Best otc medicine for gas and bloating

Remedies and Treatments for Gas

If you have gas pains that are disrupting your daily activities, there are some easy remedies that you can try at home to alleviate the pain. The two best ways to treat your gas pains are by changing your diet and taking over-the-counter medications.

Diet

You can change your diet and eat foods that reduce the amount of gas your body makes. This can alleviate gas pains quickly. It’s important to be mindful of what you’re eating by keeping a diary of your diet and gas symptoms. That will help you target what may be reacting with your digestive system.

Changes to your diet should include eating smaller portions, reducing the amount of air you are swallowing by taking slow and deliberate bites of your food, and avoiding chewing gum or hard candy to reduce the amount of air you swallow.

You might need to cut out certain fruits and vegetables that cause intestinal gas. Limiting your milk and whole grain consumption can also help. Try to avoid high-fat foods and beans or lentils that cause bloating and discomfort.

The amount and cause of gas can differ from person to person, so take note of what you’re eating and how your body is responding to it. You can experiment by taking out and gradually reintroducing foods to discover what element of your diet causes gas pains. 

Over-the-Counter Medication

These products are designed to reduce gas symptoms. You should take these if you have excessive or painful gas: 

• Alpha-galactosidase: This is known as Beano or BeanAssist and helps break down the carbohydrates in beans and vegetables. Take it before your meal. 
• Lactase supplements: Also known as Lactaid or Digest Dairy Plus. This supplement helps you digest sugar in dairy products. 
• Simethicone: This is known as Gas-X or Mylanta and helps break up the bubbles in gas and helps move it along the digestive tract. 
• Activated charcoal: Also known as CharcoCaps or Actidose-Aqua. Activated charcoal helps reduce gas pain if taken before your meal. Know the side effects of taking charcoal before you try it. 

When to See a Doctor

Gas is a common occurrence, but if yours is persistent and painful or associated with vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, weight loss, or blood in the stool you should consult your doctor as it may indicate a serious medical problem. 

Other signs of alarming gas symptoms include: 

• Chronic or unusual abdominal pain
• Severe heartburn
• Persistent vomiting or nausea
• Chronic diarrhea
• Bloody or black stool
• Weight loss and loss of appetite
• Severe bloating
• Constipation or difficulty emptying your bowels

Hormones

Bloating is a common symptom of menstrual periods. The drop in progesterone and estrogen levels during a person’s period is sometimes responsible for causing bloating.

Medications

Some medications can cause bloating as a side effect, including aspirin, fiber supplements, and certain pain medicines.

Cancer

In more serious cases, cancer might be the cause of bloating. Cancers of the stomach, ovary, colon, and pancreas can all have bloating as a symptom.

Remedies and Treatments for Bloating

Once a cause of bloating is established, the symptom can be treated. Depending on your doctor’s findings, he or she may suggest one of the following remedies for bloating:

Eating Slowly

Eating too quickly causes you to swallow more air, which can lead to gas and bloating. Eating slowly can help reduce bloating. Additionally, slowing your eating can make you feel full, faster, helping you avoid overeating, which can lead to bloating.

Changing Your Diet

If you notice a trend in certain foods causing you to bloat, try reducing or eliminating those foods from your diet. Foods that commonly cause bloating are wheat, beans, lentils, garlic, onions, and asparagus. Milk and dairy foods can also cause bloating, as some people have a hard time digesting a sugar they contain called lactose.

Antacids

A ntacids can reduce bloating by allowing gas to pass more easily through your digestive tract. Do note, however, that antacids are only effective for bloating caused by food.

Antidepressants

Researchers have found that certain antidepressants can affect the way your body reacts to gas, keeping it from overreacting to its presence.

Less Fiber

Eating too much fiber is one of the most common reasons for bloating. Fiber is an essential part of a healthy diet, but it can cause a lot of gas in your digestive system because your body cannot digest it. The key with fiber is to eat it in moderation. Foods high in fiber include beans, lentils, broccoli, whole wheat, apples, berries, and quinoa.

Over-the-Counter Gas Products

There are a handful of products that may help reduce gas levels and ease bloating:

• Simethicone helps you pass gas bubbles trapped in your intestines.
• Alpha-galactosidase helps break down the carbohydrates in vegetables and beans.
• Activated charcoal may reduce gas symptoms, but research has not shown a clear benefit. It should be noted that activated charcoal could interfere with the absorption of certain medications, so discuss with your doctor before taking this product.
• Lactase supplements help you digest the sugar lactose in dairy products.

Natural Remedies

If you prefer herbal remedies for health problems, peppermint oil and peppermint tea are shown to help reduce bloating.

When to See A Doctor

Bloating is a common occurrence that usually causes nothing more than temporary discomfort. However, there are circumstances when bloating should be taken more seriously.

If you have bloating and also experience a drastic change in weight or major changes in your bowel movements, you should tell your doctor. These symptoms could point to an underlying condition.

If you are an older person who doesn’t usually experience bloating, and you suddenly experience bloating for more than a few days, see your doctor. The bloating could be caused by a serious condition and should be investigated.

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