GAVISCON is produced by Reckitt Benckiser. It contains Sodium Alginate and Sodium Bicarbonate. It is being used for the relief of heartburn, stomach pain, acidity, gas trouble, and indigestion. If you are facing heartburn, indigestion of food, gas trouble, and abdominal pain, all you need to take GAVISCON as a remedy.
Compositions
Sodium Alignate: It is being used in combination with an antacid or histamine H-2 receptor antagonist such as cimetidine in the management of gastro-esophageal reflux disease. Sodium alginate is used in the form of a mixed calcium-sodium salt of alginic acid as a hemostatic and wound dressing. Sodium alginate is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing as a suspending and thickening agent.
It is being used as an alternative drug of choice in Gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GRED)
Sodium Bicarbonate: It is a monosodium salt of carbonic acid. It is used as an alkalinizing agent in the treatment of metabolic acidosis. It causes alkinization of urine and therefore can be given to relieve the discomfort in mild urinary tract disorder. It neutralizes the acid in the gastro-intestinal tract, therefore frequently included in antacid preparations.
It is being used in the indication of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, chronic acidotic states, metabolic acidosis, muscle spasm, relief of discomfort UTIs, heartburn; acidity and also being used as an alternative choice of drug in stomach pain.
Side Effects
Side effects of Sodium Alginate include urticaria, bronchospasm, anaphylaxis, and upset stomach
Side effects of Sodium Bicarbonate include hypokalemia, seizures, lactic acidosis, pulmonary edema, flatulence, necrosis, abdominal pain, chemical cellulitis, ulceration, tetany, and reaction at the injection site, etc.
Precautions
Take GAVISON after meals and at bedtime and do not give this syrup to patients suffering from kidney dysfunction and neonates.
Pregnancy
There has been researched done on “Assessment of the safety and efficacy of Rast-forming Alinate Reflux Suppressant (Liquid Gaviscon) for the treatment of heartburn during pregnancy”. This research has been published on pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23209926/
Abstract of Research (Copied from the site)
Abstract
“Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GER) and the symptoms of heartburn and regurgitation are common in pregnancy. These symptoms are transient and mostly resolve postpartum but have a negative impact on the quality of life. Here, we present a prospective clinical evaluation of the safety and efficacy of an alginate raft-forming oral suspension that is licensed for use in pregnancy. The study was a multicentre, prospective, open-label, and baseline-controlled study of Liquid Gaviscon (LG) in the treatment of heartburn in pregnant women with current symptoms of heartburn and/or reflux requiring treatment (recruited 144). The efficacy of the study medication was rated by the investigator (primary endpoint) and the patient. Treatment was deemed to be a success in 91% of patients as judged by the investigator (95% CI 85.0-95.3) and 90% (95% CI 84.1-94.8) when assessed by the patient themselves. Very few adverse events or serious adverse events were reported that were considered to be related to the study medication, and these were consistent with the normal population incidences. Serum sodium levels remained unchanged. This prospective open-label study in a large number of pregnant women has shown that LG is both safe and highly efficacious in the treatment of heartburn and GER symptoms in pregnancy”
Gaviscon Syrup
GAVISCON Syrup Alginate Compound
Composition Each 10ml contains
Sodium Alginate Bp 500mg
Sodium Bicarbonate PH.Eur.267mg
Symptoms Heartburn, Indigestion, Stomach Pain, Acidity, Gas Trouble
Dose (Age between 6-12 Years) 1 teaspoonful three times a day
Dose (More Than 18 Years) 1 or 2 tablespoonful three times a day
Company Reckitt Benckiser
Retail Price Rs 83
Gaviscon Advance Syrup
GAVISCON Syrup Alginate Compound
Composition Each 10ml contains
Sodium Alginate 1000mg
Sodium Bicarbonate PH.Eur 200mg
Potassium Hydrogen carbonate 200mg
Symptoms Heartburn, Indigestion, Stomach Pain, Acidity, Gas Trouble
Dose (Age between 12-1Years) 1-2 tablespoonful three times a day
Dose (More Than 18 Years) 1-2 tablespoonful three times a day
Company Reckitt Benckiser
Retail Price Rs 120