Metronidazole and Bad Taste: What Users Say

• dog...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2021

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "If I could give this medication 0 stars, I would. My gyno prescribed me this for bacterial vaginosis. My side effects were horrible... increased anxiety/panic attacks, nausea, horrible taste in my mouth, and I had the most vivid nightmares. I would wake up trembling/shaking out of my sleep, and it took me a few days to realize that it was the Flagyl that was making me feel this way. I will never take this medication again unless I absolutely have no choice. I’m glad I’m not the only one that had a terrible experience on this drug."

• Amy...
• October 3, 2016

For Diverticulitis "I was on metronidazole (Flagyl) & ciprofloxacin for diverticulitis. Let me start off by saying these two medications together SUCK, however they DO work. I have never had any problems with medications...ever (in 40 years). This time though, at times, I thought I was dying! Best described as the worst flu ever. Massive nausea, occasional vomiting, diarrhea, exhaustion, horrible taste in my mouth, nothing tasted good, and my appetite was bad. Day 4 was the peak of feeling awful. I went to every review site trying to gather what worked to curb the symptoms. Everyone is different, so what worked for others didn't necessarily work for me. Here is what did work for me a bit, in case it can help anyone else. 1.) Try not to take them together. Split up the doses by like an hour or so. 2.) Take each dose with a little food (even if you aren't hungry), something bland. DO NOT USE DAIRY PRODUCTS. This made my nausea worse! 3.) Have mints or candy at all times. Your mouth will feel gross and things will taste funny. However, I found spearmints also helped soothe the tummy a bit. 4.) Pepto-Bismol. 5.) Try not to take them immediately before bed at night. Give it about an hour or two. I noticed nausea will wake me up throughout the night if I take them too close to going to sleep. GOOD LUCK, and remember: Your doctor prescribed these for a reason. A reason that could turn into life-threatening unless you get it controlled. The worst thing ever is to start taking an antibiotic and then stopping it mid-cycle, as your body then becomes immune to it and is essentially ineffective."

• LKa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For Diverticulitis "I took Flagyl and Cipro together for 10 days for apparent diverticulitis. I haven’t used any antibiotics for years. My experience was awful and I’m still having problems after my last dose 4 days ago. I have diarrhea, bad taste in my mouth, loss of appetite (forcing myself to eat), weight loss, and body aches. My doctor is going to check for other problems but I think these medications really messed me up. I hope the symptoms go away. It’s scary feeling like this. Thank you everyone for sharing your experiences. Makes me realize I’m not alone."

• Lal...
• December 23, 2013

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "It seems I've had experiences that a lot of these other people do with feeling worse than I did before on these medications with the Cipro and Flagyl. I'm nauseous, I'm dizzy, I have a foggy brain, I can't eat, the taste is horrible, and I feel like I can't function. I've been on this for the second time in a year, and it's doing the same thing, same side effects. I don't like feeling this way at all. I can't drive or go to work. I've been on it for 4 days out of 10, and it's Christmas! My pain has subsided, though."

• Bro...
• June 18, 2010

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "I took Flagyl several times before I had surgery to remove part of my colon. It was quickly effective every time I took it. I had no negative side effects. The worst was a bad taste in my mouth. Would take again if needed."

• amm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 9, 2014

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "Had my first flare with diverticulitis 4 months ago, ended up in the emergency room. Prescribed Bactrim and Flagyl and four days bed rest. Pain subsided after 2 days on the meds, but felt pretty crummy for the next week, and had to deal with loss of taste and bad taste in my mouth. Didn't attribute feeling so yucky with the meds. Had a second milder diverticulitis flare up four days ago. Went to the doc 2 days ago and I'm back on Bactrim and Flagyl. Came back to work today and I am SO NAUSEOUS! The bad taste in my mouth has returned, and I really don't feel well at all. I really DO NOT want to end up where I was last Jan when I went to the emergency room - so I'm still taking the Flagyl. Doc gave me Zofran for the nausea, it helps some."

• Sta...
• January 2, 2016

For Dental Abscess "I've been on this medication alongside amoxicillin, and the taste in my mouth just won't go away! The pain has gone, and the ulcers surrounding my abscess have also gone! Just the disgusting taste-metallic and gross, to be honest! I'm feeling sick ALL the time! Does anyone else suffer with this?"

• Hpy...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I want to share my story because when I was prescribed this, after seeing all the reviews, I was very scared. I'm here to tell you that there is a really good chance that you will not have any of those effects if you take it like you are supposed to. First, some people advised taking it with orange juice, which I researched and is a no-no. Also, try to not eat too much fiber during the time you are taking antibiotics, I searched, and fiber takes away some of the potency. Take it with plain water and eat some lettuce leaves with it. I got a bad aftertaste, which was not that bad, only once when I laid down on my right side at night. If you lay on the left side, you should have no problem. I am H. pylori-free, and I plan on staying that way. I changed my whole diet, lost 10 lbs, and feel great."

