Racid Gel

Description

Racid Gel Gel (Dried Aluminum Hydroxide Gel + Magnesium Hydroxide + Simethicone + Sodium Alginate)

Racid Gel Gel is a combination medication containing an antacid (Aluminum Hydroxide, Magnesium Hydroxide), an anti-foaming agent (Simethicone), and a raft-forming agent (Sodium Alginate). It works by neutralizing stomach acid, reducing gas, and forming a protective barrier to prevent reflux.

Indications

Racid Gel Gel is used for the symptomatic relief of:

• Dyspepsia (indigestion)
• Heartburn, including heartburn in pregnancy
• Acid Indigestion
• Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER) and Reflux Esophagitis (inflammation of the esophagus due to acid reflux)

Dosage and Administration

Racid Gel tablets should be chewed thoroughly before swallowing.

Adult Oral Dose

• 1 or 2 tablets to be chewed four times a day, typically after main meals and at bedtime.

Child Oral Dose (> 6 years)

• 1 or 2 tablets to be chewed four times a day, typically after main meals and at bedtime.

Contraindications

• Known hypersensitivity to any of the components of Racid Gel Gel.

Precautions

• Chronic Renal Impairment: Use with extreme caution in patients with chronic kidney failure due to the risk of aluminum and magnesium accumulation and toxicity.
• Cardiac Conditions: Use with caution in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) or edema.
• Liver Conditions: Use with caution in patients with cirrhosis and those on low sodium diets.
• Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: Use with caution in patients with recent gastrointestinal bleeding.
• Drug Interactions: Administer Racid Gel 2-3 hours before or after other medications to minimize potential drug interactions, as it can affect the absorption of many drugs.
• Pregnancy and Lactation: Use with caution during pregnancy. Excretion of components into breast milk is unknown; therefore, caution is advised when breastfeeding.

Interactions

• Aluminum Hydroxide:
  • Enhanced Absorption: Absorption of aluminum can be increased by citrates or ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), potentially leading to toxicity, especially in renal failure.
  • Decreased Absorption of Other Drugs: May decrease the absorption of: allopurinol, tetracyclines, quinolones, cephalosporins, bisphosphonate derivatives, corticosteroids, cyclosporine, delavirdine, iron salts, imidazole antifungals, isoniazid, mycophenolate, penicillamine, phosphate supplements, phenytoin, phenothiazines, and trientine.
• Magnesium Hydroxide:
  • Decreased Absorption of Other Drugs: May decrease the absorption of tetracyclines and bisphosphonates. Separate administration of these and other drugs by approximately 2 hours.
• Simethicone, Sodium Alginate:
  • No well-documented interactions specific to these components in this combination.

Adverse Effects

Side effects are primarily related to the aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide components.

• Gastrointestinal:
  • Constipation: Commonly reported due to aluminum hydroxide.
  • Diarrhea: Commonly reported due to magnesium hydroxide.
  • Aluminum Toxicity: Patients with renal failure are at high risk due to accumulation. Symptoms can include encephalopathy (speech disorders, dysarthria, dyspraxia, dysphasia, tremor, myoclonus, seizures, coma, and ultimately death), and osteomalacia.
  • Hypermagnesemia: Signs and symptoms include hypotension, nausea, vomiting, EKG changes, respiratory depression, loss of deep tendon reflex, dilated pupils, altered mental status, and coma.
• Metabolic:
  • Hypophosphatemia: Can occur with long-term use of aluminum hydroxide, especially with poor diets, leading to muscle weakness, rhabdomyolysis, hemolysis, and encephalopathy.
• Musculoskeletal:
  • Osteomalacia: Can occur due to hypophosphatemia or aluminum accumulation in bone (predominantly in chronic renal failure), leading to malaise, bone pain, muscular weakness, and bone fractures. Aluminum deposits may also lead to arthropathy and hydrarthrosis.
• Nervous System:
  • Encephalopathy: (see above under Gastrointestinal – Aluminum Toxicity).
• Renal:
  • Renal Calculi (Kidney Stones): Rarely reported, possibly due to hypercalciuria with aluminum hydroxide use.

Mechanism of Action

• Aluminum Hydroxide: Neutralizes hydrochloric acid in the stomach to form aluminum chloride salt and water, thereby increasing gastric pH.
• Magnesium Hydroxide: Acts as an osmotic laxative by retaining fluid in the bowel, which distends the colon and increases peristaltic activity. It also reacts with hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride.
• Simethicone: Functions as an anti-foaming agent by decreasing the surface tension of gas bubbles in the GI system, which helps disperse and prevent gas pockets.
• Alginic Acid (Sodium Alginate): In combination with an antacid, it reacts with gastric acid to form a viscous gel that floats on top of the stomach contents. This gel acts as a mechanical barrier to reduce the reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus.

Note

Racid Gel Gel is manufactured by Curex Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. Its generic name is Dried Aluminum Hydroxide Gel + Magnesium Hydroxide + Simethicone + Sodium Alginate. Racid Gel is available in Nepal. This drug index information from Farmaco Nepal is provided for general knowledge and is not intended for diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment; it should not be considered a substitute for professional medical judgment.