Can you take gas pills with diverticulitis?
By
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira (PhD)
Author bio
Dr Milena Locci de Oliveira is a Pharmacist and Doctor of Philosophy in Sciences from the University of São Paulo (USP). She has experience in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics. She writes and reviews content on these topics.
Dr Milena’s Highlights:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration in the areas of Pharmacometrics and Population Pharmacokinetics, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
“Science can be translated, and it is essential that everyone has access to quality information to make informed decisions” – Dr Milena Oliveira, PhD.
Professional Experience:
With a decade-long career as a researcher, Dr Milena has amassed extensive experience in conducting research projects in microbiology, analytical toxicology, and clinical pharmacokinetics.
Her expertise also extends to the preparation of technical and scientific reports, literature reviews, data analysis, and scientific communication, both oral and written.
Dr Milena has served as a Clinical Pharmacist, providing expert supervision and guidance to teams during the challenging times of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the ICUs of two reference hospitals for patient hospitalization.
In her most recent role, Dr Milena worked on the implementation of the deliberatives of the São Paulo State Government Pharmaceutical Assistance Coordination. These decisions were aimed at ensuring medication access within the Unified Health System.
A widely multidisciplinary background enabled Dr Milena to become a professional capable of integrating scientific knowledge into private initiatives, education, and healthcare, delivering consistent services in patient safety and population health.
Professional Memberships & Affiliations:
Dr Milena Oliveira is a member of the Regional Council of Pharmacy of the State of São Paulo, Brazil.
Education:
-PhD in Sciences, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2019.
-University College London (UCL) – Semester of remote collaboration, 2018.
-Bachelor in Biochemical Pharmacy, University of São Paulo, Brazil, 2013.
Relevant Published Work & Citations:
Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, Nardotto GHB, Pippa LF, Simões BP, Lanchote VL. Analysis of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in plasma and urine with application in the evaluation of total, renal and metabolic formation clearances in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. Nov 2020. 191:113-124.
Abstracts. CPT: Pharmacometrics & Systems Pharmacology. 2020 Nov; 9 (S1).
Pippa LF, Oliveira ML de, Rocha A, de Andrade JM, Lanchote VL. Total, renal and hepatic clearances of doxorubicin and formation clearance of doxorubicinol in patients with breast cancer: Estimation of doxorubicin hepatic extraction ratio. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2020 Jun 5; 185:113-231.
Godoy ALPC, De Jesus C, De Oliveira ML, Rocha A, Pereira MPM, Larangeira DF, Lanchote VL, Barrouin-Melo SM. Determination of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol in Dogs Plasma by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with an Ultraviolet Detector: Application for Pharmacokinetic Studies. J Chromatogr Sep Tech. 2017; 8 (4).
Clímaco EC, Oliveira ML de, Pitondo-Silva A, Oliveira MG, Medeiros M, Lincopan N, et al. Clonal complexes 104, 109 and 113 playing a major role in the dissemination of OXA-carbapenemase-producing Acinetobacter baumannii in Southeast Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution. 2013 Oct;19:127–33.
Conference Papers:
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B.; PIPPA, L. F.; ROCHA, A.; SIMOES, B. P.; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Daunorubicin metabolism and urinary excretion in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 84th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) and the 20th Annual Meeting of the Association of the Clinical Pharmacology Germany (VKliPha), 2018, Göttingen. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg’s Arch Pharmacol, 2018. v. 391. p. S76-S76.
Oliveira, M. L.; NARDOTTO, G. H. B. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . The low contribution of urinary excretion in the elimination of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in patients with acute myeloid leukemia. In: 49th Brazilian Congress of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics., 2017, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2017. p. 64-64.
Oliveira, M. L.; PIPPA, L. F. ; ROCHA, A. ; SIMOES, B. P. ; LANCHOTE, V. L. . Quantification of daunorubicin and its metabolite daunorubicinol in human plasma by LC-MS/MS. In: I International Meeting of Environmental Health and Toxicology (IMEHTOX), 2016, Ribeirão Preto. Livro de Resumos, 2016.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. . PFGE typing of Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from different University Hospitals. In: V International Postgraduate and Research Symposium, 2012.
Clímaco, E.C. ; SILVA, A. P. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Lincopan, N. ; Darini A.L.C. Relação clonal entre linhagens de Acinetobacter baumannii produtoras de carbapenemases da família OXA em quatro hospitais no Brasil. In: XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012, Santos. XXI Latin American Congress of Microbiology, 2012.
Oliveira, M. L.; Clímaco, E.C. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Dissemintion of OXA carbapenemases genes in carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in University Hospital of Juiz de Fora, MG. In: 8th CIFARP – International Congress of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2011, Ribeirão Preto.
Clímaco, E.C. ; Oliveira, M. L. ; OLIVEIRA, M. G. ; Darini A.L.C. . Avaliação do sequenciamento parcial do gene rpoB e de seus flanqueadores para identificação de espécies de Acinetobacter na rotina laroratorial. In: 2° International Symposium on Clinical Microbiology, 2010, Florianópolis.
