Top Qs
Timeline
Chat
Perspective
Simeticone
Anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Remove ads
Simeticone (INN), also known as simethicone (USAN), is an anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas.
This article is missing information about the history of simeticone. (September 2021) |
Remove ads
Remove ads
Medical uses

Simeticone 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 simeticone 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 simeticone 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 simeticone helped infant colic in some cases.[9]
Simeticone can also be used for suspected postoperative abdominal discomfort in infants.[10]
Remove ads
Side effects
Simeticone does not have any serious side effects.[11] Two uncommon side effects (occurring in 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 patients) are constipation and nausea.[12]
Pharmacology
Simeticone 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] Simeticone does not reduce or prevent the formation of gas.[13] Its effectiveness has been shown in several in vitro studies.[14][15]
Chemistry
Simeticone is a mixture of dimethicone and silicon dioxide.[16]
Names
Summarize
Perspective
The INN name is "simeticone", which was added to the INN recommended list in 1999.[17]
Simeticone is marketed under many brand names and in many combination drugs; it is also marketed as a veterinary drug.[18]
Remove ads
References
Wikiwand - on
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Remove ads