Metronidazole and Metallic Taste: What Users Say

• Bar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 18, 2021

For Trichomoniasis "I was diagnosed with Trich & BV. Had to take 500 mg of 4 pills at once. I was scared after reading reviews. But I knew I had to take them to feel better. Ate before I took them. I felt hot & a little headache & had gas a little about an hour-2 after I took them. It ceased. Got tired & went to bed. Woke up with the metallic taste in my mouth. But nothing that is too bad or I can't handle. But today I feel better already. Even got my energy back. This was a lesson learned to use protection or don't have sex. This was the consequence of my stupidity. I can't blame anybody but myself."

• Bee...
• March 19, 2021

For Diverticulitis "Metronidazole or Flagyl is very powerful. I have diverticular disease, and the alternative is surgery for flare-ups. While I probably will get surgery later on, this is the go-to drug before. It happens between 2-4 times every year, and I know what it feels like when slight cramping and urge to go then escalates to straight-up sharp pain within hours. Long story short, this drug is not pleasant. It leaves a metallic/bitter aftertaste in your mouth for the two-week duration you are on it, it takes a few days AFTER ceasing the treatment for that to end. But otherwise, it is doing its job. The gas, bloating, cramps, and diarrhea are all symptoms of diverticular disease, not necessarily this drug. This drug is the solution, and it is a powerful one. It is not pleasant, but it works and it's cheap. That's my experience using it for the past decade with this terrible disease, this drug has kept me off the operating table so far, and I'm hoping it can extend that for several more years until I have no choice."

• MsN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2019

For Trichomoniasis "So I'm a female, I went in for an exam a month ago and my results came back positive for chlamydia. I was prescribed the 2 oral antibiotic tablets to take as one dosage. I didn't have symptoms, of course, beforehand and had some after taking the medicine, so I assume it was flushing out. So I went for my follow-up a few weeks later and had another exam. I had trich and BV, so I was prescribed the 4 pills of flagyl 500mg to take as one dosage, followed up by one dosage of diflucan 150 mg because I get yeast infections after taking antibiotics. I highly recommend taking the one dosage of four pills instead of the seven or two days. I ate before taking the medicine, however, later on in the day, I felt nauseous. I had a metallic taste in my mouth even when trying to drink water, so I just slept it off. However, the next day, I'm feeling great, no odor, no discharge, no nothing. And my results came back negative for any other STDs."

• alo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2020

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "Went in for my Pap smear and found out I had BV. I was prescribed Flagyl (1 tablet 2x a day). The first day I only took one pill during my lunch break but forgot to take the second that night. The next day I took two pills as prescribed (morning and night). The following morning I noticed dark urine... allegedly that's a 'rare' side effect. I’ve also experienced dry mouth, a metallic aftertaste, headaches, and loss of appetite. Other than that, I do see an improvement already. I’m glad these pills work quickly, just hoping I won’t have to take it ever again after the 7th day."

• Ame...
• September 23, 2015

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "I'm a 36-year-old active female diagnosed with diverticulitis. I took the combo of meds and am on day 7 now. I work out 6 days a week and have had to modify my workouts and weight lifting because I feel absolutely drained, weak, and muscles ache. (This, of course, was advised against by both doctor and pharmacist but alas, I am a knucklehead.) I have the metallic taste as well in addition to nausea with the meds. However, I would prefer these side effects to the pain associated with diverticulitis."

• Anonymous
• November 13, 2015

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "Day 3 on Flagyl and Cipro. I thought I was having a heart attack. This stuff has horrid side effects. Discomfort in my chest and arm. Foggy-headed feeling, dizziness, unbalanced, headache, very nauseous, metal taste, very blurry eyesight. No energy, at 55 it is not a good thing to feel this way, especially when you are overweight and out of shape. This is only day 3. I don't think I can take this stuff for 7 more days. They say the IV kind is worse though. Supposedly it's helping (I do feel less pain in my abdomen, I think). If I make it through this stuff, I bet I will watch what I eat and make better choices in the future. I called the pharmacy and the doc, and both said to stay on it, Cipro 2X daily and Flagyl 4X daily. Scary stuff."