• Sev...
• November 3, 2016

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "Taking Flagyl and Cipro for diverticulitis, and got all the symptoms as everyone else. Dry mouth, headaches, funny taste in mouth, diarrhea, and generally feel sluggish, tired, and beside myself. Though I was the only one feeling like crap, but the pain is gone, and I too am on a better diet. Seven days left, and I am throwing these empty bottles in the trash!"

• Anonymous
• February 27, 2012

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "I have taken this medicine once before and it made me have flu-like symptoms, diarrhea, a terrible taste in my mouth, and in general feel awful when I am on this. I agree with the person above, it's almost worse than having the pain from diverticulitis. I am also taking Cipro so no dairy products or antacid tablets. Basically, I try to force myself to eat, drink, and sleep through the worst of the symptoms. This is miserable and depressing. As soon as I can, I plan to try to eat the recommended amount of fiber, 25-30 grams. I never want to have diverticulitis again, twice in 5 months is too much. I have 1 more week of meds, it feels like a lifetime."

• mtl...
• May 14, 2011

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "I have been taking this for almost a week for a diverticulitis flare up and if this ever happens again I will ask if there is something else I can take. I agree, I think this has made me sicker than I originally was. General listlessness, very dizzy, weird hunger pangs, and foods don't taste good or the same as they did. Headaches! Looking forward to the last dose. A nurse friend suggested eating Activia yogurt while taking this to help with stomach problems."

• ste...
• August 19, 2015

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "Was put on Flagyl and Cipro for 1 week. I'm light-headed and only want to sleep! Nauseous, and my mouth tastes awful. I am glad to read all of these posts, and I thought I was getting a secondary sinus infection. My last pills were on a Monday, and today, Wednesday, I still feel 'in the clouds.'"

• Div...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 3, 2014

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "Flagyl leaves a bad taste in my mouth after a couple of days, makes my urine smell bad, and causes nausea (so get some anti-nausea meds along with it). That being said, it does the job very well. Noticeable improvement within 1-3 days."

• Anonymous
• February 22, 2012

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "The medicine seems to be effective, but it is literally the most terrible tasting medicine I've ever had. It has no coating and dissolves instantly on your tongue, leaving a horrid taste behind. It is upsetting to your stomach. I'm taking it because it's effective. I wish they'd add a coating. I dread taking this medicine and have a knot in my stomach when it's almost time to take it."

• Vic...
• November 27, 2016

For Diverticulitis "I was given metronidazole and Flagyl after a diverticulitis flare-up that took me to the emergency room. It was fine the first couple of days I took them. After the fourth day or so, my real nightmare began: irritated, bitchy, depressed, moody. No appetite, bad taste in my mouth, even drinking water was a task. I also had severe chills, feeling exhausted, even walking to the restroom was a task. In other words, I felt like I was being poisoned by these horrible meds. After a vomiting episode and so much gas in my stomach, I called the 24-hour hotline to my doctor's office, she agreed to stop taking them. It was already almost 10 days with those nasty meds. It's been 2 days now since I stopped them, still feeling crappy, exhausted, and my tummy is still unsettled."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2020

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I got prescribed 500 mg metronidazole twice a day for 7 days for BV. By day 4, I had extreme nausea, dizziness, irritability, and trouble falling asleep. On day 5, I woke up with awful stomach cramps, got out of bed to throw up, and ended up fainting. I felt mentally out of it the whole time I was on them. It cleared the infection, though. I don't really want to experience this again. Also, the taste is god-awful."

• Spa...
• November 30, 2019

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "I took Flagyl for 10 days, 3X a day to treat a parasite (Blastocystis spp.). Before taking the medication, I was having extremely bad-smelling farts, almost constant diarrhea, and abdominal pain followed by diarrhea. They heavily warned me that this medication sucks, and they were right: it does. That being said, my excessively smelling gas went away within a few days. Days 2-3 and 8-10 seemed to suck the most as far as symptoms. I also experienced mental fog from taking this medication. I really felt not on my game mentally and had a hard time concentrating. I did have some problems sleeping at night while taking this medication and then problems as well once the medication had been finished. For about 4 days after taking the medication, I had oral thrush and whiteness on my tongue. The bad taste in my mouth stayed for a while. I am 9 days finished with this medication, and I feel like I still don’t have any appetite or interest in food. All in all, it was not great, but I would take it again."

• Tra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2014

Metronidazole for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Most horrible side effects: bitter taste in mouth even hours after administration, balance problems, confusion, surroundings seem unreal, like walking in a dream (not a good one), concentration problems, general malaise, not able to eat anything but oatmeal and mashed potatoes. Extreme weight loss. Had to stop after 11 doses. Stomach worse than before. I have to add that I also had Amoxicillin and Protonix at the same time, maybe the combination was at fault for this extreme reaction."

