Treating and Managing Intestinal Gas
Your healthcare provider will first trace your intestinal gas problem to whatever health condition you may have. By treating a health condition that causes excessive gas, you can enjoy better health. For occasional gas, your healthcare provider might suggest one of these over-the-counter products:
- Alpha-galactosidase (Beano®), an enzyme to break down hard-to-digest foods.
- Lactase [7] enzymes (Lactaid®) for lactose intolerance (a problem digesting milk sugars).
- Bismuth subsalicylate [8] (Pepto-Bismol®) for adults with upset stomach and diarrhea.
- Simethicone [9] (Gas-X®, Mylanta®) to reduce intestinal gas buildup that causes bloating.
- Probiotics [10] (Culturelle®) to get rid of bad gut bacteria.
Your healthcare provider may give you prescription medications if you have a motility problem like IBS. Antibiotics can treat bacterial overgrowth in the intestines that cause excess gas and bloating.