Reflux and treatments

[janmk]

My 6wo dd has reflux. She doesn't sick up huge amounts but does suffer with the pain and arching back/ crying after some feeds. She can however sleep through the night with no issue. She is on gaviscon and this does help but we could ask the gp for Zantac as the next step. The thing is I don't know if she needs it as people keep saying only ask if she has a lot of bad days. She still suffers from the pain but i have nothing to compare it to in terms of how severe. I just don't like it when she is in pain. So should we give it a try and does anyone know if you use it as well as gaviscon?

Haven't got any experience of reflux sorry janmk, hopefully this will bump for you .

Hi Jan,

My dc3 has silent reflux and started on Gaviscon then Ranitidine (which I think is the same as Zantac). Yes, they can be given 'together' - though I have something in the back of my mind about not administering them at the same time as one can make the other less effective? I think I used to give Ranitidine between feeds and Gaviscon after, so they were spaced out.

Ranitidine is alcohol-based so has quite a strong taste to it! The dosage is calculated on your child's weight so you'll need to keep the red book up-to-date to ensure your baby has the right dosage.

We found Ranoyidine fantastic! I seem to recall dc3 was quite farty on it but that passed after a couple of days. Beforehand, he was quite solemn and serious, although he could smile it was hard to get him to respond. Looking back, I think he was just in pain! Within 10 days of starting Ranitidine, he was a different baby! Smiling and laughing and happy - such a relief!

Only you can decide if your baby needs Ranitidine. For me, it was seriously affecting his feeds and daytime naps and although his weight gain was unaffected he just wasn't happy and well. You might want to consider whether your dc can be distracted when she is miserable and whether the reflux is starting to really interfere with her sleeping and feeding and happiness or if it's just a secondary issue, as it were.

Hope that helps!

Thanks for the advice. I monitoring her to see how we go. At the moment I am not sure we aren't having more problems with painful trumps and poos !

Painful trumps and poos on Gaviscon? How long has your dc been on it? My (ebf) baby had to build up the dose a sachet at a time as he was v constipated on it at first Makes sense, I guess - if it thickens the milk to prevent it from refluxing back up, it'll also be thicker passing through the gut. Hang in there - it does get easier!