Why Is Gaviscon Advance Not Sold in the Us?

Author Lee Cosi

Posted Jan 11, 2023

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Gaviscon is a popular digestive remedy in the United Kingdom that is produced by Publicis Pharma. Unfortunately, Gaviscon Advance is not sold in the United States because of a unique set of medical regulations between the two countries.

The main reason for this discrepancy can be attributed to the different nature of US and UK medications. In the United Kingdom, some medications do not meet American standards for safety and efficacy and are therefore allowed to be sold with lower regulatory oversight. This means that certain products can make claims or advertise as treatments even if they may lack significant evidence of doing so. For example, in the United Kingdom Gaviscon Advance can be advertised as forming a protective foam barrier over sensitive parts of your digestive system yet this claim has not been substantiated with scientific evidence leaving it's use banned in The US.

Another factor that could contribute to Gaviscon Advance not being available stateside is the fact that it contains an ingredient called sodium alginate which is derived from seaweed extracts but due to its natural origins, for safety reasons its content must fall below a certain level as per US regulations. This regulation may have resulted in Publicis Pharma having to make changes to their pharmaceutical formulation thus making it unavailable for sale in America.

In summary, Gaviscon Advance is not sold in The Us due to its natural ingredients, lack of supporting scientific evidence regarding its benefits and also that overall general pharmaceutical standards differ between The United States and The UK which prevents this product from making it onto American shelves for sale.

What is the rationale behind Gaviscon Advance being unavailable in the US?

Gaviscon Advance is an antacid treatment that was used to treat heartburn and acid indigestion. It has a unique formulation that combines both an alginate and a gelling agent, sodium alginate and calcium carbonate respectively. In the United States, however, Gaviscon Advance is unavailable — but why?

The basic answer is due to U.S. FDA regulations regarding the use of an over-the-counter medication like Gaviscon Advance. Since this medication has not been approved by the FDA, it cannot be found in any American pharmacies or stores. In other countries where Gaviscon Advance is available, regulatory standards may differ and certain ingredients may be considered safe and effective for use in those countries even if they have not been approved in the United States yet.

Moreover, it is important to note that although Gaviscon Advance does benefit many people suffering from digestive ailments in several countries outside of the US, it is still important for individuals to consult with a medical professional about their specific symptoms before seeking out any sort of remedy. This can help prevent potential complications associated with unapproved medications. Bottom line, because of FDA regulations, Americans have limited access to products like Gaviscon Advance compared to other countries – but always ensure you speak to your medical provider first before taking any sort of antacid treatment!

What has caused Gaviscon Advance to not be sold in the US?

Gaviscon Advance is a popular antacid medication that is widely available in other countries, but not in the United States. This can be attributed to a number of factors, both short term and long term.

Firstly, one could cite the regulatory compliances needed to bring a medication to market in the US as one of the major short-term causes for Gaviscon Advance's lack of availability over here. The nation's stringent drug approval process includes expansive testing and paperwork requirements not asked of other countries' agencies which tends to add significant development costs to any product coming into the US. This is an especially large barrier for novel medications, such as Gaviscon Advance, making it financially unfeasible for its maker.

Additionally, there are long-term market considerations at play that are preventing the drug from entering the US market where versions of Gaviscon have been available for decades now. The lengthy period between when it was first developed and today has resulted in considerable brand recognition for generic antacids domestically, resulting in shaky demand projections that would accompany Gaviscon Advance's introduction into the mix.

Overall, from developing appropriate regulatory compliances to market considerations like brand recognition, a range of short-term and long-term factors drive what medications make it into the US pharmacopeia and those that don't -- making Gaviscon Advance one example among many products kept out due to lack of feasibility or profit potential.

Lee Cosi

Lee Cosi

Writer at CGAA

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Lee Cosi is an experienced article author and content writer. He has been writing for various outlets for over 5 years, with a focus on lifestyle topics such as health, fitness, travel, and finance. His work has been featured in publications such as Men's Health Magazine, Forbes Magazine, and The Huffington Post.

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