Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.
Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
BRAND NAME: Phazyme, Flatulex, Mylicon, Gas-X, Gas
X Extra Strength, Mylanta Gas, Gas-X Ultra Strength
DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Simethicone is an anti-gas (anti-flatulence) medication. It acts in the stomach
and intestines to change the surface tension of gas bubbles, enabling their
breakdown and the formation of larger bubbles. In this way it is believed that
gas can be eliminated more easily by
belching or
passing flatus. Simethicone was
approved by the FDA in 1952.
GENERIC AVAILABLE: Yes
PRESCRIPTION: No
PREPARATIONS: Liquid drops: 40 mg per 0.6 ml. Chewable tablets: 40, 80 and 125
mg. Capsules: 125 and 180 mg.
STORAGE: Preparations should be stored at room
temperature, 15-30 C (59-86 F).
PRESCRIBED FOR: Simethicone relieves
abdominal
pain due to excessive gas in the digestive tract. It also is given to patients
undergoing upper abdominal
ultrasound imaging.
DOSING: The recommended dose for
relieving gas is 40-125 mg 4 times daily after meals and at bedtime. The drops
can be mixed with water, infant formula or other liquids for use in small
children.
DRUG INTERACTIONS: There are no known drug interactions with simethicone.
PREGNANCY: Safety during pregnancy has not been adequately
evaluated. Simethicone is generally considered safe during
pregnancy because it
does not cross the placenta.
NURSING MOTHERS: Simethicone is considered safe
during lactation because it is not absorbed into the body and infants are often
treated with simethicone.
Gas or "intestinal gas" means different things to different people. Everyone has gas and eliminates it by belching or farting (passing it through the rectum).
Colic is crying or fussing that begins suddenly, lasting for a total of three hours a day and happening more than three days a week for about three weeks. Symptoms include the baby's face turning red, the belly is distended, the feet may be cold, the hands clenched, and the legs may alternate between being flexed or extended. Treatment may involve ruling out other causes of the fussing and the doctor prescribing anti-gas bubbly medicine.
Heartburn is a burning sensation experienced from acid reflux (GERD). Symptoms of heartburn include chest pain, burning in the throat, difficulty swallowing, the feeling of food sticking in the throat, and a burning feeling in the chest. Causes of heartburn include dietary habits, lifestyle habits, and medical causes. Treatments for heartburn include lifestyle changes, OTC medication, prescription medication, and surgery.
The ability to belch is almost universal. Belching, also
known as burping (medically referred to as eructation), is the act of expelling gas from the stomach out through the
mouth. The usual cause of belching is a distended (inflated) stomach caused by
swallowed air. The distention of the stomach causes abdominal discomfort, and the
belching expels the air and relieves the discomfort. The common reasons for
swallowing large amounts of air (aerophagia) are gulping food or drink too
rapidly, anxiety, and carbonated beverages. People are often unaware that they
are swallowing air. "Burping" infants during bottle or
breastfeeding is important in order to expel air in
the stomach that has been swallowed with the formula or milk.
Excessive air in the stomach is not the only cause of belching. For some
people, belching becomes a habit and does not reflect the amount of air in their
stomachs. For others, belching is a response to an...
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