About this information
This NHS content is written for people in England. Medicine names, availability, prescribing and services may differ in other countries.
Bismuth subsalicylate is the main ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. This medicine is used for heartburn and acid reflux, indigestion, diarrhoea and feeling sick (nausea).
It works by forming a protective coating in your stomach, the lower part of your food pipe and your gut.
Pepto-Bismol comes as tablets and a liquid that you swallow. You can buy it from pharmacies and shops.
View the original NHS website page ↗. Refreshed 19 August 2026.
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