Acid reflux and Zantac

jlb1023

Anyone have experience with AR and Zantac?  Did it work?  I'm finding that my LO doesn't like the taste and he spits most of it out.  Any tricks to administering it?  He was just diagnosed on Friday and the pedi put him on a really low dose (.5 ml twice per day - he weighs 15.8 lbs).  I didn't realize it was such a low dose until this weekend when I did some research.  She also suggested I start rice cereal as she thinks that may help with his AR.  But we just started that too and he isn't taking enough to make a difference so far.  Any thoughts/help would be greatly appreciated!!!  Thanks!

wildhoney4508

LO is on 1.5 mls three times a day and is about 15 lbs. She started it for silent reflux at 2 months. (She is almost 5 mo) we up it every time we notice she isn't taking in much bottle or she fusses at bottle. Out pedi said the dosage goes up every time she gains weight, so that's how we gauge how it's working. Also when we administer it, at first she would spit it out a little, but now I think she expects it and tolerates it better. We try to "shoot" the medicine dropper way back in her mouth and slightly keep her mouth closed (not forcing it hard) so that it can't be spit out and she really has no choice but to swallow.

Edit: added info

DTNZ4Ever

DS was on Zantac for a few days. He had silent reflux but would scream at feedings. He is a tough one and power through and eat so he his 18lbs now. We found that the Zantac helped but not 100% we switched to Prevacid and DS is a different baby. This happens at 11-13weeks. DS will be 5 months on Friday. We also started Similac Spit Up Formula it has rice cereal in it already so it thinkens up. With the meds I would tip DS' head back while holding him and then put the med dropper along his cheek towards the back. He would swallow most of it. Luckily DS loves the strawberry flavor of the Prevacid and he only takes it once a day. He sucks it out of the dropper.

wildhoney4508

babycaps said:

do you EBF?  If you use bottles at all, you can mix the 0.5ml in with about 1/2 oz of milk and he won't even notice!

You're supposed to give it 30 mins before a feeding which yes, is sometimes a pain and not do-able

dannie2011

I found giving it very slowly in the cheek worked better. I'm surprised your pedi is only doing .5 with that low of an amount I don't think it will do anything. Zantac is very weight sensitive. Alexis was getting that at 6 weeks, and was upped again at 8 weeks before the switch to Prevacid.

Hdhtk4

LO started Zantac about 3 weeks ago. She is five months now and 16 pounds. She had silent reflux and feedings had become difficult - she couldn't eat for more than a few minutes at a time before pulling off and refusing to continue. Zantac has completely changed that and she will actually eat a full "meal" again! She also doesn't like the taste of it and spit much of it out at first, but she does a lot better now. We do 2 mL 2x per day and aim it way to the back of her throat. I usually squeeze 1/3 of a mL in her mouth at a time. She still makes a horrible face when she tastes it but actually swallows now instead of spitting it. My doctor didn't say anything to us about giving it 30 min before a feeding? We just give in the morning and before bed.

jlb1023

babycaps said:

do you EBF?  If you use bottles at all, you can mix the 0.5ml in with about 1/2 oz of milk and he won't even notice!

I used to EBF but he also ended up with MSPI and we were having other feeding issues so he is now on Alimentum.  I'll give it a shot!  Thank you!

Thanks for all your help ladies!  I feel so bad for him and just want him to feel better.  We've had so many issues between the MSPI, now this, he hasn't really had the chance to be a happy baby  

For the people that made the switch to Prevacid....did the doc make that change or did you request it?  Are there any side effects to that?  I wonder why that wasn't even mentioned as an option by my pedi.  

DTNZ4Ever

jlb1023 said:

babycaps said:

do you EBF?  If you use bottles at all, you can mix the 0.5ml in with about 1/2 oz of milk and he won't even notice!

I used to EBF but he also ended up with MSPI and we were having other feeding issues so he is now on Alimentum.  I'll give it a shot!  Thank you!

Thanks for all your help ladies!  I feel so bad for him and just want him to feel better.  We've had so many issues between the MSPI, now this, he hasn't really had the chance to be a happy baby  

For the people that made the switch to Prevacid....did the doc make that change or did you request it?  Are there any side effects to that?  I wonder why that wasn't even mentioned as an option by my pedi.  

My son went on Alimentum but made his reflux worse since it is so thin. My pedi was really proactive in treatment since she just dealt with silent reflux last year with her LO. She said if the Zantac didn't work after 5-6 days to call and let her know. DS was not screaming during bottles on Zantac but still arching his back and pulling away from his bottle. So i called and let her know of that he was better but not 100% so she made the switch to Prevacid.

Be proactive if your LO is not better in a few days call your doctor don't wait.

JKGymnast

(Lurker here w/5 month old twin boys)... One of my boys has severe reflux. We started on Zantac, no improvement, switched to Prilosec, no improvement and switched to Prevacid, which made him a new baby. **I use the syringe and give it to him very slowly in .25-.5ml increments otherwise he just pukes it right up. I also stick the binky in after every squirt so he sucks it down completely. You have to feed these meds on an empty stomach and and you must wait at least 20 minutes before feeding them otherwise the dose is a waste. We started on EBF, then Similac, the Similac Sensitive, Alimentum, 2 other Rx formulas and now were on Neocate Rx formula. Smells terrible and costs a fortune but it does the trick.
We see the pedi gastroenterologist monthly. Good times.

Hays0770

we are on 2mL in the AM and PM

before i started bottle feeding i would stick it as far back in her mouth as possible and squirt it in thirds

now i just put it in her bottle

there are some medicine dispenser pacis out there... that may work

we have one but just havent used it yet

it takes about 2wks to start working so dont lose hope just yet

there are also multiple med options if you just cant get babe to take zantac, or ask the pharmacy to add a flavoring

babe will still spit like hell but it wont hurt anymore, and they SHOULD stop waking up screaming

which is always a bonus

good luck!

jlb1023

Just changed his diaper and he had mucus in his poop.  I'm going to call the doctor but has anyone else experienced this as a result of Zantac?

BethRN1987

We are still dosing from her 3 month appointment BUT she has a high dose apparently. She was around ten pounds and we do 1.7 ml twice a day.

I squirt it into a nipple and let her suck it out that way. Easy

jlb1023

Thanks for your responses!  Much appreciated.  One more question...is there a bottle that might help or make a difference with AR?  We are using Tommee Tippee currently.  

wildhoney4508

jlb1023 said:

Thanks for your responses!  Much appreciated.  One more question...is there a bottle that might help or make a difference with AR?  We are using Tommee Tippee currently.  

We switched to Playtex drop-ins before LO was diagnosed bc it's really good w getting all (most) of the air out. This has helped a lot w gas/her reflux issues. (We started with Avent and Tommee Tipper.)

bumpuser381983

I was told Dr Browns bottles are best for acid reflux.

Tilt the head back and gently blow on the face when giving the meds. Babies have a reaction to hold their breath and swallow.

Dosage for Zantac is way low and probably won't do anything. That was my sons dosage when he weighed 6 lbs.