Digene is Allopathic medicine to get relief from gas and acidity. It contains Aluminium Hydroxide gel, Magnesium Aluminium Silicate Hydrate, Magnesium Hydroxide and Simethicone.
Digene is an Aluminium- and magnesium-containing antacids. Antacid are drugs used to neutralize the hydrochloric acid HCl secreted in the stomach in the gastric juice. They raise the pH of the gastric contents to above 3.5 and give symptomatic relief of pain (in gastric and duodenal ulcers) by lowering the acidity and consequently relieving the muscle spasm. They do this by acting as weak bases.
Antacids should preferably not be taken at the same time as other drugs since they may impair absorption.
Here is given more about this medicine, such as benefits, indication/therapeutic uses, composition, and dosage.
- Manufacturer: Abbott India Limited
- Availability: Online and at medical stores
- Type of medicine: Allopathic
- Main Indication: Acidity, gas
- Suitable for: Adults
Ingredients of Digene
Digene Tablet
- Aluminium hydroxide 300 mg
- Magnesium aluminium silicate Al2MgO8Si2 50 mg
- Magnesium hydroxide 25 mg
- Simethicone 25 mg
Digene Syrup
- Aluminium hydroxide 830 mg/10 mL
- magnesium hydroxide 185 mg
- simethicone 50 mg, sodium carboxymethylcellulose 100 mg
Aluminium hydroxide (non-systemic gastric antacid), binds with phosphate in the gastrointestinal tract and neutralizes gastric acid and inactivates pepsin. This helps in healing of ulcer, pain associated with ulcers and hyperacidity.
The recommended dosage of Aluminium hyrdroxide is 1.5 g to 3g/ day in 3 divided doses after meals or 500 mg during attacks. It is rarely given to children.
Pregnancy Category FDA: B
Either animal reproduction studies have not demonstrated a fetal risk but there are no controlled studies in pregnant women, or animal reproduction studies have shown an adverse effect (other than a decrease in fertility) that was not confirmed in controlled studies in women in the first trimester (and there is no evidence of risk in later trimesters).
Aluminium hydroxide should not be used in Severe abdominal pain of unknown cause. It should be used cautiously in Hypercalcemia and Hypophosphatemia. Aluminium hydroxide may cause constipation and loss of phosphate in faeces. It may reduce the effectivity of oral contraceptive pills in women.
Magnesium hydroxide is a non-systemic gastric antacid. It is slightly alkaline crystalline compound Mg(OH)2. It has laxative action. It is indicated in peptic ulcer, dyspepsia and constipation. Adverse effect include diarrhea. It should not be taken with food or other medicines.
Magnesium containing antacids tend to be laxative whereas aluminium- containing antacids may be constipating. Antacids containing both magnesium and aluminium may reduce these colonic side-effects.
Simethicone is a mixture of polydimethylsiloxane and hydrated silica gel. It alleviates discomfort commonly referred to as gas (Antiflatulent). Pregnancy Category FDA: B
Biomedical Action
- Antacid: Preventing or correcting acidity
- Antiflatulent: Alleviation or prevention of excessive intestinal gas, i.e., flatulence.
- Antireflux: Acting to prevent reflux.
- Antiulcer: used to treat ulcers in the stomach and the upper part of the small intestine.
Important Therapeutic Uses of Digene
Adjunctive therapy in the treatment of peptic, duodenal, and gastric ulcers
Hyperacidity, indigestion, reflux esophagitis, gastritis, hiatus hernia.
- Peptic, duodenal, and gastric ulcers (break in the lining of the stomach, first part of the small intestine, or occasionally the lower esophagus)
- Hyperacidity (excessive level of acid in the gastric juices causing discomfort.)
- Indigestion (pain or discomfort in the stomach associated with difficulty in digesting food)
- Reflux esophagitis (reflux esophagitis or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is esophageal mucosal injury that occurs secondary to retrograde flux of gastric contents into the esophagus)
- Hiatus hernia (upper part of the stomach protrudes into the chest cavity through the esophageal hiatus in the diapragm due to a tear or weakness in the diaphragm)
The Dosage of Digene
Digene tablets are taken in dosage of 1-4 tablets. The tablets should be chewed or sucked after meals and at bedtime.
Digene gel is taken in a dose of 1-2 teaspoonful (5-10 ml) or as directed by the physician.
Suggestions, Contraindications, Interactions, Side-effects, and Warnings
It is generally considered safe in pregnancy.
Avoid excessive use.
Long term excessive intake may cause hypochlorydia (extremely low levels of stomach acid).
This medicine is contraindicated in Hypophosphataemia and acute porphyria.
Adverse reaction of Digene include constipation, intestinal obstruction, faecal discoloration, nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, etc.
Drug interaction may take place with tetracyclines, penicillin, sulfonamides, iron, digoxin, indometacin, naproxen, phenylbutazone, quinidine and vitamins.
Antacids may affect the absorption of other drugs which may be administered along with antacids such as antichlolinergics and antibiotics. These drugs may be adsorbed by the antacids. Antacids may also alter the pH of gut gastric contents thereby delaying the absorption of weak acids and speeding the absorption of basic drugs.
Absorption of antibiotic (Ciprofloxacin, Digoxin, Isoniazid, Phenytoin, Rifampicin) get reduced when taken with digene.
Avoid in severe hepatic impairment. It can precipitate hepatic encephalopathy by causing constipation.
Best time to take antacid is at least 1 hour after food.