1.1.1 Antacids and simeticone

General guidance

Preparations containing magnesium carbonate, hydroxide and trisilicate, and aluminium glycinate and hydroxide are long acting and suitable for most purposes. Magnesium-containing antacids tend to be laxative whereas aluminium-containing ones tend to be constipating.

• The addition of activated dimethicone can be useful to relieve flatulence.
• The addition of surface anaesthetics such as oxetacaine are efficacious in some cases of odynophagia. Their use in other conditions are of doubtful efficacy.

Recommended drugs

Plain antacid

Aluminium Hydroxide mixture or tablets

Magnesium Trisilicate mixture or tablets

Combination product

Mucogel

Drug Traffic Light Key:

Green – On Formulary

Amber – Restricted use, see local guidelines      

Purple – Specialist use/initiation

Red – Non Formulary

Relative Costs Key (where indicated):

£££££ - high

£££ - moderate

£ - low