Medication Critique
Tammy Beaty
Grand Canyon University
NUR-641
September 24, 2013
Medication Critique
Pepto Bismol (Pepto) is a popular gastrointestinal medication that has been around since the early 1900s (History of Pepto Bismoth, 2013). It is an over the counter medication that is found in many households. Proctor and Gamble is the pharmaceutical company behind this medication. The company has presented many catchy advertisements over the years. The marketing team began with advertising the claims that Pepto is the stomach first aid medication, and aids in relief of most stomach issues (2013).
An active ingredient in Pepto is bismuth. This was used in as a salve as early as 1733, and in digested form in Europe in the 1700’s (Bierer, 1990). In the early twentieth century a doctor came up with a mixture of pepsin, zinc salts, salol, wintergreen oil, and a pink color, and promoted it as an agent to treat Cholera Infantum (History of Pepto Bismoth, 2013). The added wintergreen flavor, and pink color was chosen to be appealing to children, as this was the targeted population (1990). This was an illness that affected infants, resulting in diarrhea, vomiting that could be fatal (2013). Following the promotion of this medication, evidence showed that this illness was caused by a bacteria that was treatable with antibiotics (2013). The pink liquid known as Pepto Bismoth in 1919 (2013) changed slightly since this time, however it still claims to provide relief from the same gastrointestinal problems. Presently Pepto is presented as a soothing digestive drug with many positive benefits. Claims of the benefits include relief of nausea, heartburn, indigestion, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Some view this medication as a cure all for common gastrointestinal symptoms, and it is a staple in many homes. Proctor and Gamble became the owners of Pepto Bismol in 1982 (2013). The Pepto website reports it is available “in liquid, chewable tablets, and caplets, Pepto-Bismol treats diarrhea and provides fast relief of upset stomach, nausea, heartburn, and indigestion due to overindulgence” (2013).
The writer found interesting information while researching this assignment. A website reported the companies targeted audience is as follows, ages 18-45, residence of the south, and overweight individuals ( which are commonly residents of the south) (Driscoll, 2013). Drug companies will go to extremes to promote their products. While searching Pepto commericals, the author found use of athletes, famous actors, cartoons, holidays, comedy, seriousness, dancing, and singing. The amount of money spent on advertisements can be quite pricy.
Proctor and Gamble has been very creative in producing Pepto commercials that are catchy, and appealing to the public for over fifty years. Many of those commercials mentioned Pepto relieving upset stomach, caused by overindulging in food consumption. A commercial surfaced that used comedy to promote their product. This particular commercial consisted of different scences from holidays where food would traditionally go hand and hand with the celebration. First was a scene at Christmas time, there was a gathering of family eating, and having a merry time. Suddenly a male of what appeared to be in his teens, appeared in the middle of all the gathering sitting sadly on a toilet. The line “stomach problems ruining your holiday? Don’t worry there’s Pepto Bismol. Eat, drink, be covered” (Pepto Bismol Commercial , 2010). Next scene was a Thanksgiving family feast, one with everyone eating until their hearts were content, then the poor guy with the upset tummy was sitting on the toilet again. The same line was used following each holiday scene.During the 4th of July scene individuals were eating hot dogs, and Halloween all the typical candy, and sweets, meanwhile the scenes end with the same sad guy with diarrhea. It was quite comical. The message the author gained from this, and most other Pepto commercials was you can eat anything, and everything, and as much as you desire, if you just take Pepto. This could be viewed as promoting over eating, and that is not healthy in a country with high obesity rates. Other commercials were based on the same concept. Pepto’s claim to fame is the coating, soothing properties of the medication.
According to an article published 1990 the action of Pepto Bismoth are as follows, the BSS enters the gastrointestinal tract, and “is converted to salicylic acid and insoluble bismuth salts. The salicylate portion of BSS is extensively absorbed (>90%) and excreted in urine. The maximal daily dose of Pepto-Bismol (4.2 g of BSS) results in peak concentrations of salicylate in plasma” (Bierer, 1990) which is safe and under the level of salicylate toxicity. Studies on humans, and animals proved it safe to take Pepto for acute issues, for up to 4 weeks (1990). Current text stated this medication is effective in treating mild diarrhea, and can be taken for up to three weeks (Lehne, 2013). It is concerning that individuals could potentially take this medication for weeks, writing their issue off as nothing serious, and not seek medical attention for a potential serious condition.
Intestinomicina is a non FDA approved medication that like Pepto Bismol claims to relieve gas, diarrhea, and upset stomach. The medication is made in El Salvador. The author found a video promoting this medication on Youtube. The video was in Spanish, and consisted of a group playing charades. The guy was making gestures of a person with gas, diarrhea, and upset stomach, and the group was guessing correctly. The last was a gesture of drinking something, and the friends quickly guessed Intestinomicina. The video ended with the companies label for the medication. This is a liquid concoction, that promotes it is the answer to most stomach issues, just as Pepto.
The FDA has put out a warning alert on this drug. It contains a drug Chloramphenicol, which was taken off the market in the US by the FDA because of serious bone marrow toxicity (Intestinomicina (contains chloramphenicol) by Laboratorios Lopez: Safety Alert - Contains Drug Ingredient Withdrawn from US, 2012). This gastrointestinal “remedy” can be found in some US grocery stores. Due to the potential fatal adverse effects, the FDA recommends that individuals discontinue taking this non-approved drug immediately (2012).
Advertising is targeted at sales of a product, to include medications. Some companies will go to extremes to make this happen, even if it means promoting unhealthy life styles. There are many advocates out there, trying to get more guidelines in place for drug companies, and advertisements. While Pepto Bismol would likely not be such a household staple if it had no beneficial properties, there message portrayed of being the stomach cure all, is a little misleading. As for Intestinomicina, it is concerning that stores in the US would carry a product that has been proven to be unsafe.
References
Bierer, D. (1990). Bismuth Subsalicylate: History, Chemistry, & Safety. Reviews of Infectious Diseases, (12).
Driscoll, A. (2013, April). Retrieved from Prezi: Retrieved from: http://prezi.com/gb2upqs1whzj/pepto-bismol/
History of Pepto Bismoth. (2013). Retrieved from Pepto Bismoth: Retrieved from: http://www.pepto-
bismol.com/about/history
Intestinomicina (contains chloramphenicol) by Laboratorios Lopez: Safety Alert - Contains Drug Ingredient
Withdrawn from US. (2012). Retrieved from Drugs.com: Retrieved from:
