Pepto-Bismol: Safe or Harmful for Daily Use?

One thing that I distinctly remember about the very first time I met my father-n-law over 13 years ago was the fact that he took Pepto-Bismol quite often. Well actually it wasn't always the actual brand Pepto-Bismol, but sometimes certain store brands instead. Either way, Bismuth subsalicylate (salicylate is a form of aspirin), the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol and similar medications, is consumed by him on a pretty regular basis. He takes it so often that he carries an entire bottle with him to work on a daily basis. My husband has recently developed his dad's Pepto-Bismol habit, and has started taking a bottle to work with him regularly as well. When I questioned my husband about this, he simply told me that it helps him to ward off diarrhea and other annoying stomach ailments that bother him on a regular basis. I'm sure that Pepto-Bismol can be helpful occasionally because I'˜ve taken it myself, but I was beginning to worry about whether or not taking this over-the-counter medication could cause problems long-term.

So, can it be safely taken long-term?

It's best to stop taking Pepto-Bismol and other bismuth-containing products after a few days unless prescribed by a physician. Despite this fact, people do take Pepto-Bismol on a regular basis, and as long as certain precautions are taken, there shouldn't be many side-effects, if any. Used in conjunction with certain antibiotics, bismuth is quite effective in treating the H-pylori bacteria, but must be prescribed by a physician. If you choose to self-medicate yourself and take Pepto-Bismol on a daily basis, the following individuals should take any aspirin-containing products with caution:

Diabetics - taking Pepto-Bismol on a daily basis can result in false positive urine sugar tests in those with diabetes. Only diabetics with well-controlled glucose levels should take Pepto-Bismol regularly.

Gout - if you suffer from gout, Pepto-Bismol could possibly worsen the condition, or possibly even make gout treatments less effective.

Children under 12 - parents need to be careful when giving any aspirin-containing product to children under 12, especially those who are recovering from the flu or any condition that may have led to decreased levels of fluids in the body.

Stomach Ulcers - for people with certain stomach ulcers, Pepto-Bismol could actually make the ulcer worse.

Hemophilia - conditions that result in excessive bleeding can be worsened by taking Pepto-Bismol regularly, because of the effects of the aspirin, which encourage thinning of the blood.

What's a good alternative to taking Pepto-Bismol products on a daily basis?

People who choose to take Pepto-Bismol on a regular basis may actually benefit from introducing good bacteria to their digestive tracts, which may help to clear up some of the bothersome gastrointestinal ailments that plague them on a regular basis. Good bacteria can be introduced to the body through pills (acidophilus) purchased from your local health food store, specially prepared yogurt such as Dan-Active or Activia, Kefir, or even cultured foods.

For those who wish to take a dose or two of Pepto-Bismol on a daily basis in order to nip pesky stomach ailments in the bud, there doesn't seem to be a risk to long-term health in normal situations. As long as a person doesn't take more than the recommended dose and doesn't have diabetes or any of the other condition that Pepto-Bismol could possibly worsen, taking Pepto-Bismol should be perfectly safe. However, it's always best to see a physician if you're having stomach ailments on a regular basis, because self-medicating with Pepto-Bismol could possibly mask a more serious disorder that requires treatment by a licensed medical professional.

References

http://www.activia.us.com/how-activia-helps/what-is-activia.aspx?suid=0

http://www.drugs.com/cons/pepto-bismol.html

http://gicare.com/MEDICATIONS/Medications.aspx?CID=16&ID=156

http://www.lifeway.net/Products/Kefir.aspx

http://www.pepto-bismol.com/pepto-bismol-faq.php