Flatulence is the medical term for passing gas. Everyone passes gas approximately fourteen times per day primarily due to the inadvertent swallowing of air and the normal byproduct of digestion. Flatulent gas is composed of five odorless gasses, but they are sometimes laden with indole, skatole and other sulfur-containing compounds which are malodorous.
Embarrassment is the main reason most people seek treatment, but excess gas can also be a source of painful bloating and cramps. First-line treatment usually involves identifying and removing dietary sources of excess gas production, but there are also many drug options available.
Enzymes
Non-prescription drugs often use enzymes to treat flatulence. Alpha-galactosidase enzymes help break down complex carbohydrates like those found in beans. Alpha-galatosidase enzymes are available either alone or in combination in several products. According to the American Family Physician, people taking 300 to 1,200 IU of these enzymes had significant improvement in symptoms compared to placebo.
Antacids
Further non-prescription options includes antacids. Antacids allow individuals to bring the gas upward through the mouth, as a belch, instead of via the rectum.
Charcoal
Medically-activated charcoal tablets taken orally before meals have mixed results in their ability to reduce the volume of gas in the intestine. There are also some external charcoal devices to absorb odor, such as charcoal undergarment pads and seat cushions.
Surfactants
Surfactants like simethicone lower the surface tension of fluids. Studies reported by the American Family Physician suggest that no benefit exists to taking simethicone alone for common flatulence. The combination of simethicone and Immodium Advanced, however, was beneficial in reducing the gas and bloating associated with diarrhea.
Antibiotics
The non-absorbable antibiotic Rifaximin given at 400 mg twice a day showed significant improvement in symptoms of bloating and flatulence, although the benefits mildly diminished 10 days after therapy, according to American Family Physician.
Bismuth Subsalicylate
Studies suggest that bismuth subsalicylate can bind up to 95 percent of sulfide gas in the intestine; however, it should only be used periodically for occasional discomfort because of its toxicity risk in continual chronic treatment.
