This medical information was provided by Monica Fisher, M.D., a Licensed Pediatrician.
As a parent, you may be wondering if your child can take Gas-X. Is it unhealthy or harmful? Let’s talk about it.
Can a 7-year-old take Gas-X? A child can take Gas-X. How much will depend on the size of the child. There is a chemical called “Simeticone,” which is used in Gas-X, that they use for infants so it is safe to use. Consult your doctor for how much to use for your child.
I personally had never heard of Gas-X. I think now in hindsight, I have seen the boxes but I never thought about them or checked them out. Now I’ve done my research and I’ve got some information to share with you.
What is Gas-X?
Gas-X is a substance for people who have trouble releasing the gas build up in their body. If not released, this build up can be painful or at least uncomfortable in the least. Gas is supposed to be naturally released through flatulence or burping but for some people, it may not be so easy.
I took to the internet and the Gas-X FAQs page to find information on Gas-X.
All the information I am sharing right now is straight from the FAQs page on the Gas-X website. For reference sake, here is the page.
The purpose of Gas-X is to relieve pressure and abdominal bloating. It uses a chemical called “Simethicone” which is the #1 doctor recommended ingredient for gas relief. Simethicone breaks apart the gas bubbles in your stomach and intestines.
The main ingredient in Gas-X, Simethicone, is safe. It works fast and won’t be absorbed by the bloodstream. Read the recommendation for how many to give to your child. Consult your doctor as well as see what they recommend for your child.
One of the main selling points of Gas-X is that it is fast acting. How fast exactly, you ask? Well, everybody is a little different to say the least. Because of that, the timing won’t be the same for everybody. It is supposed to work in minutes. If it is not making a difference, I would ask your doctor some questions.
It should work though and your child will a difference. You might even smell it. That’s a good sign.
Why Does Gas Build Up in the Body?
First of all, gas is normal. Everybody has it and everybody will have it. How it happens is that gas builds up in your digestive tract while your body breaks down the food you eat. It’s a natural process. The air that you inhale adds to the gas buildup.
“The average person passes 500 to 1,500 milliliters of gas per day, but we only contain 200 milliliters of intestinal gas at any time,”
Svetang Desai, MD
That’s a more significant amount (1 to 4 pints of gas a day) than I was expecting. I did not know that kind of information was even tracked but it can build up and that build-up is painful because your stomach is only so big and a child’s is even smaller.
In your upper digestive tract, air is the biggest reason why you child can have gas build up. The air goes into your stomach which creates bloating. Getting rid of it involves belching which obviously releases it. Not all of it will get out though. This gas makes it’s way down to the lower digestive tract.
The lower digestive tract is the culprit of flatulence. So when your your kid laughs at themselves of someone else passing gas, you can blame it all on the lower digestive tract.
Even though some of the air that did not get released is from the air your suck in, most of the gas that we pass is from the kinds of food we eat. You know how people say if you eat beans, you will pass gas? I am about to explain that.
Whole grains, beans, and some vegetables like asparagus and cabbage all have a sugar in them called “Raffinose” which makes one gassy. Starchy food like potatoes also contribute to gas. Other foods also contribute to gas as well.
Basically, your child and anybody else is going to have gas build up no matter what. Sometimes it gets stuck and that’s where Gas-X comes in.
People with lactose intolerance also can have gas from eating milk and other dairy products. You could even get checked. Maybe your child is lactose intolerant. I would recommend you talk to your child’s doctor about possible food intolerances.
If you consistently eat junk food or food that is otherwise known to be bad for you, like fast food, abstaining could help with the gas build up in your child.
There are also disorders like Celiac disease which make it difficult for the nutrients to be absorbed.
What are Side Effects of Simeticone?
Simeticone has been around for a while. It got approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1952.
It is safe to take but I would consult your child’s doctor first. I always recommend that because you need to check for potential allergic reactions or any problems that could arise. It is just the safe thing to do.
There are generally no side effects of taking Simeticone directly. If you do notice that something is off when your child takes it, speak to the doctor as soon as possible. Keep your child off of Gas-X or any other medication that has Simeticone until you can speak to their doctor.
Related Questions
What is gas relief? It is some form of medication that releases the gas build up from the body. This can come in many forms. A popular one is Gas-X. The chemical in it that does this is Simeticone. It breaks down gas bubbles allowing the stomach and intestine to allow a person to pass the gas and get rid of build up.
Do Tums help with gas? So Tums’ main ingredient is Calcium carbonate. That helps to break down the stomach acid. This does not break down the gas bubbles that create pressure in the abdomin.
Can antacids help relieve gas? Antacids cannot relieve gas. Antacids like Tums are meant to neutralize stomach acids that get on your esophagus. They have an active ingredient called “calcium carbonate” that is not like Simeticone.
