were okay. But from day 3, I have been experiencing most of the side effects: nausea, vomiting, loose stools, stomach pain, bitter and sour taste in my mouth, chills, fatigue, foggy head, and bloating. I am sure only some people experience these symptoms, but I wonder if these side effects are, after all, just effects, not side effects. Sort of like going through chemo. For those who start the medication, please make sure to get off work and stay home! 5 more days to go, and I will stick to it."

• Gha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2022

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Treatment of 10 days. 16 Pylera pills a day (plus 2 esomeprazole pills). My side effects were extreme exhaustion, sleepiness, nausea, black feces, dark urine, headache, feverish sensation as if you caught the flu, but with NO actual fever and occasional sneezing. My nose and throat run regularly. All in all, it is similar to the sensation of having a cold or flu, but without actual fever (just the sensation of it). The leaflet does not really describe most of the symptoms that I read here."

• Tou...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I had food poisoning in July 2021, recovered in a week but had persistent diarrhea for some reason (frequent bowel movements, not watery stool). My doc checked for H. pylori and it came back positive. I didn’t have any symptoms, but he said it’s better to treat it. Took Pylera, and I have to say it is a very tough medicine. The first two days were the worst: headache, nausea, neck stiffness, loss of appetite, fatigue, dry mouth, mood swings, feeling like I would die and depressed, the worst feeling ever. Then my body started adapting, and symptoms started to come and go throughout the treatment. Black stool, dark urine, and frequent urination. I just finished it 2 days ago and will check if I still have the bacteria or not. Advice: take with food, avoid dairy and alcohol during treatment, water, and good luck."

• Jes...
• May 24, 2021

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am starting day 5 of a 14-day treatment. I have experienced so many awful side effects that I started keeping a journal. I have extreme fatigue, my arms feel heavy, I can't really grip things (dropped my toothbrush in the sink 3 times last night), cold sweats, complete loss of appetite, dizziness, nausea, a slight ringing in my ears, feeling like there's a buzzing sensation in my scalp, minor headaches, cramps, dark stool, and finally this morning I threw up an hour after taking my first 3 pills. On top of all these horrible side effects, I am really struggling to fit in the 4 doses and the two doses of omeprazole. I am also prescribed pain medication 3 times a day for a separate issue, and the last two days I have only taken 3 total pills.... I can't figure out timing to safely take everything. Two nights ago I simply skipped the 4th dose because I could not fit it in. I am praying that Pylera works, because right now in the middle of it I am questioning, is this worth it!?"

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

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."