PROCEDURES - H. pylori Breath Testing Expectations

It is important that you do not take ANY antibiotics for the four weeks preceding the test. Since antibiotics are used for the treatment, this means that the breath test should not be done until at least one month after you have completed therapy.

No proton-pump inhibitors may be used in the four weeks preceding treatment either. This means that you cannot take:

prilosec (or omeprazole)
prevacid (or lansoprazole)
protonix (or pantoprazole)
nexium
aciphex
zegerid
kapidex

for four weeks prior.

You may use:

pepcid
zantac
tagamet
axid

and medications like

tums
Maalox
Mylanta
alka-seltzer

to help with your symptoms in the meantime. You should not eat anything one hour before the test.

Once you get to the office, you will be given a shake to drink which will help determine if the bacteria is still there. About 15 minutes later, you will take several breaths and exhale into a special bag which collects your air sample. You can then go home.

This bag is sent to a laboratory where it is analyzed. You can call the office about seven days later for the results.