Best Over-the-Counter Gas and Bloating Medicine UK

Over-the-counter remedies like simeticone, peppermint oil, and lactase tablets can ease gas and bloating, but they don’t treat the root cause. Persistent symptoms should be assessed by your GP to rule out IBS or other conditions, with personalised nutrition offering longer-lasting relief.

Living with frequent gas and bloating can be frustrating, uncomfortable, and sometimes even embarrassing. Many people turn to over-the-counter remedies in search of quick relief. While these can help ease symptoms in the short term, they rarely address the underlying reasons why the problem keeps coming back.

If you’ve been struggling with ongoing bloating or digestive discomfort, it’s important not to rely on pharmacy products alone. These symptoms may be linked to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or another digestive condition that requires proper assessment and management. At IBS Clinics, providing your GP has already ruled out other bowel conditions, we can provide gut health tests and personalised treatment plans.

In this article, we’ll look at the best over-the-counter options available in the UK, explain their benefits and limitations, and highlight why seeking medical advice and nutritional support could be the key to lasting relief. We’d also recommend that you take a look at our article How Long Does Bloating Last to help you distinguish between typical bloating patterns and when you should consider seeking medical advice.

Understanding Gas and Bloating: Why It Happens

Bloating and excess gas are common digestive complaints that most people experience from time to time. While often harmless, persistent or severe symptoms can have a significant impact on daily life and may be a sign of an underlying condition that needs medical attention.

Common causes of bloating and excess gas

Several everyday factors can contribute to uncomfortable bloating and wind, including:

Dietary triggers – foods high in fibre, beans, lentils, onions, and carbonated drinks are common culprits.
Swallowing air – chewing gum, drinking through straws, or eating too quickly can increase the amount of air in the digestive system.
Food intolerances – sensitivity to lactose, gluten, or certain carbohydrates can lead to excessive gas.
Changes in gut bacteria – an imbalance in the gut microbiome can cause bloating and altered bowel habits.
Hormonal fluctuations – for some women, bloating is linked to their menstrual cycle [1].

When occasional symptoms might signal something more

While bloating after a large meal is usually nothing to worry about, symptoms that are frequent, painful, or disruptive may suggest an underlying digestive condition such as:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Coeliac disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)

The NHS advises that if you notice bloating occurring regularly (more than 12 times a month), persisting over 3 weeks (despite dietary changes), unexplained weight loss, blood in the stool, abdominal swelling or lumps, sickness, diarrhoea or severe abdominal pain, it’s important to see your GP promptly to rule out more serious causes [2].

Can Over-the-Counter Remedies Help?

For many people, the first step in dealing with uncomfortable gas or bloating is to reach for an over-the-counter (OTC) remedy. In the UK, there are several products designed to ease digestive discomfort. While these can provide short-term relief, it’s important to understand how they work and their limitations.

What OTC products are available in the UK

Some of the most commonly used OTC options for gas and bloating include:

Simeticone (e.g. Wind-eze, Infacol)
Helps break down trapped gas bubbles in the digestive system, making them easier to pass [3].
Activated charcoal tablets
Thought to absorb gas in the gut, although evidence for effectiveness is mixed.
Antacids (e.g. Rennie, Gaviscon)
Primarily used for heartburn or indigestion, but may reduce bloating caused by excess stomach acid [4].
Lactase enzyme supplements (e.g. Lactaid)
Useful for people with lactose intolerance, helping the body digest lactose in dairy products [5].
Peppermint oil capsules (e.g. Colpermin)
Can relax the muscles in the bowel and reduce bloating and cramping, sometimes recommended for IBS symptoms [6].

For many people, these remedies can make day-to-day symptoms more manageable. However, their effects are usually temporary. They do not address the underlying reasons why gas and bloating are occurring, meaning symptoms often return once the product wears off.

Limitations of Over-the-Counter Gas and Bloating Medicine

Over-the-counter solutions may provide temporary relief, but they don’t address the underlying causes of chronic gas and bloating. Relying on them alone may leave the root cause unaddressed.

Symptom relief, not treatment

Most OTC medicines provide symptom relief rather than treatment. For example, simeticone can help release trapped wind, but it won’t resolve an undiagnosed food intolerance or an imbalance in gut bacteria. Similarly, antacids may ease discomfort, but they don’t stop the digestive issues that may be causing the problem in the first place.
Without identifying and managing the real cause, bloating and gas are likely to keep returning.

Risks of relying on quick fixes without diagnosis

Using OTC remedies as your main approach can carry risks, including:

Masking a more serious condition – persistent bloating can sometimes be linked to conditions such as IBS, coeliac disease, or even ovarian cancer [2].
Delayed diagnosis and treatment – continuing to self-manage with OTC products may prevent you from seeking timely medical advice.
Worsening symptoms – ignoring the cause can allow problems to progress and become harder to manage.
Frustration and unnecessary expense – repeatedly buying products without lasting relief can be discouraging and costly.

If your symptoms are frequent, severe, or not improving with lifestyle changes, it’s important to see your GP [2]. A proper assessment can rule out other conditions and ensure you get the right support.

Why Getting an IBS Diagnosis Is Important

If gas and bloating are becoming a regular issue, it’s important not to assume it’s “just IBS” or continue relying only on over-the-counter remedies. A confirmed diagnosis from your GP is a crucial first step in understanding and managing your symptoms effectively.