You can view some of Dr Milena’s work below and links to her professional profile.
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dra-milena-locci-de-oliveira-28986042/?locale=en_US
ResearchGate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Milena-Oliveira-6
Escavador: https://www.escavador.com/sobre/5394254/milena-locci-de-oliveira
Lattes: https://buscatextual.cnpq.br/buscatextual/busca.do
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=57199779361
Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=list_works&hl=pt-BR&user=1YUBDIQAAAAJ
What is meant by the term diverticulitis?
Diverticulitis refers to the inflammation of the diverticulum in the walls of the intestinal tract, which exists in the colon (1).
What is Gas-X?
Gas-X is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug that contains simethicone and is in tablet form (2,3).
Does Gas-X treat Diverticulitis?
You can take Gas-X tablets for managing diverticulitis since they may help in breaking up the gas bubbles (2). However, they may not help your symptoms effectively.
Your gas could be triggered by an episode of diverticulitis itself, and taking gas -X may release that trapped gas and provide symptomatic relief for a while, but it is not a promising treatment (4).
Diverticulitis should be properly treated and managed before it gets worse. Make sure you talk to your healthcare provider if you frequently feel gassy or experience pain and tenderness in your stomach.
What other medications are important for the management and treatment of Diverticulitis?
Although you can take gas-X for diverticulitis, they may not be enough. The treatment of Diverticulitis comprises a number of medications and supplements for maximum symptomatic relief. The commonly used medications include (5):
- Antibiotics: antibiotics are essential for the proper management of diverticulitis to eradicate the growth of infection-causing bacteria. Antibiotics such as Ampicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin, Metronidazole, piperacillin, and tazobactam, may be used, sometimes these antibiotics are combined to receive a significant effect (1). If these medications don’t work, antibiotics like Doxycycline or its derivatives such as doxycycline hyclate can also be used (6).
- Painkillers: Over-the-counter painkillers like Paracetamol and IBuprofen can be used. However, Paracetamol is considered a safer option, since it doesn’t increase the risk of GI bleeding as NSAIDs do.
- Anti-spasmodics: Anti-spasmodic medications such as Dicyclomine may be prescribed to help relieve abdominal cramps and spasms.
- Fibre supplements: Fiber supplements such as bran and ispaghula may be recommended to help soften stool and reduce constipation, which can help reduce pressure on the colon (7).
- Probiotics: Probiotics such as oral polybacterial lysate suspension may be recommended to help restore the balance of bacteria in the gut and reduce inflammation (8).
- Balanced diet: it is crucial to understand the importance of the right kind of diet when suffering from diverticulitis. If you don’t stay away from the trigger foods, you will not get better despite taking all the medications in the world.
- Lifestyle: It is recommended that patients with diverticulitis should continue with physical exercises, avoid smoking, eat little red meat, and avoid excessive alcohol consumption (8).
- Others include surgery: e.g. colonoscopy.
Conclusion
It is best to reach out to your healthcare provider if you are struggling with gas or bloating associated with diverticulitis. If left untreated, diverticulitis can cause significant long-term GI complications. This is why your condition should be properly diagnosed.
The treatment duration may vary, as some people respond earlier to medication compared to others. Just make sure you take your antibiotics properly. As far as taking gas -X is concerned, you can take them for temporary symptomatic relief.
References
- Strate LL, Morris AM. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatment of diverticulitis. Gastroenterology. 2019 Apr 1;156(5):1282-98. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30660732/
- JOSEPH CIABATTONI PD. Doctor C’s Medical Guide: What You Need To Know. Xlibris Corporation; 2009 Sep 23.
- Smith C. Using deep learning generated CBCT contours for on-line dose assessment of prostate SABR treatments (Doctoral dissertation). https://dspace.library.uvic.ca/handle/1828/15057
- Hawkins AT, Wise PE, Chan T, Lee JT, Glyn T, Wood V, Eglinton T, Frizelle F, Khan A, Hall J, Ilyas MM. Diverticulitis: an update from the age old paradigm. Current problems in surgery. 2020 Oct 1;57(10):100862. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33077029/
- NHS. Diverticular disease and diverticulitis. NHS website. Updated February 18, 2021. Accessed February 17, 2023. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diverticular-disease-and-diverticulitis/
- Scagnelli AM, Acierno MJ, Wakamatsu N, Tully Jr TN. Effects of doxycycline hyclate, one percent polidocanol, and absolute ethanol on the cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues of chickens (gallus gallus domesticus) and the potential implications in treating cervicocephalic diverticula rupture. Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine. 2021 Apr;52(1):117-25. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33827168/
- Ünlü C, Daniels L, Vrouenraets BC, Boermeester MA. A systematic review of high-fibre dietary therapy in diverticular disease. International journal of colorectal disease. 2012 Apr;27:419-27. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21922199/
- Bugiantella W, Rondelli F, Longaroni M, Mariani E, Sanguinetti A, Avenia N. Left colon acute diverticulitis: an update on diagnosis, treatment and prevention. International Journal of surgery. 2015 Jan 1;13:157-64. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25497007/