• Sna...
• October 2, 2018

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "I went into the hospital on Saturday with extreme stomach pain and constipation. CT scan and blood work showed colitis with a bacterial infection. Prescribed 500 mg Flagyl 3x a day and 500 mg Cipro 2x a day. I've taken Cipro before but had never heard of Flagyl. I made the mistake of reading reviews and became panicked. But most people don't leave reviews when things are good. I'm on day 3, but things are okay. I have to take it with milk. Keeps the nausea and metallic taste to a minimum. I have mild stomach upset (but nothing compared to before) and a headache. It's not pleasant, but I'm almost halfway through. My suggestion is to eat and drink different things. I also found spacing out the Flagyl and Cipro helped with nausea as well. The medicine seems to be working. And the side effects have been bearable so far. Take each review with a grain of salt and remember-every body is different and will respond to things differently."

• 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?"

• lov...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2020

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "I have SIBO, and my doctor prescribed Flagyl 250 mg 3 times/day for 14 days and Rifaximin 3 times/day for 14 days to treat SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). Overall, my experience with Flagyl was unpleasant. I experienced moderate side effects that made me feel worse, so I stopped after 4 days and kept on the Rifaximin with no problems. On Flagyl, I experienced fatigue. When I tried to work out to boost energy, I felt horrendous: nauseous with flu-like symptoms. I experienced loss of appetite for normal healthy foods and found that I was binging on unhealthy foods. A slight metallic taste in my mouth, and a moderate feeling of upset stomach that came and went. Also, moderate bloating. If I had been extremely sick and Flagyl made me feel better, I may have kept on it, but for someone with mild SIBO, this drug wasn't worth it. If you're only mildly ill, I'd suggest finding an alternative medicine, if possible."

• Gar...
• June 20, 2015

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "Prescribed Flagyl and Cipro for diverticulitis, and both worked well. Hard to tease out which caused some of the side effects, however, Flagyl seemed the milder of the two. Bad pill taste is no problem, but the metallic taste tainted everything. So glad to hear others experienced heightened/changed sense of smell! I thought I was going crazy! No nausea with the Flagyl alone, but about an hour after adding the Cipro, the exhaustion and nausea are awful. Also, dark urine and diarrhea, which are unsettling but sound normal."

• Non...
• April 11, 2012

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "The taste it leaves in your mouth is horrible, but I have been on it along with Cipro since Saturday and as of this morning could tell a big difference in how I feel. The soreness in my lower stomach is almost gone and until today it has been unbearable. It leaves a metallic taste in your mouth, takes away your appetite and made me feel nauseous but I would take it again if I had another flare up with the Diverticulitis it seems to help."

• Ano...
• November 21, 2016

For Diverticulitis "Had pain in my lower left quadrant. Thought maybe had a partial blockage. On the third day, went to the ER, got blood work done, got an X-ray, found nothing, blood work came back with elevated white blood cell count. Doc orders a CT scan, turns out I have acute diverticulitis (I'm 30). The drugs (Cipro and Flagyl) work, pain subsided, and I can imagine they're fighting the infection as I write this, but man, the side effects are pretty terrible. Nausea, dizziness, upset stomach, metallic taste in mouth, and feeling crappy overall from the side effects. I'm on day 3, like most reviews on here, it seems like the make-or-break moment. The pills are progressively harder to ingest because I dread the side effects. BUT I gotta let the meds run their course."

• Sic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 27, 2018

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "I went to my doctor for lower abdominal pain and was told I had diverticulitis. I was prescribed Flagyl and Cipro. It started out with nausea, so I called my doctor because I had terrible nausea, and I was prescribed Zofran. I still have two and a half days left, and it's absolute torture! I have never had side effects like this: debilitating nausea, headaches, chills and sweats, lethargy, metallic taste, diarrhea, and I am having trouble sleeping because of the nausea and my upset stomach. I kind of feel like I have the flu without a fever. I am up right now at 4 a.m., sipping ginger ale, trying to get through the night. The pain in my abdomen has subsided. This medication is very harsh on the body."

• mac...
• October 20, 2011

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "While I'm confident Flagyl is working, I have suffered some severe side effects, one of which is unlisted. I believe it is working because my abdominal pain has significantly decreased since being diagnosed with diverticulitis about 1 week ago. I am also taking Cipro. The reported side effect of having a metallic taste is very understated! Not only do I have an AWFUL paint/chemical taste constantly in my mouth, but my sense of smell is on overdrive! This has contributed significantly to my loss of appetite, nausea, and in many cases my inability to function. I threw away my sheets because I couldn't sleep; I carry around room deodorizer with me because whenever I walk into a room I gag due to the smells - that are only overwhelming to me."

