Pepto-Bismol is a product used to treat minor disorders of the digestive system, which is currently produced by a Procter & Gamble company. It is known to effectively treat symptoms such as nausea, heartburn, stomach ache, diarrhea, indigestion, and other upset stomach aches. More importantly, children recovering from influenza or chickenpox have also been known not to take it, as well as during cold and flu season.
So is it safe to give Pepto-Bismol to your children? Well, that’s actually a very general question. It is generally safe with the exception of a few situations. To find out for sure if it is safe to give Pepto-Bismol to your children, during any time of the year, consult your doctor.
Pepto-Bismol Strength may be harmful to your child, but there is a safe alternative. Personally, I’m not sure why people give Pepto-Bismol to their children when they know that giving them aspirin or salicylate increases the risk of Reye’s Drug Syndrome, just for the purpose of solving minor stomach problems. Pepto-Bismol has the so-called bismuth subsalicylate as its main active ingredient, which is responsible for its distinctive pink color. Again, allowing your child to take this ingredient while recovering from chickenpox or the flu should be avoided.
Two other factors that determine whether it’s safe to give Pepto-Bismol to your children are your child’s age and the type you’re considering. Although regular strength Pepto-Bismol seems to work like a miracle drug for stomach upsets like indigestion, heartburn, nausea, and diarrhea, the benefit of resolving these minor upsets does not outweigh the risk of ingesting bismuth subsalicylate. , the main ingredient in Pepto-Bismol strength, which is linked to the life-threatening disorder Reye’s Syndrome.
Fortunately, the FDA recognizes this fact and only allows Pepto-Bismol strength to be available only with label instructions stating that it can only be taken by children 12 years and older. Some doctors go further and recommend that even teenagers not take it.
So what is the safe alternative to strong Pepto-Bismol that I talked about earlier? There is another alternative to the strength of Peptro-Bismol that is Pepto chewable tablets, especially indicated for children. These help relieve stomach pain, acid indigestion, heartburn, etc. thanks to the main active ingredient Calcium Carbonate. These tablets are fine for younger children, even as young as two years old, and are not associated with Reye’s syndrome. Since it’s basically a decent calcium supplement, it’s perfect for those who rarely drink milk or other milk-fortified beverages.
You can even say that Pepto chewable tablets are healthy for children. However, no matter where you buy these tablets, read the label directions to make sure the tablets you buy contain calcium. You are the only one who can really double check and make sure.