SIMETHICONE
Place in Therapy
Place in Therapy
There is conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of simethicone for symptomatic treatment of GI discomfort associated with entrapped gas. However, because of this drug’s favourable safety profile, it is a reasonable to try as a first line agent if the cause of the excessive gas cannot be identified, and associations with particular foods or activities cannot be correlated. Because simethicone is not systemically absorbed, it is safe for pregnant and lactating women. Simethicone should not be used as a prophylactic medication; it is intended to be taken to treat symptoms after meals and/or at bedtime.
References
1. CPS [Product Monograph]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmacists Association; c2010 Simethicone (Ovol Preparations).
2. Fardy J and Sullivan S. Gastrointestinal gas. CMAJ 1988; 139: 1137-1141.
3. Holtmann G, et. al. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of simethicone and cisapride for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002; 16: 1641-1648.
4. Krinsky DL, et al. Chapter 14: Intestinal Gas. In: Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmacists Association, 2012: 243.
5. Lexi-comp [Internet]. Simethicone. [Cited on June 26, 2012] Simethicone. Available from http://www.lexi.com.
6. Micromedex [Internet]. Simethicone. [Cited on July 4, 2012] Simethicone. Available from http://www.thomsonhc.com/micromedex2.
7. Pray WS. Pray WS. Chapter 7 Intestinal Gas Discomfort: Bloating, Flatulence, and Colic. In: Nonprescription Product Therapeutics, 2006: 116-123.
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There is conflicting evidence regarding the efficacy of simethicone for symptomatic treatment of GI discomfort associated with entrapped gas. However, because of this drug’s favourable safety profile, it is a reasonable to try as a first line agent if the cause of the excessive gas cannot be identified, and associations with particular foods or activities cannot be correlated. Because simethicone is not systemically absorbed, it is safe for pregnant and lactating women. Simethicone should not be used as a prophylactic medication; it is intended to be taken to treat symptoms after meals and/or at bedtime.
References
1. CPS [Product Monograph]. Ottawa (ON): Canadian Pharmacists Association; c2010 Simethicone (Ovol Preparations).
2. Fardy J and Sullivan S. Gastrointestinal gas. CMAJ 1988; 139: 1137-1141.
3. Holtmann G, et. al. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of simethicone and cisapride for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia. Aliment Pharmacol Ther 2002; 16: 1641-1648.
4. Krinsky DL, et al. Chapter 14: Intestinal Gas. In: Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. American Pharmacists Association, 2012: 243.
5. Lexi-comp [Internet]. Simethicone. [Cited on June 26, 2012] Simethicone. Available from http://www.lexi.com.
6. Micromedex [Internet]. Simethicone. [Cited on July 4, 2012] Simethicone. Available from http://www.thomsonhc.com/micromedex2.
7. Pray WS. Pray WS. Chapter 7 Intestinal Gas Discomfort: Bloating, Flatulence, and Colic. In: Nonprescription Product Therapeutics, 2006: 116-123.
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