• Met...
• April 17, 2014

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I'm on day 6 of my medication, and it has worked wonders. I had a strong fishy-smelling discharge for two months that lasted all day. Literally, on DAY 2 of my medication, the odor and the discharge disappeared! I didn't have to keep changing underwear or wiping off my undies anymore. This medication gave me my life and confidence back. The taste of the medicine is pretty bitter if you let it sit on your tongue, so have your water ready so you can drink it fast. Also, eat a small meal before to avoid nausea. NOT AFTER. The first 2 days, I ate after and felt like I just couldn't make it through the day. After that, I tried eating before, and the nausea didn't come back. Hope this helped!"

• Eva...
• July 28, 2009

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "I had a vaginal infection and was prescribed Flagyl to cure it. I hated the immediate awful taste in my mouth, and it dissolved immediately upon hitting my tongue. I only experienced the awful taste and some slight stomach upset as side effects. The infection began to clear up after 3 days of a 7-day prescription. I recommend it, and drink something fruity with it. Also, DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL AT ALL while on this medication OR FOR 3 DAYS AFTER YOU STOP TAKING IT. You WILL have severe vomiting, heaving, and dizziness."

• MMc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2016

For Dental Abscess "I was prescribed the 400 mg version to be taken 3 times a day for 5 days to treat a dental abscess. The tablets did a great job at treating the abscess, but they did have side effects. I did research the tablets prior to taking them and heard they were not the nicest, so I was prepared for that. After a day of taking them, I felt quite drowsy for 2 days. Once the drowsiness subsided, I began to feel nauseous but did not vomit, and I developed a terrible taste in my mouth. If you do have to take them, I recommend taking them in between your food, as I found it helped with the nausea and also to avoid the immediate nasty aftertaste. Overall, I found them to be brilliant at treating the abscess, so would take them again."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2013

Metronidazole for Giardiasis "I took Flagyl and Cipro for giardia and salmonella diagnosis. Both taken for one week. The Flagyl has a terrible taste, and you have to drink something besides water while you are taking it because everything tastes metallic. It works to eradicate the infection, but I was very happy when the seven days of treatment were over. I also experienced a lack of appetite, however, you must eat something when you take Flagyl, or it will upset your stomach. Other side effects experienced: bloating, burping, hiccups, terrible taste in my mouth all the time, lack of energy. But the need for the medication outweighs the side effects, and it took care of the infection."

• G s...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 29, 2016

For Clostridioides difficile Infection "Was admitted into the hospital for 3 days, 2 nights, and nobody could figure out what was wrong with me. Ended up finding C. diff colitis in my stool and was prescribed 500 mg metronidazole (Flagyl) as oral tablets. Needless to say, everyone I hear from tells me it tastes awful. It's best to swallow as fast as possible, for the taste is definitely bad. The doctor who prescribed this told me if you drink plenty of water while taking this medication, your side effects may not even exist. Well, he was right. The one time I didn't have any water for a few hours, I got the absolute WORST headache that would not go away. I recommend at least 16 oz of water per hour with this medication, and the side effects should be either mild or non-existent. Stay tough."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 23, 2015

For Diverticulitis "I just had my 1st bout of diverticulitis and am now being treated with Cipro and Flagyl. I was in ER for a few hours with IV antibiotics, then sent home. This was Wednesday night, and I started treatment Thursday. The pain has eased up, but I feel tired a lot, feel depressed and spaced out, and went from being constipated to diarrhea. My urine looks dark like beer, a bitter taste in my mouth, gas and burbling noises...not fun. But considering how sick I was before treatment (fever, abdominal pain, terrible diarrhea...thought it was the gastro), this isn't so bad. Every day it seems to improve...I hope this clears up, and I will do my utmost to make sure I never have another flare-up again."

• sis...
• September 15, 2018

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "I went to the ER with acute diverticulitis and was prescribed Metronidazole along with Cipro and pain pills. I was administered a couple of pain shots and thought I could go home and take these meds and get better. Three days later, I was back in the ER and let them admit me this time. The terrible headaches, horrific taste in my mouth, nausea, and vomiting were about more than I could bear. I have had sleeve surgery, and so my stomach is small, but this gave me such bad heartburn and indigestion, I could not imagine a medicine making a person this sick. I also had diarrhea with every bathroom trip and very dark urine. I couldn't even stand the taste of water, or the food I ate tasted horrible, along with a lack of appetite, lethargy, and lightheadedness. I finished my prescription of ten days, but I hope I never have to take this horrible drug again. One good thing about it is my diverticulitis pain is gone, and I pray it will never return."