Do NOT stop taking this or any drug without the advice of your physician. Some drugs can cause severe adverse effects when they are stopped suddenly.
Do Not Use
[what does this mean?]
Generic drug name:
magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide and simethicone
(mag NEE zee um hye DROX ide, a LOO mi num hye DROX ide, and sye METH a cone)
Brand name(s):
MYLANTA,
MYLANTA-II
GENERIC:
not available
FAMILY:
Antacids
Find the drug label by
searching at DailyMed.
Alternative Treatment [top]
See the Nighttime Heartburn Treatments: Try These First box accompanying this drug profile.
Safety Warnings For This Drug [top]
Nighttime Heartburn Treatments: Try These First
There are nondrug treatments, with no safety concerns, and less expensive drugs that may be effective for you; these should be tried before you use any drugs for heartburn. First, try to avoid foods that trigger your condition (e.g., fatty foods, onions, caffeine, peppermint, and chocolate), and avoid alcohol, smoking, and tight clothing.[1] Second, avoid food, and particularly alcohol, within two or three hours of bedtime. Third, elevate the head of the bed about six inches or sleep with extra pillows.
For both heartburn and ulcers, it is important to avoid drug-induced causes. Aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are known to cause ulcers. Ask your doctor if acetaminophen could be substituted for these drugs. Check with your doctor about the osteoporosis medications alendronate (FOSAMAX) and risedronate (ACTONEL), which irritate the esophagus.
If these measures are not effective, try simple over-the-counter (OTC) antacids such as a generic aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide product (MAALOX, MAALOX TC). If symptoms worsen or bleeding occurs, call your doctor. If this does not relieve your symptoms, one of the family of stomach acid–blocking drugs known as histamine2-blockers can be tried. This family includes cimetidine (TAGAMET), famotidine (PEPCID), nizatidine (AXID), and ranitidine (ZANTAC). Histamine2-blockers are available in both OTC and prescription strengths.
If the OTC histamine2-blockers do not give adequate relief of your symptoms after 14 days, it is time to consult your physician.
Facts About This Drug [top]
This combination of magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide and simethicone is used both as an antacid and as an antiflatulent (anti-gas) drug. As an antacid, it is used to treat ulcers, serious stomach upset caused by stomach acid, and heartburn. As an antiflatulent, it is used to relieve “excess gas.”
We do not recommend this widely used drug because it contains an ineffective and unnecessary ingredient, simethicone. There is no convincing evidence that simethicone, alone or in...
This combination of magnesium hydroxide, aluminum hydroxide and simethicone is used both as an antacid and as an antiflatulent (anti-gas) drug. As an antacid, it is used to treat ulcers, serious stomach upset caused by stomach acid, and heartburn. As an antiflatulent, it is used to relieve “excess gas.”
We do not recommend this widely used drug because it contains an ineffective and unnecessary ingredient, simethicone. There is no convincing evidence that simethicone, alone or in combination with other drugs, is effective in treating so-called excess gas.[2] If you need an antacid, use a combination of aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide (MAALOX, MAALOX TC). Do not waste your money on products that contain simethicone.
If you think that you suffer from “excess gas,” it may be that you actually have a bloated feeling from overeating or discomfort from eating the wrong food. In this case, no anti-gas drug will help you because the problem has nothing to do with gas. If you do have excess gas in your stomach, the best way to treat it is to reduce the amount of air that you swallow. You can do this by cutting down on smoking, carbonated drinks, eating rapidly, and gum-chewing, which make you swallow air. A dry mouth (which may be due to anxiety or a drug you are taking) and badly fitting dentures also make you swallow more air.
Most gas is created when bacteria in the large intestine come into contact with carbohydrates, especially those found in cabbage, broccoli and beans.[2] This bacterial action is normal, as is the passing of gas (flatus). Different people pass different amounts of gas, and passing gas is no cause for medical concern. Simethicone is not recommended for the treatment of infant colic.[3]
last reviewed March 31, 2024
Worst Pills, Best Pills is a project of Public Citizen's Health Research Group Group. As an independent, nonprofit organization, we take no corporate or government contributions and accept no advertising. Copyright © 2024 Public Citizen's Health Research Group. All rights reserved.
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