Maria Pitillo, who has Western New York roots, didn't take the typical route to stardom. You could say that she went from Pepto-Bismol to "Partners" (9 p.m. Monday, Channel 29). The perky, adorable star, who is the best thing about the engaging new Fox comedy, essentially got into acting 10 years ago by accident.

Pepto-Bismol is an over-the-counter drug currently produced by the Procter & Gamble company in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Pepto-Bismol is made in chewable tablets and swallowable caplets, but it is best known for its original formula, which is a thick liquid.

Bismuth subsalicylate is the main ingredient in Pepto-Bismol. This medicine is used for heartburn and acid reflux, indigestion, diarrhoea and feeling sick (nausea). It works by protecting your stomach and the lower part of your food pipe from stomach acid.

Avoid Pepto Bismol if you take aspirin regularly. It is not advisable during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Children under 12 years of age should not take salicylate products due to an increased risk for Reye's Syndrome.

Maria Pitillo was born in Elmira, NY, and grew up in Mahwah, NJ. She is of Italian and Irish descent.

Erica Shaffer is an American actress who has worked in independent films and television. Her film appearances include A Family Affair, The Truth is Always Complicated, The Fall, Catalina Trust, The Socratic Method, Three on a Match and West Coast.

Bismuth subsalicylate is a medication used to manage and treat gastrointestinal discomfort and traveler's diarrhea.

Where does the name come from? Pepto was a marketeer's version of pepsin, a natural substance that aids digestion. Bismol is named for bismuth, the active ingredient that works, Schwartz says, by “coating the stomach.” Even though Pepto is now pepsin-less, no one could bear to change the name.

The medicine forms a protective coating over the lower part of your food pipe (oesophagus), and partly coats your stomach. This helps protect them from stomach acid. It also has weak antacid properties that may help reduce too much stomach acid. This will ease feelings of pain and discomfort.

Sometimes referred to as "the pink stuff," Pepto-Bismol is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication that is safe and effective for short-term use. Side effects are generally mild and can include a black tongue, black stool, and constipation. More serious side effects can occur but are rare.

Salicylate toxicity can occur after overdose. Avoid Pepto Bismol if you take aspirin regularly. It is not advisable during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Children under 12 years of age should not take salicylate products due to an increased risk for Reye's Syndrome.

Sometimes, however, it can cause more serious side effects like ringing in the ears or Reye's syndrome in children. Don't take Pepto-Bismol for more than two days and avoid taking if you have health conditions like an aspirin allergy, if you're taking certain medications, or you are pregnant.