Pepto Question

[Pam V]

I hope you are all doing well!

I’m writing tonight with some questions about managing a flare with Pepto Bismol.

I bought the chewable Pepto tablets ~ they were a bit less expensive than the caplets or gelcaps. The directions say to chew or dissolve in the mouth ~ will I get the same benefit if I cut them and take them with water like a pill?

When would I expect to see relief/results. I took 6 tablets per day from Sun-Wednesday. Poop was formed but soft. It sounds childish but the black poop was freaking me out a bit. When I cut back to two tablets, sludge returned. I have only been eating plain baked sweet potato, banana, and jasmine rice with either ground Turkey or beef. I think I was hoping with such a basic diet, I wouldn’t see sludgy Norman.

Things are a little different from when this first hit in 2017. I recall being extremely gassy back then ~ I am a little bit gassy now but nothing like then. I’m not having any pain (physically) but am sure struggling mentally to be back to this regime.

I have kind people in my life who look alarmed when I say that the process is 8 doses/day for 8 weeks. I like to follow rules so I guess it makes me a little nervous when the box says not to use more than two days….

I’ve continued to have a cup of coffee im the morning. I’m drinking it black and not with almond milk as I like it. Is that something I should eliminate for now?

Thank you all in advance for any wisdom you can share.

Best wishes ~
Pam

[tex]

Hello Pam,

I see that no one has responded, so I'll offer my opinion.

The Original Medical Trial for this treatment showed an average time to remission of two weeks, despite the fact that the official trial length was eight weeks. Taking less than eight per day, may result in taking longer to reach remission, and of course we're all different, but typically, most MC patients don't need to take the full dose for the full eight weeks in order to achieve remission. Most of us see remission in a couple of weeks (or less), and most members reduce the dose as they improve, in order to prevent constipation.

The label precautions about limiting treatment length is there primarily because a few people have problems eliminating bismuth subsalicylate (the active ingredient in Pepto-Bismol) from their systems (because bismuth is a heavy metal). Most people have no problems, and I'm aware of some individuals who have taken it for very long periods at full strength (eight tablets per day), with no problems. Here's a link to the original medical trial for the treatment, published back in 1998, after Dr. Fine proved that the treatment was effective for controlling MC, in case you would like to read it.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9428215/

Tex

[Pam V]

Tex,

Thank you so much for your insight and for sharing the article. I’m feeling a bit better today ~ not as gassy, eating very basic foods, and will keep up with the Pepto regime. I appreciate all that you have done and continue to do to help us live our best lives with MC.

Best wishes ~
Pam

[Marcia K]

Hi, Pam. Sorry, I'm only seeing your question now. I'm a Pepto success story. It's not a problem to cut the tablet in 1/2 & take with water. That's how i took them. My GI said not to chew them or my tongue would turn black. I started with 8/day for 8 weeks. After a few weeks I became C so I cut back to 6/day. I took them for the 8 weeks ( my stool was black as you mentioned) and then with dietary changes as recommended in Tex's book and recommendations from this group I found remission. I have never had a major flare and it's 8 years now. I never cheat and while I sometimes eat too many chips or something else that's not really healthy for me, I have been doing well in spite of this hideous disease.

[Pam V]

Thank you, Marcia! I appreciate your input and sharing your story. I have anxiety to begin with and this flare is ramping things up a bit. I’m going forward with the Pepto, trying very hard to keep Ingredients to a minimum, switched from coffee to green tea in the AM and am trying to maintain a positive outlook.

Thank you, again, for your help!

Best wishes, Pam

[Marcia K]

You're very welcome, Pam! I hope you have success with the Pepto. Please keep us posted.