Reflux ?

SapphyrEyes

Is zantac for babies a liquid? Dd woke up again twice last night screaming and trying to swallow spit up back down again. I'm still cutting out dairy and yesterday was my first fully dairy free day. But I'm debating calling the pediatrician tomorrow and having them call in the prescription for her. Are there side effects to this stuff?

MarknCalsMommy

Yes, it's a liquid.  If you get it, ask them to add grape flavor to it.  It comes mint flavored, and it's a very strong flavor for a newborn to palate.

My DO (DOs are generally more natural minded and against meds) says there are little to no side effects to it.  I didn't notice any with my children.

Also, don't give up after a couple of days if it doesn't seem to be working.  It may take awhile, I think the average is a week, for it to really work.  Your LO may have some reflux burn in her throat that needs to heal

Good luck!  I've had 2 reflux babies so far, crossing my fingers this baby will spare us that.

proudarmywife08

Yes, liquid. And yes, the mint flavor is awful. The GI pedi that we say said that over time the zantac becomes less effective, I guess the body gets used to it or something. But yes it does help. DS is now on prilosec which tastes even worse and makes him foamy, ugh. It tastes like baking soda, blech. I will ask if they can flavor it next time.

proudarmywife08

Oh and it has to be give 30 minutes before a meal. That 30 minutes is pure torture for DS. And I hate that I can't feed him, but if I do he has bad bad reflux and I feel worse.

MarknCalsMommy

Good point about it becoming less effective.  We never had to change meds, but had to have their doses upped several times over those months.

livalil319

zantac is extremely weight sensitive so it does need to be increased fairly regularly. Also, many babies develop a tolerance to the meds and it literally is not effective for them anymore. In which case, something like prilosec or prevacid is generally the next step.  prilosec is also notoriously unstable when compounded (liquid) and is only good for about a week (ish) in the fridge.  Do not get the prilosec flavored if you have it bc that only speeds up the degradation of the medicine.  It's fine to flavor zantac. They are totally different types of drugs.  good luck!

proudarmywife08

livalil319:

zantac is extremely weight sensitive so it does need to be increased fairly regularly. Also, many babies develop a tolerance to the meds and it literally is not effective for them anymore. In which case, something like prilosec or prevacid is generally the next step.  prilosec is also notoriously unstable when compounded (liquid) and is only good for about a week (ish) in the fridge.  Do not get the prilosec flavored if you have it bc that only speeds up the degradation of the medicine.  It's fine to flavor zantac. They are totally different types of drugs.  good luck!

Ugh that sucks about prilosec not being able to be flavored. DS HATES it with a passion and his compounded is good for a month in the fridge.

hamilton.ja

It is a liquid. My son took it from 3-15 months with really no side effects but like any medication of course there are possible side effects. We never flavored it for DS as we wanted him to just get used to taking it since he did it 3 times a day at first and then 2 times a day for about 8 months. 

Personally, I'd rather give my kid the medication than watch them suffer. Also, there are SO many serious side effects to not treating reflux that I would be more worried about than those of the medication... if that makes sense. 

eta: Forgot to add - like a pp said, Zantac doses need to be adjusted for increases in weight. DS was on pretty much the max dose allowed (it is adjusted by weight) and we found we had to adjust everytime he gained 2 lbs, or 1kilo. Also, when he was 18 months he had to go back on medication becuase all his symptoms resurfaced with a vengeance and our pedi. put him on Prilosec since he said likely the Zantac wouldn't be effective for him anymore both given the length of time he took it and just becuase of his age and size at that point. The Prilosec that he took, though, were solu-tabs and they were teeny little pills that just dissolve in the mouth, though you could also dissolve them in water first in a syringe and then shoot it in their mouth that way. My nephew is on Prilosec now and he's about 11 months and using the solu-tabs.