bismuth subsalicylate

Bismuth subsalicylate
Systematic (IUPAC) name
(2-hydroxybenzoato-O1,O2)oxo-bismuth,
Identifiers
CAS number	87-27-4
ATC code	?
PubChem	16682734
Chemical data
Formula	C7H5BiO4
Mol. mass	362.11 g/mol
Pharmacokinetic data
Bioavailability	?
Metabolism	?
Half life	?
Excretion	?
Therapeutic considerations
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status
Routes	?

Bismuth subsalicylate, with a chemical formula C₇H₅BiO₄,^[1] is the active ingredient in the popular medication Pepto-Bismol that is used to treat nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract. It is also the main ingredient of Kaopectate (since 2003, replacing attapulgite).

It displays anti-inflammatory action (due to salicylic acid) and also acts as an antacid and mild antibiotic.

It can also cause a black tongue and black stools in some users of the drug, when it combines with trace amounts of sulfur in their saliva and gastrointestinal tract. This discoloration is temporary and harmless.

Children should not take medication with Bismuth subsalicylate while recovering from the flu or chicken pox, as epidemiologic evidence points to an association between the use of salicylate containing medications during certain viral infections and the onset of Reye's syndrome.[1]

See also

• Bismuth
• Salicylic acid

References

External links

• Drug information page at the National Institutes of Health
• Pepto-bismol official website FAQ

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