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| - Last Updated on October 7, 2024 by Nivedita
Quick Take
The Claim
An Instagram user claims that the news does not talk about Pepto-Bismol treating Covid. It is because big pharma controls the news and they don’t make money from repurposing off-patent drugs.
Similar social media posts have been shared on Facebook.
Fact Check
What is Pepto-Bismol medicine used for?
Pepto-Bismol, also known as bismuth subsalicylate (BSS), is a medicine used to relieve stomach problems including nausea, diarrhea, and indigestion. A study published in 2015 shows that BSS has antimicrobial properties that kill bacteria to clean the gut.
Can Pepto-Bismol medicine treat Covid infection?
No. Pepto-Bismol cannot treat Covid infection. BSS can relieve gastrointestinal symptoms but is not likely to have a significant impact on Covid virus.
Even though Covid symptoms largely focus on the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal symptoms are also common because the virus is well known to infect the gut.
We could not find any scientific evidence that can prove Pepto-Bismol can treat Covid infection. Even if there exists any incident of people feeling better after taking BSS, the evidence is purely anecdotal. The evidence also suggests that the clinical course of COVID is variable because some people are fortunately asymptomatic and other people have very mild disease and recover rapidly. Whereas some people, unfortunately, develop much more severe diseases.
We need more evidence in the form of human trials to assess the potential preventive and therapeutic role of BSS against Covid infection.
As we look at various treatments and their effectiveness, it’s essential to also consider dietary approaches, like the keto diet, and their potential impact on COVID-19 vaccine responses.
Social media users have also posted a clinical trial to support the claim. The clinical trial was done to see if BSS could also help treat Covid patients because the drug could treat other intestinal viral infections. However, the trial is still not complete yet. The preliminary report only suggests that BSS can reduce Covid symptoms.
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