Simeticone


Simeticone, also known as simethicone, is an anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas.

Medical uses

Simeticone is used to relieve the symptoms of excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract, namely bloating, burping and flatulence. While there is a lack of conclusive evidence that simeticone is effective for this use, studies have shown that it can relieve symptoms of functional dyspepsia and functional bloating.
Efficacy has not been fully established that simeticone is useful to treat colic in babies, and it is not recommended for this purpose; however, evidence is sparse. In 2017, a study in the United Kingdom reported that according to parental perception simeticone helped infant colic in some cases.

Side effects

Two possible side effects which are uncommon are constipation and nausea.

Pharmacology

Simeticone is an anti-foaming agent that decreases the surface tension of gas bubbles, causing them to combine into larger bubbles in the digestive tract. Its effectiveness has been shown in several in vitro studies.
However, simeticone does not reduce or prevent the formation of gas.

Chemistry

The chemical name for simeticone is α--ω-methylpoly, mixture with silicon dioxide.

Society and culture

The INN name is "simeticone", which was added to the INN recommended list in 1999.
Simeticone is marketed under many brand names and in many combination drugs; it is also marketed as a veterinary drug.
Brand names include A.F., Acid Off, Aero Red, Aero-OM, Aero-Sim, Aerocol, Aerox, Aesim, Aflat, Air-X, Anaflat, Antiflat, Baby Rest, Bicarsim, Bicarsim Forte, Blow-X, Bobotic, Bobotik, Carbogasol, Colic E, Colin, Cuplaton, Degas, Dentinox, Dermatix, Digesta, Dimetikon Meda, Disflatyl, Disolgas, Elugan N, Elzym, Endo-Paractol, Enterosilicona, Espaven Antigas, Espumisan, Espumisan L, Flacol, Flapex, Flatidyl, Flatoril, Flatulex, Flucolic, Gas X, Gas-X, Gaselab, Gaseoflat, Gaseoflatex, Gaseophar, Gaseoplus, Gaseovet, Gaservol, Gasnil, Gasofilm, Gastrex, Gastrosen, Gazim X, Gazix, Geludrox-HS, Genasyme, Ilio-Funkton, Imogas, Imogaze, Imonogas, Infacalm, Infacol, Infacolic, Lefax, Lefaxin, Lefoam, Logastin, Luftal, Maxi Flat, Meteosim, Metiorisan, Metsil, Mylanta, Mylicon, Mylicongas, Mylom, Mymus, Nanog, Neodrop, Neogasol, Neolanta, Orocure, Ovol, Pedicon, Phazin, Phazyme, Restime, Rugby Gas Relief, Sab Simplex, Salinal, Semecon, Semeth, Sicongast, Siflat, Silbione, Siligas, Silipin, Sim, Simcone, Simecon, Simecrin, Simedill, Simegut, Simet, Simethicon, Simethicone, Simetic, Simeticon, Simeticona, Simeticone, Siméticone, Simeticonum, Simetigast, Simflat, Simicol, Simicon, Wilcon, Wind-eze and WindSetlers.
It is also marketed as a combination drug:
It is also marketed as veterinary drug under the brands Birp and Methysilox.