A Case Report on Bismuth-Induced Encephalopathy Secondary to Pepto-Bismol
Nathaniel G Blanchard, Monica Sanjuan, Nathaniel Wang, Sheila C Lally · 2026
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Description
Nathaniel G Blanchard and colleagues report in 2026 how a common stomach remedy quietly harmed a 77-year-old man's brain. He had taken bismuth subsalicylate daily for over two years to manage a colitis illness. Growing confusion, tremor, unsteady gait, and weakness near the trunk followed, with several hospital stays.
Wide testing found no cause, and doctors first blamed a Parkinson-like disease. A blood test at last showed bismuth levels well above normal, naming the over-the-counter drug as the culprit. Stopping the product plus support care brought gradual healing over months, with levels back to normal. Bismuth toxicity mimics common brain disease, which explains the long hunt. The authors stress drug-list review that covers non-prescribed products too. Spotting it early spares patients more scans and wrong treatments, and healing is possible once the source stops.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | Nathaniel G Blanchard, Monica Sanjuan, Nathaniel Wang, Sheila C Lally |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 15 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |