Use
Bismuth subsalicylate, an active ingredient in the popular medication Pepto-Bismol, is used for the treatment of nausea, heartburn, indigestion, upset stomach, diarrhea, and other temporary discomforts of the stomach and gastrointestinal tract (including duodenal and peptic ulcers, ulcerative colitis, and diarrhea. It is also the main ingredient of Kaopectate. It displays anti-inflammatory action (due to salicylic acid) and also can also act as an antacid and mild antibiotic. In conjunction with antibiotic compounds such as tetracycline, clarithromyacin, and amoxicillin, bismuth subsalicylate has been effective in the treatment and eradication of Helicobacter pylori, the bacterium linked to gastritis and ulceration implicated in the development of gastric cancer and gastric lymphoma.