Your guide to medications for bloating relief

Abdominal bloating occurs when excess gas builds up in your gastrointestinal (GI) tract. It can cause discomfort and distress if you experience it often.

Having too much gas is the most common cause of bloating. After eating and as your food digests, your body creates gas in the GI tract. Swallowing air while you eat can also contribute to gas buildup.

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Over-the-counter medications

Bloating is a common occurrence, and many OTC medications help ease symptoms. Some of these include:

• Simethicone (Mylicon, Mylanta): This medication can help you pass the excess gas that has built up in your GI tract. It works by dispersing gas bubbles, allowing the body to remove them from the GI tract through flatulence or burping.
• Lactase enzyme (Lactaid): A naturally occurring enzyme, lactase helps break down lactose into sugars that the body processes and digests. It’s especially helpful for people with lactose intolerance.
• Antacids (Tums, Maalox): These medications neutralize stomach acid, which helps reduce bloating and heartburn symptoms caused by bile acid.
• Laxatives: If bloating is due to constipation, laxatives may help. These medications work by stimulating the muscles around the intestine to move stool along or softening the stool with water from within your body. But it’s important to use laxatives as directed on the label and use them sparingly to avoid misuse.

Before taking any OTC medication, always read the dosage information included on the packaging. It’s important to speak with a doctor if your symptoms persist.

Prescription medications

If your symptoms don’t go away with OTC treatments, a doctor may suggest taking prescription medications. These are typically stronger than OTC medications or target a specific cause of bloating, such as infection.

Some prescription medications include the following:

Prokinetics

These medications encourage the muscles of the GI tract to contract and move stools along the gut. Doctors may prescribe prokinetics for gastroparesis. An example of a prokinetic is metoclopramide (Reglan), which comes in tablet form.

Anticholinergics or antispasmodic

These prescription tablets relieve muscle contractions that may cause bloating and pain. They may include:

• hyoscyamine (Symax Duotab, Anaspaz)
• dicyclomine (Bentyl)
• benztropine (Cogentin)
• glycopyrrolate (Glyrx-PF, Glycate)

Antispasmodics

Hyoscine butyl bromide, also known as scopolamine (Transderm Scop), works by helping the bladder and digestive system muscles relax. It usually comes as a transdermal patch.

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Natural remedies

If bloating is not due to a medical condition, many home remedies can help relieve symptoms. Some of these include:

• Peppermint: Peppermint is considered a natural antispasmodic. Enteric-coated peppermint oil (a capsule that you swallow) can help relax the bowel walls to relieve symptoms of bloating, cramps, and painful gas, according to a 2019 study. Avoid ingesting essential oils unless they are specifically meant for oral use, like in capsule form, as they may prove toxic.
• Activated charcoal: If you take activated charcoal alongside a medication like simethicone, this may significantly ease symptoms of abdominal pain. But more research is needed to determine how effective activated charcoal is for bloating.
• Abdominal massage: Applying pressure in a square pathway around your lower abdomen can help get your bowels moving. You can perform these massages on yourself.
• Drinking more water: Water can help reduce bloating by relieving constipation.
• Diet: It’s important to eat enough fiber, and you may want to consider avoiding high fat foods that can cause bloating.

Bloating symptoms

Most people describe bloating as feeling like their abdomen is swollen or tight. You may see your abdomen as swollen and hard, or distended. This may prevent you from exercising or carrying out other daily activities.  

Along with abdominal bloating, you may experience:

• pain
• flatulence
• burping

Sometimes, if you experience uncomfortable bloating, an existing medical condition could be the cause, such as food intolerance or gastric sensitivity.

Other medical causes may include:

• irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• inflammatory bowel diseases, such as Crohn’s disease
• heartburn
• constipation
• mental health changes, such as anxiety
• hormonal flux (especially in females)

When to see a doctor

If lifestyle and dietary changes do not help reduce your symptoms, speak with a doctor. They may prescribe medication if there’s an underlying medical cause.

You should consider seeking urgent medical advice if you experience any of the following symptoms alongside bloating:

• swelling or a lump in your stomach
• regular bloating (at least 12 times per month)
• rapid and unexplained weight loss
• diarrhea
• vomiting
• blood in stools

The doctor can recommend appropriate tests to make sure you get the right treatment.

Online care services, including Optum Perks Online Care, may make getting treatment easier. With these services, you can submit an online form answering a few questions about your symptoms, and a US-licensed healthcare professional will respond soon after to prescribe a treatment plan.

Summary

Bloating can be inconvenient, but OTC medications are typically an effective treatment. If they do not work, seeking advice from a doctor can help you find the best solution, which may include prescription medication.

Natural remedies, such as peppermint and dietary changes, may also help relieve bloating. But it’s important to discuss OTC remedies with a doctor if your symptoms do not ease.

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