FDA Says to Avoid Antacids With Aspirin in New Warning - Best Life

But the next time you're suffering from heartburn or an upset stomach, you might want to take a second look at the antacids you have on hand.

The agency has long warned that aspirin can increase someone's risk of bleeding, and now it's extending the concern to antacids that have aspirin as an ingredient.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb.

"Aspirin-containing medicines to treat heartburn, sour stomach, acid indigestion or upset stomach can cause stomach or intestinal bleeding," the FDA said in its new warning.

The agency previously issued an alert in 2009 about the risk of aspirin-containing antacids.

"There are plenty of stomach medicines that don't contain aspirin," the agency said.

Karen Murry, MD, deputy director of the Office of Nonprescription Drugs at the FDA, advised consumers to "take a close look" at the Drug Facts label on their OTC antacids.

According to Murry, those that contain aspirin will have it included on the label, as well as have the risk factors for bleeding listed.

"If the product has aspirin, consider choosing something else for your stomach symptoms," she said in a statement, noting that "unless people read the Drug Facts label when they're looking for stomach symptom relief, they might not even think about the possibility that a stomach medicine could contain aspirin.".

"Aspirin is a type of salicylate drug, and the bismuth incorporated in Pepto-Bismol is formulated with a salicylate in a compound called bismuth subsalicylate.

According to the FDA, it is believed that the aspirin in certain combination medicines—like antacids with aspirin—are contributing to major bleeding events, as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like aspirin thin the blood.

"Warning signs of stomach or intestinal bleeding include feeling faint, vomiting blood, passing black or bloody stools, or having abdominal pain," the FDA said.