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Pepto-Bismol
 
 
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Pepto-Bismol is an over-the-counter drug
Over-the-counter drug

Over-the-counter drugs are medications that may be sold to a customer without a medical prescription. The term "over-the-counter" is somewhat counter-intuitive, since these items can often be found on the shelves of stores and bought like any other packaged product in some countries in contrast to prescription drug which are more likely to l...
 produced by the Procter and Gamble company in the United States of America and in Canada to treat minor digestive system upset. Its active ingredient is bismuth subsalicylate
Bismuth subsalicylate

Bismuth subsalicylate, with a chemical formula C7H5BiO4, is a drug used to treat nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract....
, which is also responsible for its distinctive pink color. The primary symptoms aided by Pepto-Bismol are nausea
Nausea

Nausea is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit....
, heartburn
Heartburn

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the Sternum usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid....
, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea
Diarrhea

In medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea , is characterized by frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. The spelling of "diarrhea" is an appropriation of the Greek "diarrhoia" meaning "a flowing through." ....
, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract.






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Pepto-Bismol is an over-the-counter drug
Over-the-counter drug

Over-the-counter drugs are medications that may be sold to a customer without a medical prescription. The term "over-the-counter" is somewhat counter-intuitive, since these items can often be found on the shelves of stores and bought like any other packaged product in some countries in contrast to prescription drug which are more likely to l...
 produced by the Procter and Gamble company in the United States of America and in Canada to treat minor digestive system upset. Its active ingredient is bismuth subsalicylate
Bismuth subsalicylate

Bismuth subsalicylate, with a chemical formula C7H5BiO4, is a drug used to treat nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract....
, which is also responsible for its distinctive pink color. The primary symptoms aided by Pepto-Bismol are nausea
Nausea

Nausea is the sensation of unease and discomfort in the stomach with an urge to vomit....
, heartburn
Heartburn

Heartburn or pyrosis is a painful and burning sensation in the esophagus, just below the Sternum usually associated with regurgitation of gastric acid....
, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea
Diarrhea

In medicine, diarrhea, also spelled diarrhoea , is characterized by frequent loose or liquid bowel movements. The spelling of "diarrhea" is an appropriation of the Greek "diarrhoia" meaning "a flowing through." ....
, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. The density of Pepto-Bismol is 121.856 g/mL.

Pepto-Bismol is made in chewable tablets and swallowable caplets, but is best known for its original formula which is a thick liquid. This original formula is a medium pink color with a strong teaberry
Methyl salicylate

Methyl salicylate is a natural product of many species of plants. Some of the plants producing it are called wintergreens, hence the common name....
 flavor. These traits have become generally associated with the medicine to the degree that something may be described as "Pepto-Bismol pink" or as tasting like "Pepto-Bismol".

Side effects


Ingesting Pepto-Bismol may cause feces
Human feces

Human Feces , also known as stools, is the waste product of the human digestive system and varies significantly in appearance, depending on the state of the whole digestive system, influenced by diet and health....
, as well as the tongue, to become dark green or black for several days.

As a contraindication, Pepto-Bismol should never be given to children under twelve or to any child or teen with the flu, chicken-pox, or other viral illness due to the possibility of Reye's Syndrome
Reye's syndrome

Reye's syndrome is a potentially fatal disease that causes numerous detrimental effects to many organs, especially the brain and liver. It is associated with aspirin consumption by children with viral diseases such as chickenpox....
.

History


Pepto-Bismol was originally sold as a remedy for infant diarrhea by Norwich Pharmacal Company under the name Bismosal: Mixture Cholera Infantum, changing to Pepto-Bismol in 1919, and transferring to Procter and Gamble with their 1982 acquisition of Norwich Eaton Pharmaceuticals.

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