Bismuth Subsalicylate, Metronidazole, and Tetracycline HCl, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: antiulcer

Generic and brand names: bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline, oral; Helidac

What is this medicine used for?

This treatment consists of 3 different medicines taken by mouth to treat a stomach ulcer. Your health care provider may prescribe a fourth medicine to be taken also.

What should my health care provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to aspirin or any other medicine
• kidney or liver disease.

Children and teenagers who have or are recovering from chickenpox or the flu should not take this medicine.

This medicine may make birth control pills less effective. Talk to your health care provider if you need birth control.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or become pregnant during this treatment. Tetracycline may harm the baby. Do not breast-feed during this treatment.

How should I take it?

Each dose includes 3 tablets and 1 capsule: 2 pink chewable tablets (bismuth subsalicylate), 1 white tablet (metronidazole), and 1 pale orange and white capsule (tetracycline). Take this dose 4 times a day, with meals and at bedtime. First, chew and swallow the 2 pink tablets. Then swallow the white tablet and the pale orange and white capsule whole (do not chew) with a full glass of water.

Your health care provider usually prescribes a fourth medicine to reduce the acid in your stomach. Take all of the medicines exactly as your health care provider prescribes until they are gone.

Milk and milk products may keep this medicine from being absorbed by your body. Do not drink milk or eat milk products for 2 hours before or 3 hours you take this medicine.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember unless it is almost time for the next scheduled dose. In that case, skip the missed dose and take the next one as directed. Do not take double doses. If you are not sure of what to do if you miss a dose, or if you miss more than one dose, contact your health care provider.

What should I watch out for?

Drink plenty of fluids each day, particularly with the bedtime dose of tetracycline (pale orange and white capsule), to reduce the risk of irritating your esophagus (food pipe to the stomach).

Taking aspirin while taking these medicines, may cause ringing in your ears. If this happens, contact your health care provider right away.

Do not drink alcohol while taking this medicine and for at least 1 day after stopping the medicine.

This treatment may make your skin more sensitive to the sun and may cause you to sunburn more easily. While you are taking this medicine, avoid long exposure to the sun. While you are in the sun, wear protective clothing and sunscreen lotion until you know how you will react to the sun. Do not use a sun lamp. If you get a severe sunburn, contact your health care provider right away.

This medicine may cause a temporary darkening of your tongue and stool. This is harmless.

The use of this medicine during tooth development (last half of pregnancy, infancy, and up to 8 years old) may permanently discolor the teeth (making them yellow, gray, or brown).

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Ringing in your ears, seizures.

Other: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, dizziness, rectal discomfort, constipation, insomnia.

What products might interact with this medicine?

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• antacids such as Maalox and Mylanta (Take 2 hours before or 3 hours after taking this medicine.)
• iron supplements such as ferrous sulfate and ferrous gluconate (Take 2 hours before or 3 hours after taking this medicine.)
• birth control pills
• warfarin (Coumadin).

Do not drink alcohol while you are taking this medicine.

Do not drink milk or eat milk products for 2 hours before or 3 hours you take this medicine.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.