Simeticon: Effects, Uses & Risks

Simeticon belongs to the class of carminatives. The drug is used to treat flatulence and bloating.

What is simeticon?

Simeticon belongs to the carminatives. The drug is used to treat flatulence and bloating. Simeticon is the name given to an active ingredient that belongs to the group of carminatives. These are drugs against flatulence. Thus, the orally administered preparation is used for the treatment of flatulence, bloating and abdominal pain caused by an excess of gas in the gastrointestinal tract. Simeticon is used to dissolve large gas accumulations in the gastrointestinal tract. Another area of application for simeticon is poisoning with dishwashing detergents. The active ingredient can also be administered in preparation for imaging examinations of the stomach and intestines. The approval of simeticon took place in the USA in 1952. The drug is considered reliable and safe because it has a purely physical effect. It can even be used without hesitation in pregnant women and children. Nowadays, there is a wide range of simeticon preparations on the market. Different doses or combinations are offered. Simeticon is also available in Germany.

Pharmacological effect

Many people suffer repeatedly from flatulence. Their cause often lies in the intake of carbonated drinks or flatulent foods. These cause increased gas to form in the person’s intestines. However, excess air can also be caused by swallowing air or food intolerance. This is often noticeable in affected individuals through feelings of tension, bloating, flatulence and pain in the abdomen. The juices of the stomach and intestines as well as the food pulp foam up, resulting in the formation of fine bubbly foam. The gases are contained within the bubbles and therefore cannot easily escape or be absorbed by the mucous membrane of the intestines. This is where the active ingredient simeticon steps in. Similar to dimeticon, the agent is composed of polysiloxane. This is an organic long-chain silicone compound. Within the body, simeticon does not undergo any chemical reactions and acts purely physically. Simeticon has a defoaming effect and ensures that the surface tension of the foam is lowered. This allows the trapped gas bubbles to disintegrate. After the gases are released, they are absorbed by the intestinal wall. Alternatively, their movement through the intestine to the anus is possible, where they are excreted from the body. Simeticon is taken orally. Since the effect of the drug is purely physical, it cannot pass through the intestinal mucosa into the patient’s blood. Thus, ultimately, there is unchanged excretion of the active ingredient.

Medical application and use

Simeticon is used for the therapy of gastrointestinal disorders caused by gas. Most often, the drug is presented in the form of a soft capsule or chewable tablet. It can also be taken in the form of drops. The antifoaming agent is administered either during or after meals or before going to bed. The recommended dose for gastrointestinal disorders is between 50 and 250 milligrams of simeticon. Simeticon can also be used as an antidote for dishwashing detergent poisoning. Although dishwashing detergents are mostly non-toxic, it is possible for the stomach to foam out from accidentally swallowed dishwashing detergent. In addition, the foam can move along the esophagus in the upper direction, penetrate to the respiratory region and, in the worst case, cause the affected person to choke. Simeticon counteracts this risk by ensuring that the rinsing agent cannot foam up. The patient receives around 800 milligrams of the defoamer. However, this dosage is lower for babies and children. Simeticon is also recommended for use in imaging examinations such as X-rays, gastrointestinal endoscopy or ultrasound scans. There is a risk that the quality of the images taken may be negatively affected by foam and gas bubbles, which in turn may affect the diagnosis. To ensure that the examination proceeds smoothly, it is not uncommon for simeticon to be administered in advance. For this purpose, the patient is given three times 100 milligrams of simeticon the day before the examination.An additional 100 milligrams is administered immediately before the examination.

Risks and side effects

There are no known major side effects from simeticon. However, some dosage forms of the drug contain excipients, which in turn can trigger undesirable side effects. These include, first and foremost, the preservative potassium sorbate. Undesirable effects generally occur only at higher dosages. If diabetics take chewable tablets, they must be careful not to add sugar. In the case of high blood pressure, it is also advisable to pay attention to the composition of the drug. Simeticon should not be used if the patient is hypersensitive to the drug. The drug must also not be administered in the event of intestinal obstruction. Interactions with other drugs are rare with simeticon. They occur due to the reduction of surface tension by the defoamer. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid the simultaneous use of preparations such as the anticonvulsant carbamazepine, the antiviral ribavirin, the anticoagulant warfarin and the cardiac drug digoxin. In principle, however, simeticon is considered to be well tolerated. If taken for no more than three days, the antifoaming agent can probably even be taken by pregnant and breastfeeding women without hesitation.