Important Warnings and Precautions for Pepto Bismol 262.5mg Chewable Tablets
Do not take this medicine if you:
- Are allergic to bismuth subsalicylate, salicylates (including aspirin), or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6 of the PIL).
- Are taking other salicylates, including aspirin.
- Have a stomach ulcer.
- Have an increased risk of bleeding.
- Have a bloody or black stool.
- Are under the age of 16 years due to a possible association between salicylates and Reye's syndrome (a very rare but serious disease).
- Are pregnant or breast-feeding.
Pepto Bismol should not be used by children under 16 years, especially those who have or are recovering from a viral infection such as chicken pox or flu, due to a possible association between salicylates and Reye's syndrome (a very rare but serious disease).
Do not use and talk to your doctor or pharmacist before taking Pepto Bismol if you:
- Have fever.
- Have mucus in your stools.
- Have a blood clotting disorder or gout.
- Are taking medicines for thinning blood (anticoagulants), diabetes, gout, arthritis (such as methotrexate) or tetracycline antibiotics.
Children and adolescents: This medicine should not be used by those under the age of 16 years.
Other medicines and Pepto-Bismol Chewable Tablets: Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken or might take any other medicines, before using Pepto-Bismol. Especially if you are taking medicines for:
- Anticoagulation/thinning of the blood (medicines that treat or prevent blood clots like warfarin).
- Gout.
- Diabetes.
- Arthritis.
- Tetracycline antibiotics.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: Pepto-Bismol should not be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding. If you are pregnant or breast-feeding, think you may be pregnant or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
Driving and using machines: No effect on the ability to drive or use of machinery has been observed.
Important ingredient information:
- Sodium: This medicine contains less than 1 mmol sodium (23 mg) per tablet, that is to say essentially 'sodium-free'.
- Aspartame: This medicine contains 0.75 mg aspartame in each tablet. Aspartame is a source of phenylalanine. It may be harmful if you have phenylketonuria (PKU), a rare genetic disorder in which phenylalanine builds up because the body cannot remove it properly.
- Amaranth: May cause allergic reactions. Product contains the colouring E 123, which may cause allergic reactions including asthma.
Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. This medicine may cause temporary harmless gastrointestinal effects, such as:
- Darkening of the stool (affects more than 1 in 10 people), and/or
- Darkening of the tongue (affects more than 1 in 100 people).
If these symptoms do not disappear after 3 days of stopping product use, consult your doctor or pharmacist.