How IBS is diagnosed by your GP

There isn’t a single test that can confirm IBS. Instead, your GP will:

Review your medical history and symptoms – looking at patterns such as how often you experience bloating, bowel habit changes, and abdominal pain.
Carry out basic blood and stool tests – to rule out other conditions, such as coeliac disease or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Apply diagnostic criteria – IBS is usually considered when symptoms have been present for at least six months and meet recognised patterns such as pain linked with bowel movements and changes in stool consistency.

Other conditions that can mimic IBS symptoms

Many digestive disorders share similar symptoms with IBS, which is why professional assessment is essential. These include:

Coeliac disease
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis)
Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO)
Food intolerances or allergies
Endometriosis (in women)

Identifying these conditions early can make a significant difference to treatment and long-term health. Not all of these conditions are routinely tested for on the NHS, which is why, after ruling out other conditions, it may be beneficial for you to consult a nutritionist or functional medicine practitioner, experienced in treating gut health issues.

The Role of Nutrition in Managing Gas and Bloating

What you eat has a direct impact on how your digestive system feels and functions. Certain foods are more likely to produce gas or trigger bloating, such as beans, onions, fizzy drinks, processed and high-fat meals [2].

For some people, seemingly healthy options like whole grains or certain vegetables can also contribute to discomfort if the gut struggles to break them down efficiently. Beyond individual food triggers, the overall balance of your diet plays a role in how well your digestive system copes day to day.

While it can be tempting to try cutting out foods one by one in the hope of finding the culprit, this trial-and-error approach is rarely effective in the long term. Restricting foods without proper guidance can lead to nutritional deficiencies and may even make your gut health worse. Personalised nutritional support is far more effective.

A trained nutritionist or functional medicine practitioner can help you identify which foods genuinely affect your symptoms, while ensuring your diet remains balanced and supportive of your overall health. By looking at your unique gut health, medical history, and lifestyle, they can create a plan that addresses the underlying causes of gas and bloating rather than simply managing them at the surface level.

How a Functional Medicine Practitioner Can Help

While over-the-counter remedies focus on easing symptoms, a functional medicine approach looks deeper to uncover why gas and bloating are happening in the first place. This shift from short-term relief to long-term solutions can make a real difference if you’ve been struggling with ongoing digestive discomfort.

Looking beyond symptom relief

Instead of masking symptoms, a functional medicine practitioner aims to understand the bigger picture. This includes exploring your diet, lifestyle, stress levels, and overall health to see how they may be contributing to your digestive issues.

Addressing underlying digestive imbalances

Gas and bloating are often linked to factors such as gut bacteria imbalances, food intolerances, low stomach acid, or difficulties digesting certain carbohydrates. A practitioner can arrange or recommend appropriate gut health tests, then use the results to guide a personalised plan that targets the specific imbalances driving your symptoms.

Creating a tailored treatment plan

Rather than offering general advice, a functional medicine practitioner will build a treatment plan around your individual needs. This might include dietary adjustments, targeted supplements, stress management strategies, and guidance on improving overall gut health. The goal is not only to reduce bloating and gas but also to improve your long-term digestive function and overall well-being.

Conclusion

Managing gas and bloating isn’t just about finding the right over-the-counter medicine; it’s about understanding why these symptoms keep happening and addressing the root causes. While remedies like simeticone, peppermint oil capsules, or lactase tablets can provide welcome short-term relief, they are not a long-term solution on their own.

The most effective way forward is to combine medical advice with tailored nutrition and lifestyle changes. A proper assessment from your GP ensures that more serious conditions are ruled out, while personalised support from a nutritionist or functional medicine practitioner can help you identify and address the factors driving your symptoms. Together, this approach goes beyond quick fixes to support lasting relief and better digestive health.

At IBS Clinics, we specialise in helping people move past the cycle of temporary fixes. By working with our practitioners, you can gain a deeper understanding of your gut health and receive a plan designed around your unique needs. If you’re ready to take the next step towards lasting relief from gas, bloating, and other IBS symptoms, contact us at IBS Clinics to discuss suitable testing and treatment options.

References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/womens-health/in-depth/water-retention/art-20044983
https://www.nhs.uk/symptoms/bloating/
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/simeticone/
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/antacids/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/19664-lactase-capsules-or-tablets
https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/peppermint-oil/

Author – Tracey Randell

At IBS Clinics, Tracey Randell, a renowned Nutritional Therapist and one of the few IFM Certified Practitioners in the UK, extends her specialised knowledge and unique approach to managing and treating IBS and other gut-related conditions effectively.

Tracey’s profound understanding of Functional Medicine allows her to connect the dots for complex health conditions, identifying and addressing the root causes to curate personalised and comprehensive health plans for her patients. Her holistic approach focuses on resolving underlying imbalances and optimising gut health, enabling the body to correct other issues and attain overall well-being.

At IBS Clinics, we are dedicated to being your partner in navigating your gut-related health concerns, offering expert care and individualised treatment plans to alleviate your IBS symptoms and enhance your quality of life.

DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The products and methods mentioned are not a substitute for professional medical advice from a trained healthcare specialist. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or other qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. Use of the information and products discussed is at your own risk.