POLYGEL Chewable tablet Ref.[115716] Active ingredients: Aluminium hydroxide Magnesium hydroxide Magnesium silicate Simethicone

Pharmacotherapeutic group: Polygel Tablets:

ATC Code: A02AF02 (Antacid)
Pharmacological Category:

Dried Aluminium Hydroxide Gel BP: Antacid
Magnesium Aluminium Silicate Hydrate BP: Antacid
Magnesium Hydroxide BP:Antacid
Simethicone BP: Antifoaming Agent/Antiflatulent Agent

Pharmacological action

Simethicone is an antifoaming agent/Antiflatulent Agentto reduce flatulence. It is a silicon polymer that lowers surface tension & allows the small bubbles of froth to coalesce into large bubbles that can be more easily passed up from stomach or down from the colon. It is chemically inert and has no known systemic action.

Aluminium hydroxide is used primarily as an antacid. Main clinical use of aluminium hydroxide is as an agent for neutralizing gastric acid. Aluminium hydroxide acts as an adsorbent of pepsin at a pH above 3. Aluminium hydroxide salts delay gastric emptying & relax gastrointestinal smooth muscle. This contributes to the constipating effect of Aluminium hydroxide. It also helps to promote a mucosal barrier to acid by stimulating mucus secretion. It interferes with phosphate absorption by forming insoluble aluminium phosphate in the gut lumen. It also inhibits the absorption of fluoride ions and binds to some fatty acids and proteins in the gut. Aluminium hydroxide appears to bind to bile acids with an affinity close to that seen with cholestyramine.

Magnesium Hydroxide/Magnesium Aluminium Silicate Hydrate has laxative action and is often given with Aluminium Hydroxide gel which has a constipating action. Because of its insolubility, the antacid effect is usually prolonged over several hours. Magnesium hydroxide increases intestinal motility. Thus Polygel contains the right balance of aluminium and magnesium compounds so as to significantly change bowel function.