title: The absorption of bismuth and salicylate from oral doses of Pepto-Bismol (bismuth salicylate).
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.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Medicine, Royal Free Hospital School of Medicine, London UK.
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Nwokolo
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mistry
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Pounder
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001729:Bismuth / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012459:Salicylates / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D020156:Salicylic Acid
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D012459:Salicylates; C015715:bismuth subsalicylate; D020156:Salicylic Acid; D001729:Bismuth