simethicone
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
Simethicone is an agent under the carminative drug class. Its primary indication in the pediatric
population includes flatulence, functional gastric bloating and post-operative gas pains. (1) The general
consensus is that simethicone used specifically in the treatment of infant colic is ineffective, but safe. (2,3,4)
It may be useful because of potential placebo effect. (3, 4) It is primarily based on the theory that infant
colic results from gas becoming entrapped in the bowel, leading to painful intestinal contractions. Thus,
with the suggestion that infant colic is associated with excess gas, simethicone (which is indicated for
flatulence/gastric bloating) has historically been used for treatment. However, simethicone is generally
not recommended for the treatment of infant colic. (1,2,4)
References:
1. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Simethicone.
http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/essential_ashp/988
065#warn-spec-pop-3. Updated September 1, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2013.
2. Simethicone. Lexicomp.
http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/pdh_f/130249#.
Accessed July 8, 2013.
3. Dattani S. Chapter 36: Infant Colic. In: Canadian Pharmacists Association. Patient Self-Care. 2 nd
ed. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2010: 321-330.
4. Simethicone. Micromedex 2.0. http://www.micromedexsolutions.com/micromedex2/librarian/ND_T/evidencexpert/ND_PR/evidencexpert/CS/79E7C1/ND_AppProduct/evidencexpert/DUPLICATIONSHIELDSYNC/14FD53/ND_PG/evidencexpert/ND_B/evidencexpert/ND_P/evidencexpert/PFActionId/evidencexpert.DisplayDrugdexDocument?docId=1335&contentSetId=31&title=Simethicone&servicesTitle=Simethicone&topicId=clinicalApplicationsSection&subtopicId=therapeuticUsesSection#4.5.E. Updated July 2, 3013. Accessed July 8, 2013.
5. Sethi KS, Sethi JK. Simethicone in the management of infant colic. The Practitioner. 1988; 232(1448):508.
Simethicone is an agent under the carminative drug class. Its primary indication in the pediatric
population includes flatulence, functional gastric bloating and post-operative gas pains. (1) The general
consensus is that simethicone used specifically in the treatment of infant colic is ineffective, but safe. (2,3,4)
It may be useful because of potential placebo effect. (3, 4) It is primarily based on the theory that infant
colic results from gas becoming entrapped in the bowel, leading to painful intestinal contractions. Thus,
with the suggestion that infant colic is associated with excess gas, simethicone (which is indicated for
flatulence/gastric bloating) has historically been used for treatment. However, simethicone is generally
not recommended for the treatment of infant colic. (1,2,4)
References:
1. American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, Inc. Simethicone.
http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/essential_ashp/988
065#warn-spec-pop-3. Updated September 1, 2007. Accessed July 8, 2013.
2. Simethicone. Lexicomp.
http://online.lexi.com.proxy.lib.uwaterloo.ca/lco/action/doc/retrieve/docid/pdh_f/130249#.
Accessed July 8, 2013.
3. Dattani S. Chapter 36: Infant Colic. In: Canadian Pharmacists Association. Patient Self-Care. 2 nd
ed. Ottawa, ON: Canadian Pharmacists Association; 2010: 321-330.
4. Simethicone. Micromedex 2.0. http://www.micromedexsolutions.com/micromedex2/librarian/ND_T/evidencexpert/ND_PR/evidencexpert/CS/79E7C1/ND_AppProduct/evidencexpert/DUPLICATIONSHIELDSYNC/14FD53/ND_PG/evidencexpert/ND_B/evidencexpert/ND_P/evidencexpert/PFActionId/evidencexpert.DisplayDrugdexDocument?docId=1335&contentSetId=31&title=Simethicone&servicesTitle=Simethicone&topicId=clinicalApplicationsSection&subtopicId=therapeuticUsesSection#4.5.E. Updated July 2, 3013. Accessed July 8, 2013.
5. Sethi KS, Sethi JK. Simethicone in the management of infant colic. The Practitioner. 1988; 232(1448):508.