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Dose of Simethicone

04/22/2010

Question:

Hi, my son, 1 year and a half old, was prescribed with simethicone for abdominal pain. I read the package insert and found that it is for as small children as under 6 months.

When the dose is for children under 6 months, does it mean that for any children as long as they are under 6 months (like new born who is just 1 week old…)?

Answer:

Simethicone is an oral product that is commonly used to relieve the pressure and pain of excess gas. It works by breaking up gas pockets in the digestive tract so that they can be released. While it is available as a single agent, simethicone is often found in combination with antacids and antidiarrheals. Simethicone is not absorbed into the body and has no known side effects.

It was approved by the FDA in 1952 and has a long history of safety for both adults and children. Adults may take 125 to 250 mg as needed after meals and at bedtime, up to 500 mg per day. Simethicone also comes in a liquid for children, available in a concentration of 40 mg/0.6 mL. Children over the age of 2 may be given 0.6 mL four times a day, after meals and at bedtime. Infants under the age of 2 may receive 0.3 mL four times a day.

Even a newborn infant who is just a week old could safely be given 0.3 mL (20 mg) of simethicone four times a day, after meals and at bedtime if instructed by a physician for excess gas. Mixing the medication with 1 oz of cool water or infant formula may make it easier to administer.

Submitted by Katie Berger, PharmD Candidate, NetWellness.org

 

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