1 Types of medicines

Drugs used for bloating and increased gas production are divided into several types and can be:

• dissolving gases;
• with gases;
• suppresses the fermentation process;
• eliminating the growth of microorganisms that contribute to gassing.

The mechanism of their action is different, but the goal is one - the treatment of flatulence. Depending on the symptoms accompanying the condition( abdominal swelling, belching, discomfort and abdominal pain), a person can choose a medication sold at a pharmacy without a prescription, but the best solution is to consult a doctor who will not only find out the cause of the condition, butand will give a recommendation, which drug to take.

If pathology has developed due to infection of the gastrointestinal tract, a dysbacteriosis or a violation of the motility of the digestive organs, it may be necessary to take antibiotics, bacteriophages, enzymes and preparations containing lactobacilli. The condition, weighed down by pain, provides for the use of antispasmodics.

2 Drug groups

In medical therapy in the treatment of flatulence, the following groups of drugs are included:

1. Defoamers are substances that act on the shell of gas bubbles and lead to its destruction. At the same time simethicone - the main bioactive component of defoamers, which is based on silicon dioxide - makes it difficult to form and suck in new bubbles with intestinal walls. To the defoamers are the following medicines: Espumizan, Gascon Drop, Dimethicone, Simikol, Meteopazmil, Pepfiz, etc.
2. Normalizing the motility of the intestines due to increased peristalsis - Cerucal, Motilium.
3. Vegetative and homeopathic, suppressing the multiplication of gassing bacteria: Plantex, dill, fennel, etc.
4. Enterosorbents with the ability to absorb on the surface of their shells directly gas bubbles, microorganisms and toxins that are released as a result of their vital activity.

3 Absorbents and Enterosorbents

This group of drugs is the most extensive in a number of drugs used to eliminate flatulence. Depending on the bioactive substances included in their composition, enterosorbents and absorbents can be based on:

• cellulose - Carbulose;
• carbon - Carbolong, Microsorb, Carboline, Activated Carbon;
• of silicon - Atoxil, Enterosgel, Silix;
• lignin - Filtrum, Polyphepan, Atoxyl;
• polyvinylpyrrolidone - Enterodesis, Enterosorb;
• chitin - Chitosan, Chitin;
• anion exchange resin - Cholestyramine, Caixewilite;
• seaweed - Algisor.

Many people prefer to treat meteorism with Activated Carbon, a tool used for several decades. During the Soviet era, this drug was very popular and had virtually no competitors. Low cost makes it in demand in our days.

Activated carbon is a natural, completely organic substance, produced from carbon-containing raw materials. Despite all the advantages of tablets of this kind, it is often not recommended to take them very often. This is due to the ability of the drug for long-term use to destroy the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract, which is fraught with the development of inflammatory and erosive processes.

In addition, if you often drink Activated charcoal, the body drops sharply the content of vitamins and trace elements necessary for vital activity. Together with toxins and pathological agents, carbon tablets absorb them and are removed from the intestine.

If treatment of flatulence is carried out using adsorbents, it is recommended to pay attention to the completely safe modern Enterosgel preparation, which is based on the silicon-containing material polymethylsiloxane polyhydrate. The preparation has a structure of a sponge with pores of a certain size. Useful components and microorganisms have no access, but harmful substances and bacteria are absorbed without residue.

Enterosgel has no contraindications, does not have a pathological effect on tissues and processes occurring inside the body. It can be used to eliminate flatulence during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The drug is indicated for use as a detoxification drug for both babies and elderly people.

Neosmectin, which is based on diismectite, has a good therapeutic properties. The powerful adsorbent is recommended for use in swelling of the abdominal cavity and increased gas production, it relieves pain in the stomach and heartburn. Can be used at any age.

4 Additional recommendations

If flatulence and bloating have developed, treatment should not be postponed for a long time. The doctor can recommend the following medicines:

1. Rifaximin is an intestinal antibiotic belonging to the group of ansamycins. It has a wide spectrum of activity in relation to pathological bacteria that cause acute infectious diseases, travelers' diarrhea, etc. In pregnancy, use should be done only under the supervision of a doctor. Children under 12 years of age are not allowed to enter.
2. Espumizan is a defoamer based on simethicone, which has a carminative effect. The drug is not absorbed in the intestinal tract and is excreted unchanged. Has no effect on bacteria and enzymes located in the intestinal cavity. It is not recommended for admission for obstruction of the digestive system, children under 6 years. No side effects were found.
3. Mezim is an enzyme medication based on pancreatin. The drug should be taken in case of increased gas production, in violation of digestibility of food, to improve its digestion, with insufficient production of enzymes by the pancreas. Can be used to treat children under and over 1.5 years old. As side effects note: constipation or diarrhea, nausea, discomfort in the abdominal cavity. When taken for a long time, the use of iron-containing compounds is indicated.
4. Lineks is a probiotic, based on lebenin, which contains the main microorganisms inhabiting the intestine: lacto- and bifidobacteria and enterococci. Live microorganisms are a natural constituent of the microflora of the digestive tract. The drug is recommended to drink not only for the normalization of gassing, but also for the treatment of dysbacteriosis, one of the symptoms of which is flatulence. The drug has no contraindications and side effects, can be used at any age.
5. Motilium is a medicinal substance from the prokinetic group, normalizing the peristalsis of the digestive system. Motilium is based on the domperidone component, which restores gastric motility and enhances food progress along the gastrointestinal tract. It is not recommended to use drugs for pituitary tumors, bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract, or perforations. Reception of the drug in the treatment of flatulence in pregnant women and young children is possible only under the supervision of a doctor. It is not excluded the development of side effects: amenorrhea, hyperprolactinemia, violations in the endocrine system.
6. Almagel Neo is a modern defoamer with simethicone, magnesium hydroxide and an algebra. Recommended for adults and children over 10 years. Side effects include allergic reactions, constipation, diarrhea;with long-term admission in high doses - encephalopathy, osteoporosis, thirst, hypotension. Contraindicated in pregnancy, chronic kidney failure and intolerance to fructose. With caution should be used with breastfeeding, alcoholism, craniocerebral trauma, epilepsy, children from 10 to 18 years.

In our time, the treatment of flatulence is a simple process. Pharmaceutical companies offer a huge number of drugs in a variety of dosage forms( tablets are common, for chewing and resorption, suspensions, drops, etc.).

But that the use of a drug is most effective, it is advisable to seek the advice of a specialist.

It is he who will pick up that drug that will eliminate not only flatulence, but also the factors contributing to its occurrence.