The absorption of bismuth and salicylate from oral doses of Pepto‐Bismol (bismuth salicylate)

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Plasma bismuth and plasma salicylate concentrations were measured before and after three 30-ml oral doses of bismuth salicylate (Pepto-Bismol liquid) in 10 fasting healthy subjects. From 0 to 120 min following the first dose of bismuth salicylate, the plasma bismuth concentration was less than 1 ng/ml. The peak median plasma bismuth concentration was at + 240 min (1.7 ng/ml; range 0.8–5.3 ng/ml). Salicylate appeared in the plasma of all subjects at + 30 min, and it reached a peak at + 120 min (median 61 mg/L; range 46–104 mg/L). The study demonstrates that, despite rapid and substantial absorption of salicylate, there is negligible absorption of bismuth into the bloodstream from standard oral doses of bismuth salicylate.