Bismuth subsalicylate is a mild antibiotic.

Metronidazole and tetracycline are also antibiotics that fight bacteria in your body.

The combination of bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline is used to treat Helicobacter pylori, a bacterial infection that can cause stomach ulcer.

Bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Take this medication for the full prescribed length of time. Your symptoms may improve before the infection is completely cleared. The antibiotics in this medication will not treat a viral infection such as the common cold or flu.

Bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline is not approved for use by children. Children younger than 8 years of age should not use tetracycline because of its unfavorable effects on tooth and bone formation.

Avoid taking dairy products, multivitamins, iron supplements, antacids, and laxatives within 2 hours of taking tetracycline. These products decrease the effectiveness of tetracycline.

This medication can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline.

Avoid exposure to sunlight or tanning beds. This medication can make you sunburn more easily. Wear protective clothing and use sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher) when you are outdoors.

Avoid alcohol while you are taking this medication and for 1 day after your treatment ends. Alcohol can increase certain unpleasant side effects of metronidazole. Check the label of any medicine, drink, or food to see if a contains alcohol.

You should not use this medication if you are allergic to aspirin, or to bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol), metronidazole (Flagyl), or tetracycline (Ala-Tet, Brodspec, Panmycin, Sumycin, Tetracap).

To make sure you can safely take bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease; or

• epilepsy or another seizure disorder.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use bismuth subsalicylate, metronidazole, and tetracycline if you are pregnant. It could harm the unborn baby. Tetracycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration later in life and can also affect a child's growth. Use effective birth control, and tell your doctor if you become pregnant during treatment.

Tetracycline can make birth control pills less effective. Ask your doctor about using a non-hormone method of birth control (such as a condom, diaphragm, spermicide) to prevent pregnancy while taking bismuth, subsalicylate, and tetracycline.

Metronidazole and tetracycline can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Children younger than 8 years old should not take tetracycline. Tetracycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration and can also affect a child's growth.