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. 1986 Apr;29(4):625–627. doi: 10.1128/aac.29.4.625

Prevention of traveler's diarrhea by the tablet form of bismuth subsalicylate.

R Steffen, H L DuPont, R Heusser, A Helminger, F Witassek, M D Manhart, M Schär
PMCID: PMC180455  PMID: 3518624

Abstract

In a randomized double-blind study, Swiss adults traveling to tropical countries for 12 to 28 days took a solid formulation of bismuth subsalicylate (1.05 or 2.1 g/day on a twice-daily regimen) or placebo. Efficacy was evaluated in 231 volunteers. Diarrheal incidence was reduced by 41% in persons taking the high dose (P = 0.007) and by 35% in those taking the low dose (P = 0.03) with excellent compliance. No serious adverse reactions occurred, but objectionable taste, constipation, and nausea were seen more frequently with active medication (P = 0.04). Twenty patients provided stool samples: no bacteria were detected in the 8 volunteers who were on active medication, but various bacteria were found in 5 of the 12 patients who had taken placebo (P = 0.04).

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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