Simeticone
Anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simeticone (INN), also known as simethicone (USAN), is an anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas.
 | |
| Clinical data | |
|---|---|
| Trade names | Infacol, Wind-eze, WindSetlers, others |
| Other names | Simethicone[1] (USAN US) |
| AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
| Pregnancy category |
|
| Routes of administration | Oral |
| ATC code | |
| Legal status | |
| Legal status |
|
| Pharmacokinetic data | |
| Bioavailability | None |
| Protein binding | 0% |
| Metabolism | Not metabolized |
| Elimination half-life | N/A |
| Excretion | Feces |
| Identifiers | |
| |
| CAS Number | |
| PubChem CID | |
| DrugBank | |
| ChemSpider |
|
| ChEMBL | |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.107.016 |
| Chemical and physical data | |
| Formula | (C2H6OSi)n · (SiO2)m |
| Molar mass | Variable |
  (what is this?) (verify) | |
Medical uses
Simethicone is used to relieve the symptoms of excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract, namely bloating, burping, and flatulence.[2][3] While there is a lack of conclusive evidence that simethicone is effective for this use,[4][5][failed verification] studies have shown that it can relieve symptoms of functional dyspepsia[6] and functional bloating.[7]
It has not been fully established that simethicone is useful to treat colic in babies,[8] and it is not recommended for this purpose.[5] A study in the United Kingdom reported that according to parental perception simethicone helped infant colic in some cases.[9]
Simethicone can also be used for suspected postoperative abdominal discomfort in infants.[10]
Side effects
Simethicone does not have any known serious or severe side effects.[11] Two uncommon side effects (occurring in 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 patients) are constipation and nausea.[12]
Though poorly documented,[13] some studies show a possible negative interaction between simethicone and levothyroxine, meaning it can possibly bind levothyroxine in the GI tract and hence reduce its absorption leaving the patient prone to clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism. It is important to mention the long T1/2 of levothyroxine which makes the phenomenon a matter of at least a week of using levothyroxine with simethicone. To prevent this interaction, simethicone is recommended to be taken at least 4 hours before or after levothyroxine.[14]
Pharmacology
Simethicone is a non-systemic surfactant which decreases the surface tension of gas bubbles in the GI tract.[11] This allows gas bubbles to leave the GI tract as flatulence or belching.[11] Simethicone does not reduce or prevent the formation of gas.[15] Its effectiveness has been shown in several in vitro studies.[16][17]
Chemistry
Simethicone is a mixture of dimethicone and silicon dioxide.[18]
Names
The INN name is "simethicone", which was added to the INN recommended list in 1999.[19]
Simethicone is marketed under many brand names and in many combination drugs; it is also marketed as a veterinary drug.[20]
Brands |
|---|
|
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, Gasimetin, 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, Polysilane Junior, 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.[20] It is also marketed as a combination drug:[20]
It is also marketed as a veterinary drug under the brands Birp and Methysilox. |