Simeticone

Overview

Simeticone (INN), also known as simethicone (USAN), is an anti-foaming agent used to reduce bloating, discomfort or pain caused by excessive gas. WP

Uses, dosage and effects

Medical uses

Simethicone is used to relieve the symptoms of excessive gas in the gastrointestinal tract, namely bloating, burping, and flatulence. While there is a lack of conclusive evidence that simethicone is effective for this use,⁣ studies have shown that it can relieve symptoms of functional dyspepsia and functional bloating.[1–6] WP

It has not been fully established that simethicone is useful to treat colic in babies, and it is not recommended for this purpose. A study in the United Kingdom reported that according to parental perception simethicone helped infant colic in some cases.[4][7][8] WP

Simethicone can also be used for suspected postoperative abdominal discomfort in infants.[9] WP

Risks and side effects

Side effects

Simethicone does not have any known serious or severe side effects. Two uncommon side effects (occurring in 1 in 100 to 1 in 1,000 patients) are constipation and nausea.[10][11] WP

Though poorly documented, some studies show a possible negative interaction between simethicone and levothyroxine (synthetic T₄), meaning it can possibly bind levothyroxine in the GI tract and hence reduce its absorption leaving the patient prone to clinical manifestations of hypothyroidism. It is important to mention the long T1/2 of levothyroxine which makes the phenomenon a matter of at least a week of using levothyroxine with simethicone. To prevent this interaction, simethicone is recommended to be taken at least 4 hours before or after levothyroxine.[12][13] WP

Pharmacology

Pharmacology

Simethicone is a non-systemic surfactant which decreases the surface tension of gas bubbles in the GI tract. This allows gas bubbles to leave the GI tract as flatulence or belching. Simethicone does not reduce or prevent the formation of gas. Its effectiveness has been shown in several in vitro studies.[10][14][15][16] WP

Chemistry

Formula

C6H18O4Si3 PC

CAS number

8050-81-5 PC

Molar mass (g/mol)

238.46 PC

IUPAC name (computed by PubChem)

dioxosilane;methoxy-dimethyl-trimethylsilyloxysilane PC

SMILES

CO[Si](C)(C)O[Si](C)(C)C.O=[Si]=O PC

InChIKey

AMTWCFIAVKBGOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N PC

PubChem CID

6433516

Harm reduction information

No harm reduction data is on file for this compound yet. That means no dose, timing or combination data from PsychonautWiki or TripSit. Please don't guess a dose from similar compounds. If you have taken it and feel unwell, contact emergency services or a poison control center.

User reports

Pop culture

No references added yet.

Sources

1. Journal / agency Simethicone tablet. April 2016
2. Other Simeticone. 10 October 2019
3. Other Modi R, Clearfield HR, Levitt M. Belching, Bloating and Flatulence. July 2013
4. Other Simethicone
5. Journal / agency Holtmann G, Gschossmann J, Mayr P, Talley NJ. A randomized placebo-controlled trial of simethicone and cisapride for the treatment of patients with functional dyspepsia. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics. September 2002. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2036.2002.01322.x · PMID 12197843
6. Journal / agency Burta O, Iacobescu C, Mateescu RB, Nicolaie T, Tiuca N, Pop CS. Efficacy and safety of APT036 versus simethicone in the treatment of functional bloating: a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, parallel group, clinical study. Translational Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 25 September 2018. doi:10.21037/tgh.2018.09.11 · PMID 30511026 · PMC6256934
7. Journal / agency Biagioli E, Tarasco V, Lingua C, Moja L, Savino F. Pain-relieving agents for infantile colic. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. September 2016. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009999.pub2 · PMID 27631535 · PMC6457752
8. Journal / agency Goldman M, Beaumont T. A real world evaluation of a treatment for infant colic based on the experience and perceptions of 4004 parents. British Journal of Nursing. March 2017. doi:10.12968/bjon.2017.26.Sup5.S3 · PMID 28350192
9. Journal / agency Voepel-Lewis TD, Malviya S, Burke C, D'Agostino R, Hadden SM, Siewert M, Tait AR. Evaluation of simethicone for the treatment of postoperative abdominal discomfort in infants. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia. March 1998. doi:10.1016/S0952-8180(97)00249-3 · PMID 9524891
10. Journal / agency Ingold CJ, Akhondi H. StatPearls [Internet]. January 2021. PMID 32310457
11. Other Simethicone Side Effects in Detail
12. Journal / agency Skelin M, Lucijanić T, Amidžić Klarić D, Rešić A, Bakula M, Liberati-Čizmek AM, Gharib H, Rahelić D. Factors Affecting Gastrointestinal Absorption of Levothyroxine: A Review. Clinical Therapeutics. February 2017. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2017.01.005 · PMID 28153426
13. Journal / agency Balapatabendi M, Harris D, Shenoy SD. Drug interaction of levothyroxine with infant colic drops. Archives of Disease in Childhood. September 2011. doi:10.1136/archdischild-2011-300333 · PMID 21785118
14. Other Treatment of Gas. 4 September 2015
15. Journal / agency Brecević L, Bosan-Kilibarda I, Strajnar F. Mechanism of antifoaming action of simethicone. Journal of Applied Toxicology. May 1994. doi:10.1002/jat.2550140311 · PMID 8083482
16. Journal / agency Dittrich M, Miederer SE, Havertz B, Krastev R. Schaumzerstörung und Schaumverhinderung: Der Wirkmechanismus von Simeticon in vitro. Journal für Gastroenterologische und Hepatologische Erkrankungen. 12 May 2010

Text and values on this page are quoted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0), PubChem (public domain). Each value links to the exact revision it came from.