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FDA Issues Warning about Taking the Wrong Maalox Product

Maalox is a well-known product for treating gas and upset stomach. Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned that taking the wrong Maalox can result in serious side effects. The FDA advised that people should not take Maalox® Total Relief when a milder Maalox liquid antacid should be used. Please read on for safety news if you or your children or teens use Maalox products.

Maalox Total Relief and traditional Maalox products are all over-the-counter liquid medicines but they are not the same, and should not be used in place of each other. These products are meant to treat different health problems.

Use of traditional Maalox products
Maalox liquid products including Maalox® Advanced Regular Strength and Maalox® Advanced Maximum Strength are well-recognized antacid drug products used to treat:

• Acid indigestion
• Heartburn
• Sour stomach or upset stomach
• The pressure and bloating most often called gas

Use of Maalox Total Relief
Maalox Total Relief is used to treat:

• Diarrhea
• Upset stomach with nausea
• Heartburn
• Gas due to overeating

Total Relief contains bismuth subsalicylate, which, like aspirin, may cause side effects such as stomach bleeding. Bismuth subsalicylate should not be used:

• By children and teens who are recovering from a viral illness
• By people who have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding illnesses
• With anti-diabetic medicines given by mouth, blood thinning drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin) or Plavix (clopidogrel), and anti-pain drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen

Before you buy a product, be sure to read all the labels carefully to select the right one. Read about the active ingredients, uses and warnings in the “Drug Facts” box. If you are not sure which product is right for you, check with your pharmacist or doctor. You may also call the drug company, Novartis, at their Consumer Relations Center at 1-800-452-0051 with questions about any of their Maalox products.