• Kel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2018

Metronidazole for Diverticulitis "I'm all too familiar with the Flagyl/Cipro combination. I've dealt with diverticulitis many times over the years. I have tried several ways to get through the unpleasant task of ingesting these medications. I found that alternating one pill every 6 hours instead of taking two pills every 12 hours really helped. Also, taking milk with the Flagyl and making sure you eat 2 hours before and after taking Cipro really makes a difference. Keep hydrated also. I do get the metallic taste and find that drinking water just makes it worse. I'm a huge water lover, but not when taking these meds. I drink water that is cut with juice. I hope this helps."

• Ele...
• September 6, 2014

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I experienced a couple of side effects: metallic taste in mouth, sore throat, abdominal pain, loose stools, headache, nausea, lethargy, decreased appetite, and a yeast infection at day 5! Side effects aside, this stuff works. All symptoms of bacterial vaginitis disappeared by day 2. Take some probiotics while taking this and hopefully you can avoid a yeast infection. Felt like the longest week of my life. I need a drink (you have to avoid alcohol on this)."

• JLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2020

For Bacterial Vaginosis "Taking this medication really wasn’t all that bad. I’m seeing a lot of negative reviews on this, but I know everyone is different and feels different. But for me, the only things I noticed while taking metronidazole were dark brownish urine, used the #2 more frequently, which probably is okay because it could just be my body cleaning itself out. And I wasn’t exactly dizzy, I just couldn’t concentrate too much on what I was looking at, but not too seriously. In the morning is when I’d taste a bit of that metallic taste. But those aren’t that bad of symptoms to me because it took the odd smell away and my discharge isn’t a constant amount anymore. I used to always have to change panty liners daily, and I can now just wear my underwear without a panty liner, and it’s not uncomfortable. So I actually appreciate my doctor for giving me this medication."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 6, 2014

For Dental Abscess "Insomnia was the only really troubling side effect for me. A slight metallic taste in my mouth around day 3, but was gone in 24 hrs. Mild diarrhea, my stomach was a bit more acidic than usual, but nothing I couldn't deal with. Always took with a full meal, had NO ALCOHOL (even mouthwash with alcohol is too much on this med, re: pharmacist) and took with Gatorade (helps with bad taste). Be gentle with your body on this med. I found that not having caffeine, any NSAIDs (ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, etc.) or anything harsh on the stomach works best. DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL while on this med - EVEN 1 DRINK. I had already tried 1 course of penicillin and 1 course of amoxicillin before this med, neither worked - 6 days on this, jaw pain and swelling is gone!"

• ADG...
• July 29, 2016

Metronidazole for Trichomoniasis "Was diagnosed with Trich. Dr. prescribed four 500 mg of Flagyl to take at once. Only complaint was metallic taste, but it made me drink water more often and chew minty gum - I survived. Unfortunately, it did not work. Six weeks and two days later, the discharge, itching, and symptoms returned. Note: I had not been intimate with anyone, so it was not because of sexual contact; Flagyl just didn't work. Returned to Dr., was retested, and it was positive for Trich. Dr. prescribed Tinidazole the second time, which I took yesterday; as soon as I reach or exceed 60-90 days with no symptoms, I will repost."

