What is bismuth subsalicylate?
Bismuth subsalicylate is an anti-diarrhea medication and antacid.
Bismuth subsalicylate is used to treat diarrhea, nausea, heartburn, indigestion, and upset stomach.
Bismuth subsalicylate may also be used for purposes other than those listed in this medication guide.
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Precautions
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Instructions
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Side Effects
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Interactions
Precautions
This medication should not be given to a child or teenager who has a fever, especially if the child also has flu symptoms or chicken pox. Subsalicylate can cause a serious and sometimes fatal condition called Reye's syndrome in children.
You should not use bismuth subsalicylate if you have:
- a stomach ulcer;
- a recent history of stomach or intestinal bleeding; or
- if you are allergic to salicylates such as aspirin, Doan's Extra Strength, Salflex, Tricosal, and others.
Before taking bismuth subsalicylate, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have:
- fever;
- mucus in your stools;
- diabetes;
- arthritis; or
- gout.
Do not take bismuth subsalicylate without telling your doctor if you are pregnant.
Bismuth subsalicylate 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.
Talk to your doctor before taking additional antacids or diarrhea medications together with bismuth subsalicylate.
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Instructions
Seek emergency medical attention if you think you have used too much of this medicine.
Overdose symptoms may include increased thirst, anxiety, muscle spasm, ringing in your ears, dizziness, confusion, severe headache, problems with speech or vision, severe stomach pain, or worsening diarrhea or vomiting.
Since bismuth subsalicylate is taken as needed, you may not be on a dosing schedule. If you are taking the medication regularly, take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, wait until then to take the medicine and skip the missed dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
Do not take more than 8 doses in one day (24 hours).
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Side Effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have any of these serious side effects:
- hearing loss or ringing in your ears;
- diarrhea lasting longer than 2 days; or
- worsened stomach symptoms.
Less serious side effects include:
- constipation;
- dark colored stools; or
- black or darkened tongue.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Interactions
The following drugs can interact with bismuth subsalicylate. Tell your doctor if you are using any of these:
- a blood thinner such as warfarin (Coumadin);
- insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;
- medications to treat gout, such as probenecid (Benemid) or sulfinpyrazone (Anturane);
- medication used to prevent blood clots, such as alteplase (Activase), streptokinase (Kabikinase, Streptase), and urokinase (Abbokinase);
- salicylates such as aspirin, Novasal, Doan's Extra Strength, Salflex, Tricosal, and others; or
- a tetracycline antibiotic, including doxycycline (Adoxa, Doryx, Oracea, Vibramycin), minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin, Solodyn, Vectrin), and others.
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with bismuth subsalicylate. Tell your doctor about all your prescription and over-the-counter medications, vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
Other Names
Bismarex, Bismatrol, Kao-Tin Bismuth Subsalicylate Formula, Kaopectate, Kaopectate Anti-Diarrheal Upset Stomach Reliever, Kaopectate Extra Strength, Maalox Total Stomach Relief, Peptic Relief, Pepto-Bismol, Pepto-Bismol Maximum Strength, Pink Bismuth, Stress Maximum Strength, bismuth subsalicylate, Bismatrol Maximum Strength, Childrens Kaopectate, Kapectolin (New Formula), K-Pek, and Maximum Strength Stress
Available Strengths & Dosages
| Route |
Form |
Strength |
| oral |
tablet, chewable |
262 mg |
| oral |
suspension |
262 mg/15 mL |
| oral |
suspension |
525 mg/15 mL |
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Disclaimer
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2004 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version 2.05. Revision date 8/23/04
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