Simeticone

Common Brand Names

Air-X, Dioxzye, Sigas, GazGo, Gas-X, Bubble-X, Windeze, Infacol

This medicine is also commonly known as: 

Simethicone

Overview

Simeticone (or simethicone) is a type of medicine called an antiflatulent. It's used to treat farting (flatulence), trapped wind and bloating, although we cannot be certain if it really works for these symptoms.

People with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) sometimes take simeticone to ease their symptoms.

It may also help with colic in babies, although there's not much scientific evidence that simeticone really works for this.

Simeticone is a mixture of silica gel and dimeticone (or dimethicone), a type of silicone, and is also known as activated dimeticone. It works by bringing together the small gas bubbles in your gut to form bigger bubbles, allowing trapped air to pass through your body more easily.

You can buy it in pharmacies without a prescription, and in some shops.

It comes as tablets, capsules, drops and a liquid that you swallow.

Simeticone often comes combined with other ingredients such as medicines to treat indigestion (antacids) or diarrhoea.

Important Facts

• Simeticone usually starts to work within 30 minutes.
• For colic, you may need to give it to your baby for a few days to see the full benefits.
• It's generally safe with no known side effects.
• Most people will only need to take it occasionally, or over a short period of time.
• Simeticone can be taken during pregnancy and while breastfeeding.