Simethicone
 | |
| Systematic (IUPAC) name | |
|---|---|
|
Poly(dimethylsiloxane), silicon dioxide | |
| Clinical data | |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | monograph |
| Pregnancy category |
|
| Routes of administration | Oral |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
|
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | not absorbed from the gut |
| Protein binding | 0% |
| Metabolism | Not metabolized |
| Biological half-life | Unknown |
| Excretion | feces |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number |
8050-81-5  |
| ATC code | A03AX13 (WHO) |
| PubChem | CID 6433516 |
| ChemSpider | none |
| ChEMBL |
CHEMBL1200838  |
| Chemical data | |
| Formula | (C2H6OSi)n · (SiO2)m |
| Molar mass | variable |
| (what is this?) (verify) | |
Simethicone is an orally administered anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas — mainly swallowed air, with small amounts of hydrogen and methane[1][2]— in the stomach or intestines. Simethicone is a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane and hydrated silica gel.
Chemical action and pharmaceutical effects
Simethicone is an anti-foaming agent that decreases the surface tension of gas bubbles, causing them to combine into larger bubbles in the stomach that can be passed more easily. Simethicone does not reduce or prevent the formation of gas in the digestive tract, rather, it increases the rate at which it exits the body.[3] However, simethicone can relieve pain caused by gas in the intestines by decreasing foaming, which then allows for easier passing of flatulence.
Simethicone is not absorbed by the body into the bloodstream, and is therefore considered relatively safe. National Institutes of Health (NIH)[4] reports there are usually no side effects when simethicone is taken as directed. Although simethicone has also been promoted as a treatment for colic in babies, randomised controlled trials have not demonstrated efficacy for this use; despite traditional views on the subject, colic does not appear to be caused by gas.[5][6]
Availability
Simethicone is generally available over the counter under many brand names in varying dosage sizes and combinations with other drugs, including:
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Side effects
The most common adverse effects of simethicone are gastrointestinal symptoms, including mild diarrhea, nausea, regurgitation, and vomiting.[9]
References
- ↑ http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/digestive_disorders/gas_in_the_digestive_tract_85,P00369/
- ↑ http://www.badgut.org/information-centre/intestinal-gas.html
- ↑ Norton, William (2005-01-09). "Controlling Intestinal Gas". Retrieved 2007-07-31.
- ↑ PubMed Health, produced by National Center for Biotechnology, a division of the National Library of Medicine at the National Institutes of Health; see http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0000747/
- ↑ University of Michigan clinical trial for simethicone used for colic
- ↑ Patient.info on colic
- ↑ Product information (German)
- ↑ Product information (German)
- ↑ from Micromedex Dug Information. Retrieved 2013-01-13.
External links
- "Jackson Gastroenterology - Patient Education - Simethicone". Retrieved Nov 11, 2013.
- "Medline Plus - Simethicone". Archived from the original on February 19, 2007. Retrieved Nov 11, 2013.
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