DOCTOR'S VIEWS ARCHIVE

Topic: Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), June 2000

Dr. Lee:
A viewer wants to know whether simethicone that is found in Gas-X or Mylanta is an effective treatment for irritable bowel symptoms?

Dr. Marks:
There are no good studies of simethicone in irritable bowel syndrome. In theory, simethicone works by causing small gas bubbles in the bowel to combine and form large bubbles, which are easier to belch up. Since irritable bowel syndrome is not believed to be primarily a problem of gas, there is no reason to expect simethicone to work. Nevertheless, there is no harm in trying simethicone. Just don't expect too much.

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Last Editorial Review: 6/16/2000 2:36:00 PM