Introduction

You have encountered simethicone more often than you realize. It's the active ingredient in many over-the-counter remedies for bloating, abdominal discomfort, and excess gas. From Gas-X and Alka-Seltzer in the U.S. to Espumisan, Polysilane, and Gelusil across Asia and Europe, simethicone-based formulations are everywhere—quietly improving comfort for millions each day (DailyMed, n.d.).

One would be remiss to ignore other medication that treats similar discomforts. Enzyme-based supplements such as alpha-galactosidase or lactase target distress caused by specific foods (EFSA Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies, 2014); activated charcoal, though primarily meant to treat poisoning is historically used for antiflatulence (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d.-b). Simethicone, by contrast, acts through a purely physical mechanism: its silicon-based molecular structure reduces surface tension to pop air bubbles and release trapped air in the gastrointestinal tract (Jha et al., 2000).

Today, the global market for simethicone-based products runs into hundreds of millions of dollars annually, spanning pharmaceuticals, food processing, and even industrial defoaming (Grand View Research, 2024; Verified Market Report, n.d.). It is a simple molecule with surprisingly broad impact and a story worth telling.

What is simethicone?

Commercially, simethicone is a blend of 90–99 wt. % polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)—a silicone-based polymer with a methylated, flexible silicon–oxygen backbone—and silicon dioxide to stabilize the mixture (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d.-a). The result is a viscous, milky-white emulsion with remarkably low surface energy. Pharmaceutical-grade simethicone is odorless, non-reactive, and highly stable: properties that explain both its industrial and medical versatility.

Long before it became a household name in medicine, simethicone—often called activated dimethicone or simply dimethicone—was prized in industry as an antifoamer and lubricant. Its chemical inertness and low surface energy made it invaluable in food processing, brewing, and chemical manufacturing, where its defoaming properties kept tanks and reactors from overflowing with foam (Jha et al., 2000). It also found uses as a hydraulic fluid, mold-release agent, and even in heat-resistant tiles, insulation, and water-repellent coatings for glass.

Fun fact: the same polymer family is what gives Silly Putty and Kinetic Sand their unique textures. If you carefully replaced the methyl groups with amine groups, that is the material that makes your clothes feel soft to the skin (Chrusciel, 2022).

The leap from industrial defoamer, lubricant, and hydrophobe to medical marvel began in veterinary science. Researchers observed that polydimethylsiloxane could relieve "frothy bloat" in cattle—a condition where gas bubbles trapped in the rumen inflicted pain on the animal. In a 1950s study by Quinn et al. (1949), injecting polymerized methyl polysiloxane into affected cattle led to recovery in 115 of 155 cases, confirming that the foam in bloat was, indeed, air dispersed in digesta.

Human medicine soon followed. As early as 1877, Kehrer had suggested that gastric discomfort arose from air bubbles in swallowed food mass rather than a special "gastric vapor". Decades later, gastroenterologists noticed that trapped bubbles interfered with endoscopic visibility and patient comfort (Morris et al., 1947). Early human trials with simethicone were strikingly successful: in one study of 200 patients aged 23–84, over 75% reported good to excellent relief after taking 40 mg of simethicone four times daily, with no significant side effects (Rider & Moeller, 1960).

The pivotal moment came in 1974, when Bernstein and Kasich published a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial demonstrating simethicone's clinical efficacy for upper gastrointestinal discomfort. Patients receiving simethicone experienced statistically significant improvements in both symptom frequency and severity compared to placebo (Bernstein & Kasich, 1974). This landmark study firmly established simethicone as a safe, effective, and purely physical solution—not by altering digestion or chemistry, but simply by breaking bubbles.

How do you take it from trials to the consumer?

The medical acceptance of simethicone is ubiquitous. Few compounds enjoy such broad trust across the pharmaceutical world. In 1952, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) formally approved simethicone for human use after extensive safety and efficacy data demonstrated its inertness and physical mode of action (U.S. Food and Drug Administration, n.d.-a). Because it does not interact chemically or metabolically within the body, simethicone became a preferred treatment for bloating, abdominal discomfort, and trapped gas—safe across age groups and compatible with most other medications.

Today, the global market for simethicone exceeds USD 500–600 million annually, across pharmaceutical and industrial applications (Grand View Research, 2024; Verified Market Report, n.d.). Its inclusion in multiple pharmacopeias—particularly the United States Pharmacopeia (USP)—underscores its proven record of purity, performance, and regulatory confidence. As a result, simethicone is now among the most consistently specified actives and excipients in gastrointestinal formulations worldwide.

Yet the same molecular traits that earned simethicone medical trust also power its industrial relevance. Its silicone backbone provides unmatched thermal stability, low surface energy, and chemical inertness, enabling its use in defoaming food systems, chemical reactors, fermentation processes, and heat-resistant coatings. This rare combination—a compound equally at home in a brewery and a pharmacy—is what makes simethicone unique.

At Thurs Organics, we produce both pure Simethicone 100% and Simethicone emulsions, manufactured in full compliance with United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards. Our formulations emphasize clarity, stability, and reproducibility, ensuring that each batch meets the performance needs of pharmaceutical, food, and specialty chemical applications alike.

In a marketplace increasingly defined by quality assurance and regulatory rigor, our commitment to consistent composition and long-term stability allows our partners to integrate simethicone with confidence.

Conclusion

Simethicone has come a long way from its origins as an industrial antifoam. Its story reflects a rare transformation—a quirk of chemistry that became a cultural mainstay in relieving one of life's most common discomforts. Today, simethicone manufacturing is where chemistry meets compliance, ensuring that every drop and every tablet perform exactly as intended: to break foam, release gas, and bring relief. With ongoing process innovations and broader global adoption, simethicone continues to find new applications across pharmaceuticals, food, and specialty materials.

At Thurs Organics, we take pride in carrying this legacy forward—producing high-purity, pharmacopeia-grade simethicone with consistency and care. Our commitment is simple: to make the future of simethicone as smooth and steady as the comfort it brings.