• Sad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 13, 2017

For Diverticulitis "I began taking Flagyl on Saturday night to treat diverticulitis. I could not sleep at all that night or the following three nights. I lay in bed wide awake, with my leg muscles randomly fasciculating. I had a headache and neck ache from not being able to sleep. Occasionally, my entire body would suddenly jerk while I was lying in bed. I could not concentrate at work, and even though I am a pharmacist, I kept forgetting the names of medications that I had been taking and the names of the medical conditions with which I had been diagnosed. I had been taking ibuprofen for a few days the prior week, and I had stopped taking ibuprofen due to heartburn. Even though I was on Protonix to treat my heartburn, Flagyl significantly worsened my pre-existing heartburn to the point where I had to stand erect throughout the day and night, moaning with pain. My epigastric pain would begin about an hour after taking Flagyl and be at its worst four hours later. I also felt as if I constantly had to urinate, but only a small amount of urine would come out each time. My mouth was extremely dry with a metallic taste and a furry looking tongue. I ended up in the ER the following Wednesday writhing in epigastric pain which was a “10” on the 1-10 pain scale. I literally thought that I was going to die, and I spoke with loved ones by phone to say my good-byes. My blood pressure was moderately elevated and my ECG, which had always been normal, was now “borderline with atrial enlargement.” My ER doc switched me to Augmentin, and my Flagyl-related adverse reactions rapidly subsided. Flagyl significantly helped my diverticulitis, but at a horrible cost in terms of lost sleep, lost work, poor work, personal and family anxieties, and time spent at the ER. If your doctor prescribes Flagyl, my advice is to ask him/her if there is an alternative antibiotic, especially if you have any pre-existing gastroesophageal problems. All of my adverse events appear in the Flagyl labeling: epigastric distress, abdominal cramping, incoordination, confusion, insomnia, a sharp, unpleasant metallic taste, dryness of the mouth, furry tongue, glossitis, stomatitis, flattening of the T-wave in electrocardiographic tracings, polyuria, a sense of pelvic pressure, convulsive seizures."

• str...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2013

For Bacterial Vaginosis "When I found out I had BV, my doctor prescribed me with metronidazole. My doctor told me to take all 4 pills at once with food and water. On the second day, the odor was gone. Then the discharge was slowly going away. I was looking up the side effects of metronidazole. I did have a metallic taste whenever I ate or drank something, and I felt kind of dizzy at times. But I must say, it is all worth it to have a healthy body again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 30, 2012

Metronidazole for Bacterial Infection "My doctor gave me this because I had bacterial vaginosis. Not even 12 hours into my first dose, I got the metallic taste in my mouth, then severe stomach cramps and nausea. I'm on day 5 and have had bouts of nausea throughout the course of my medication. My appetite has gone way, way down, and I'm so tired! I literally will sleep 12 hours and then get up for 2, then go back to bed for another 4! Having trouble staying awake at work, but it is doing its job!"

• Sun...
• January 15, 2020

For Bacterial Vaginosis "I have taken metronidazole many times in the past and only experienced the normal metallic taste and slight nausea, there is something very different about the ones I got recently. I have never felt anything like this, so tired, I couldn't get out of bed. I thought maybe I came down with the flu. I also had hot and cold sweats, I was so weak, my brain fog got so bad I couldn't think straight. I felt very depressed and anxious. I feel they are putting something different in them now. I can't deal with this feeling much longer, I feel like I'm not in my own body anymore. I don't know what to do, I don't have med insurance to go see a therapist or any other doctor, so now I'll just have to tough it out and pray these side effects go away soon. I've only been off of them for 36 hours. I read it takes 44 hours for them to leave your system. I pray everyone recovers fully from these. I imagine this is what a bad LSD trip feels like, I want to get out of my body. I'm scared."

• Dee...
• June 24, 2017

For Bacterial Vaginosis "After reading all of these horrific reviews, I'm not gonna lie, I was pretty hesitant about taking these pills for the week. My gyno prescribed me 500 mg to take twice a day for 7 days. I'm on my 4th day with no crazy side effects. I already see a lot less discharge, and the odor has minimized greatly. The only negative thing I can say is the metal taste you experience when taking the pill. It's pretty bad, but if you have juice and food to bite into right after taking it, you'll survive! :)"

• No ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I am taking clarithromycin, metronidazole 500 mg each, along with Dexilant to treat H. pylori for 14 days. I have 3 days left, so I know I can make it. My only symptoms have been the metallic taste, really ugly. It helps to swallow as quickly as you can before they start to dissolve. It also helps to slowly dissolve a hard candy when the taste gets really bad. Also, dark urine, primarily in the morning. I suggest you drink a lot of water to try to get the medication to move through your system more quickly. My last symptom is constipation. I am trying bisacodyl soft gels, it has helped somewhat. I can’t wait to be through and hopefully have this nasty bug out of my system! Treatment, second time in ten years, although hard to tell how long I have had it this time. Overall, stomach issues and indigestion are much better so far. Not eating much, so that could also explain the lack of prior symptoms. Don't forget to get a new toothbrush so you don't reinfect yourself."