Pepto Bismol Protocol
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Pepto Bismol Protocol
Hi, I've been searching the forum for information about the Pepto Bismol Protocol, but I'm curious about what is the most current thoughts on it? I saw that it was considered safe but other folks seem well against it, these comments ranging over several years. To try, or not to try?
Karen
Here are my thoughts:
If you are searching for a way to make the diet work faster, the Pepto treatment is a good bet. If it works for you, the average time to remission is about two weeks. Over the years, many members have used it to gain remission. It doesn't work for everyone, (mostly due to side effect risks of tinnitus or neurological symptoms) but it's at least as effective as most stronger medications, including budesonide and mesalamine.
Tex
If you are searching for a way to make the diet work faster, the Pepto treatment is a good bet. If it works for you, the average time to remission is about two weeks. Over the years, many members have used it to gain remission. It doesn't work for everyone, (mostly due to side effect risks of tinnitus or neurological symptoms) but it's at least as effective as most stronger medications, including budesonide and mesalamine.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
and black stool? Black tongue isn’t permanent, is it??
Hi Karen,
No, the black tongue and black stool will return to normal after the treatment is ended.
Thanks, I seem to be doing well these days. Probably better than I deserve, at my age.
Tex
No, the black tongue and black stool will return to normal after the treatment is ended.
Thanks, I seem to be doing well these days. Probably better than I deserve, at my age.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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Pebbledash
- Gentoo Penguin
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- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:37 pm
I wonder if there is any evidence that Pepto Bismol, in the long-run, might do as much harm as it does good?
I say this because I have been using it for about ten years, first as my only treatment (ill-informed consultant) and then as a very regular "top up." When it was my sole treatment, I probably got through nearly a bottle a day at times, and, even with Budesonide, I took pretty heavy doses pretty regularly.
However, I recently stopped it due to tinnitus (no proof that the tinnitus is related to Pepto Bismol, to be fair, but it felt right to stop it in the circumstances). To my surprise, I have been markedly better off since stopping the PB. I still take one Budesonide per day and have been significantly more systematic in my daily doses of cholestyramine.
Paul
I say this because I have been using it for about ten years, first as my only treatment (ill-informed consultant) and then as a very regular "top up." When it was my sole treatment, I probably got through nearly a bottle a day at times, and, even with Budesonide, I took pretty heavy doses pretty regularly.
However, I recently stopped it due to tinnitus (no proof that the tinnitus is related to Pepto Bismol, to be fair, but it felt right to stop it in the circumstances). To my surprise, I have been markedly better off since stopping the PB. I still take one Budesonide per day and have been significantly more systematic in my daily doses of cholestyramine.
Paul
Thanks again, Tex..... I have to say the thought of having a black tongue, long term, was a bit daunting! :-)
I am very glad to hear you are doing well. I, obviously, can't speak about your life outside of the forum, but with all of your good deeds regarding this forum and your mountain of knowledge that you so freely share you do deserve to be 'doing well'!
Paul, I have read about the possibility of tinnitus as a side effect of the PBP. One of the reasons I wanted opinions of the current thoughts regarding the protocol! I'm glad you are doing better!
I am very glad to hear you are doing well. I, obviously, can't speak about your life outside of the forum, but with all of your good deeds regarding this forum and your mountain of knowledge that you so freely share you do deserve to be 'doing well'!
Paul, I have read about the possibility of tinnitus as a side effect of the PBP. One of the reasons I wanted opinions of the current thoughts regarding the protocol! I'm glad you are doing better!
Karen
Hi Paul,
Karen is right, of course, there's plenty of evidence that long-term use of bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) is contraindicated. Not only tinnitus, but various neurological issues have been shown to be a risk when the subsalicylate accumulates because the body is unable to purge it fast enough. The original study (published in Gastroenterology in 1998) showed that 8 tablets per day for eight weeks was a safe treatment. Above and beyond that would be traveling in uncharted waters. Some people are able to handle longer term treatments, and some are not.
Then there's the age-old problem of induced tolerance. After long-term use of many (perhaps most) medications, the body develops a tolerance, and the medication begins to lose efficacy. Eventually, it may become a liability, as the efficacy disappears and only the undesirable side effects remain.
Tex
Karen is right, of course, there's plenty of evidence that long-term use of bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto Bismol) is contraindicated. Not only tinnitus, but various neurological issues have been shown to be a risk when the subsalicylate accumulates because the body is unable to purge it fast enough. The original study (published in Gastroenterology in 1998) showed that 8 tablets per day for eight weeks was a safe treatment. Above and beyond that would be traveling in uncharted waters. Some people are able to handle longer term treatments, and some are not.
Then there's the age-old problem of induced tolerance. After long-term use of many (perhaps most) medications, the body develops a tolerance, and the medication begins to lose efficacy. Eventually, it may become a liability, as the efficacy disappears and only the undesirable side effects remain.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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rcchild@gpcom.net
- Little Blue Penguin
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- Location: Nebraska
Karen,
If you take the Pepto Bismol caplets, you won't have to worry about the black tongue. I tried them for a very short period of time and the WD got worse but, in my case, I think it is one or more of the inactive ingredients. If I try the protocol again, I will experiment with each type of Pepto Bismol (and Kaopectate which has the same amount of bismuth) and see if there is one I can tolerate. The inactive ingredients are different in each product.
For now I've decided to try cholestryramine. The inactive ingredients may be a problem with it also.
Keep us posted if you do the protocol. I'm very interested in how it works for you.
Carol C
If you take the Pepto Bismol caplets, you won't have to worry about the black tongue. I tried them for a very short period of time and the WD got worse but, in my case, I think it is one or more of the inactive ingredients. If I try the protocol again, I will experiment with each type of Pepto Bismol (and Kaopectate which has the same amount of bismuth) and see if there is one I can tolerate. The inactive ingredients are different in each product.
For now I've decided to try cholestryramine. The inactive ingredients may be a problem with it also.
Keep us posted if you do the protocol. I'm very interested in how it works for you.
Carol C
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Pebbledash
- Gentoo Penguin
- Posts: 260
- Joined: Sun Aug 11, 2013 1:37 pm
Thanks for the replies!
I wonder if there if there is more than just tolerance issues going on over a sustained period of use; whether, for instance, PB can impact the digestive tract's balance of bacteria, or something along those lines.
Pure speculation, of course, and based on only one month of being off the stuff. Just food for thought.
Cheers
Paul
I wonder if there if there is more than just tolerance issues going on over a sustained period of use; whether, for instance, PB can impact the digestive tract's balance of bacteria, or something along those lines.
Pure speculation, of course, and based on only one month of being off the stuff. Just food for thought.
Cheers
Paul
Pepto Bismol has slight antibiotic attributes, so heavy, long-term use could possibly cause gut bacteria problems. That's another reason why it's not recommended for long-term use.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Hi, Karen. I'm a Pepto success story (recommended by my GI when I was diagnosed). I took 2 tablets/4xday for 8 weeks. AFter a few weeks I cut back to 6 a day because I became C. My GI told me not to chew the tablets or my tongue would turn black. No problem, I broke them in 1/2 and swallowed with water. You don't have to chew them. I have not taken any other medication but changed my diet as recommended in Tex's book and reading the forums on here. I'm in remission for 5 years now. I haven't had to take the Pepto since then except 1 time when I thought it was tuna that I ate, but I figured out I took too much zinc and it caused D.
Marcia
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
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My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor and some style. - M. Angelou
I'm told they now offer a tablet designed for swallowing (in addition to the gel caplet that's meant to be swallowed). Both of those should prevent black tongue.
Tex
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.