A GI cocktail is a drink that has different medicines in it. It can help you feel better if you have indigestion. Indigestion means you have trouble digesting your food. Indigestion means you have trouble digesting your food. As a result, it can make you feel uncomfortable or sick in your stomach. In addition, some people also call a GI cocktail a gastric cocktail.

What Is in a GI Cocktail?

It has three kinds of medicines:

  • an antacid: a liquid that makes your stomach less acidic and thus helps with heartburn
  • a liquid anaesthetic: a liquid that makes your throat, oesophagus, and stomach numb and helps with pain
  • an anticholinergic: a pill that relaxes your stomach and intestines and thus helps with nausea and vomiting

Here are the most common brands and amounts of these medicines:

  • antacid: Mylanta or Maalox, 30 mL
  • liquid anaesthetic: Xylocaine Viscous, 5 mL
  • anticholinergic: Donnatal, 10 mL

Why Do You Need a GI Cocktail?

You may need a GI cocktail if you have indigestion. It can happen for many reasons, such as:

  • acid reflux
  • an ulcer
  • gastritis

Indigestion can also happen because of some medicines, foods, or habits, such as:

  • such as potassium supplements
  • NSAIDs
  • stress
  • or smoking

Indigestion can make you feel the following:

  • uncomfortable in your stomach
  • full or bloated
  • burpy
  • chest pain
  • constipated or diarrhoea
  • gassy
  • not hungry
  • nauseous

It may help you with these feelings. You may get it at a hospital or an emergency room. Sometimes, it can also help find out if your chest pain is from indigestion or your heart. But this is not very reliable.

Does a GI Cocktail Work?

It may work for indigestion. But there is not much research on it. And the research is old. In one old study at a hospital emergency room, some people with chest pain or stomach pain said they felt better after having a GI cocktail. But they also had other medicines, so it is hard to say which one helped them.

However, some other studies said that GI cocktails are not good for finding out if chest pain is from indigestion or the heart.  Therefore, Some studies also said that antacids alone are as good as GI cocktails for indigestion.

What Are the Side Effects of a GI Cocktail?

It can have some side effects. These are from the different medicines in it. They include:

  • antacid: allergic reaction, stomach cramps, nausea, constipation, diarrhoea, headache
  • liquid anaesthetic: allergic reaction, numbness/tingling, vision changes, nervousness, confusion, chest pain, seizures, trouble breathing
  • anticholinergic: dry mouth, blurry vision, dry eyes, constipation, trouble peeing, dizziness, confusion, heart problems

Therefore, if you have any of these side effects after having a GI cocktail, get medical help right away.

What Should You Know About Taking a GI Cocktail?

First of all, a GI cocktail is a drink that has different medicines in it. It can help you feel better if you have indigestion. It has an antacid, a liquid anaesthetic, and also an anticholinergic. You may get it at a hospital or an emergency room for indigestion or chest pain. But it may not work very well. And it can have some side effects. Finally, if you have any questions or worries about taking a GI cocktail, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.