Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline (Pylera) can cost over $1,000. Here's how to save with coupons, generics, patient assistance, and other strategies.
If you've been prescribed Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline (brand name Pylera) for an H. pylori infection, you may have experienced sticker shock at the pharmacy. A single 10-day course of brand-name Pylera can cost between $900 and $1,181 without insurance. That's a lot of money for a medication you need to take for just 10 days.
The good news is there are several ways to significantly reduce what you pay — in some cases by 80% or more. Here's a complete guide to saving money on this medication in 2026.
Let's start with the baseline numbers:
The generic version — launched in March 2023 by Par Pharmaceutical — is the same medication with the same active ingredients (Bismuth Subcitrate Potassium 140 mg, Metronidazole 125 mg, Tetracycline Hydrochloride 125 mg) at a fraction of the brand-name cost.
Always ask your pharmacist for the generic. If your prescription says "Pylera," most states allow automatic generic substitution unless your doctor specifies otherwise.
Prescription discount cards are one of the easiest ways to save on Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline. These are free to use and work even if you don't have insurance. Here are the best options:
GoodRx consistently offers some of the lowest prices for this medication. With a GoodRx coupon, you can get the generic version for as low as $187 at participating pharmacies — that's a savings of 79% off the average retail price of $899.
SingleCare offers competitive pricing on Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline, with prices that may vary by pharmacy. Check singlecare.com for current pricing at pharmacies near you.
RxGo coupons can bring the price of the generic down to approximately $355 at some pharmacies like Albertsons.
Additional discount card options to compare include:
Pro tip: Prices vary significantly between pharmacies even with the same coupon. Always compare prices at 3-4 pharmacies before filling your prescription. Costco, Walmart, and independent pharmacies often have lower prices than major chain pharmacies.
If you're uninsured or underinsured and can't afford Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline even with a discount coupon, patient assistance programs (PAPs) may be able to help.
AbbVie (which acquired Allergan, the maker of Pylera) offers a Patient Assistance Program that provides brand-name Pylera at no cost to eligible patients. To qualify, you generally need to:
How to apply:
NeedyMeds (needymeds.org) is a nonprofit that helps patients find assistance programs for their medications. Search for "Pylera" or "Bismuth Subcitrate" to find applicable programs.
RxAssist (rxassist.org) maintains a comprehensive database of patient assistance programs. It's a good resource for finding manufacturer and nonprofit programs that cover Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline.
If cost is a major barrier, talk to your doctor about prescribing the three drugs in Pylera separately:
Total cost: as low as $31 to $82 for the entire course, compared to $187-1,181 for the combination capsule. The trade-off is more pills to take (14+ per day vs. 12 capsules plus PPI), but the medications are the same.
If you have insurance, check whether Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline is on your plan's formulary (list of covered drugs). Key things to look for:
Even with insurance, compare your copay to discount coupon prices — sometimes the coupon is cheaper than your insurance copay.
Many insurance plans offer lower copays for medications filled through their preferred mail-order pharmacy. If your timeline allows a few extra days, this can be a worthwhile savings option.
Pharmacy prices can vary by hundreds of dollars for the same medication, even within the same city. Always compare prices at:
Use Medfinder to check availability and find pharmacies near you.
No one should have to skip H. pylori treatment because of cost. Between the generic version, discount coupons, patient assistance programs, and the option of traditional quadruple therapy with separate pills, there are multiple paths to affordable treatment.
Here's a quick summary of your savings options:
For help finding Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline at a pharmacy near you, visit Medfinder. For more information about this medication, read our guides on what Bismuth Subcitrate/Metronidazole/Tetracycline is, side effects, and why it's hard to find.
You focus on staying healthy. We'll handle the rest.
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