Simethicone

Article Details

Citation Copy to clipboard

Ingold CJ, Akhondi H

Simethicone

PubMed ID

]

Abstract

Simethicone is a silicone compound used for the management of flatulence and bloating. It relieves the discomfort produced by the presence of excess gas in the gastrointestinal tract. It was FDA approved in 1952.[1] Since then, it has been researched for use as a skin protectant,[2] for treatment of Helicobacter pylori,[3], and most recently in endurance athletes to reduce exercise-related GI symptoms.[4] Researchers also studied simethicone for the treatment of infantile colic, but they did not find it to be effective.[5] Simethicone is not useful for ileus, small bowel obstruction, or constipation. Other causes of such symptoms that could be related to gallstones or heart disease should be kept in mind when utilizing simethicone. Additional signs and symptoms, such as vomiting, hematochezia, and severe abdominal tenderness, require further investigation. Simethicone has also demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated as a component of a contrast agent to improve sonographic imaging in the abdomen.[6]

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drugs: Simethicone