Gases produced by bacteria are produced in the human intestine. Although this process is completely natural, it can become symptomatic if excessive gas production occurs. The escape of intestinal gases from the anus is then called flatulence. Flatulence is extremely unpleasant both for the person affected and for his or her immediate surroundings. Most patients therefore look for a medication that reduces flatulence.
Active ingredient group
Drugs from the group of antiflatulent agents (carminatives) provide relief from the undesirable escape of intestinal gases. The active ingredients of carminatives include many plant species (e.g. fennel, caraway, etc.) as well as the active ingredients Simeticon and Mebeverin and activated carbon.
Simeticon is administered orally (through the mouth), usually as a chewable tablet. It dissolves gas bubbles that have formed in the chyme during digestion and promotes intestinal movement, so that free air is transported out of the intestine together with the chyme and does not remain in the digestive tract. Simeticon also alleviates the feeling of fullness and is used for diagnostic imaging, for example in colonoscopies.
Here, the active ingredient ensures that air is eliminated from the intestine and thus no air shadows occur. Colonoscopy then provides better results. Preparations containing Simeticon, such as Simethicon-ratiopharm® are freely available in pharmacies.
Side effects when taking Simeticon are not known so far. Another active ingredient for the treatment of flatulence, mebeverine, is administered as a retarded capsule and relieves not only flatulence but also abdominal cramps. It has an antispasmodic effect on the smooth muscles within the intestinal wall.
Mebeverine is used not only for flatulence, but also for irritable bowel syndrome and pain caused by trapped air (flatus incarceratus). Drugs containing mebeverine are available only on prescription in Germany. Duspatal® or Mebeverin dura® are the common drugs containing mebeverin.
Side effects which can occur when taking such preparations are nausea, dizziness, drowsiness / tiredness or, more rarely, confusion and severe allergic reactions. A third substance effective against flatulence is activated carbon (also known as medicinal carbon). Activated carbon binds substances (e.g. toxins) to itself and thus ensures that the substances are not absorbed into the blood through the intestinal wall.
Activated carbon is therefore primarily used in cases of acute poisoning or diarrhoea. The treatment of flatulence with activated carbon is a “side effect”. If higher doses of activated carbon are taken, side effects such as black coloration of the stool, nausea or vomiting occur.
All articles in this series:
