Experiences of Ranitidine?

[lbandrb]

My baby (11 weeks) was diagnosed with silent reflux 4 weeks ago, but since then hasn't seemed that troubled so I've not been giving him Infant Gaviscon, which he wouldn't really take anyway. However, the silent reflux has definitely now returned. And I just can't get him to take enough Gaviscon. I also find it a difficult faff for early morning and on-the-go feeds in particular. I'll persevere and am going to see the GP in a week to ask about Ranitidine.

Keen to hear of any experiences of Ranitidine - is it more effective? Easier to administer?

Assuming you are being and therefore trying to give Gaviscon in a spoon? If so, why not express a bit and mix in a bottle?

Pain in the arse to give as we give 3 syringes a day, plus 3 of domperidone and lactulose twice a day.
Still on gaviscon too, but it made the most amazing difference at the start. Just having trouble with the dosing now so he is back in pain. But he started sleeping with just 1 wake up overnight, compared to every half n hour before!
Good luck. X

Just to clarify, nightmare to give, but well worth it. X

Thanks, all! Lem31, you've been very helpful on this and my other related thread - your point that DS's symptoms sounded like they were indeed silent reflux has led me to make this GP appt to try to get Ranitidine.

JRmumma, I've been trying to give Gaviscon in a bottle. I tried via a spoon tonight and it did work better. I'm away from home and don't have my pump with me, but can try that when I get back - good idea.

Just a tiP - if you end up with ranitidine and domperidone make sure you leave an hour between them and the latter medicine speeds food through their system which would work to reduce the effect of ranitidine.

And get doses updated regularly as I understand the dose is quite weight sensitive.

Let us know how your appointment goes. X

Ds2 was on all three medications together, Gav worked ok if he swallowed enough of it! Ran was also good, but needs to be dosed on weight of lo, if lo puts on weight an the dose isnt increased to match it will be less effective. Domperidone, the drs didnt want my ds to be on this for too long, they said it can cause kidney problems if used for a long time. Ds had it for about a year though hes 6 and hasnt had any problems.

Thanks, everyone. Appointment tomorrow. Will update, Lem31. So far am getting more Gaviscon in him via a spoon, but it's hard work and requires help from DH at the moment. Think if I have to continue on that next week may try a syringe or mixed with breast milk. Hard work any way! Not convinced the Gaviscon is doing anything anyway, so we'll see!

I gave up bf when he had to have gaviscon - was so difficult. Syringes work for us with ranitidine etc with alot of faffing. Getting it under the tongue or in the cheek then getting them to suck on your finger may help. have you tried the medication dummy's? I never did but my sister swears by them. If your lo will take a Dummy it may be worth a shot. It's just a dummy with a plunger on the back that you fill with the meds then as they suck, push the plunger in. I think mothercare sell them. X

Medication dummies - excellent. Had no idea they existed. He does take a dummy. I'll look into that if we get prescribed Ranitidine. Thanks, Lem31!

DD was resistant to taking Ranitidine for a couple of months. 10 months later and she happily takes any medication from a syringe. There is an upside!

An update... Saw the GP who quite fairly suggested we stick with the Infant Gaviscon for a bit longer, e.g. a week, to determine if it is working or not. We're having a bit of a mixed bag of some fussy feeds and some which are fairly ok (most are fussy); some decent sleep and some not (generally unsettled - only 3 x 35-min naps so far today - agh!). No screaming-in-pain crying today at least. We are managing to get the Infant Gaviscon in him via a syringe so that's something. Am dreading DH going back to work on Monday as DS feels like a two-person job at the moment...

It's tricky when it comes and goes, that is what happened with dd. later turned out she was tongue tied. did you ever get LO checked for TT? however if he takes a dummy that suggests less likely to be TT.

to answer your question: I found it almost impossible to get gaviscon into dd (EBF), but ranitidine she took pretty easily from a syringe. when going out I'd take a full syringe in a freezer bag and try to ensure it didn't leak!

as i recall, the difficult bit was the timing, it was meant to be given 20 min before a feed and in 3 doses evenly spaced during the 24 hrs, but that meant she was usually meant to have it at a time she was asleep. so usually I ended up giving it 5 min before a feed - or even less because as soon as dd had the ranitidine she'd expect her feed pronto!

To answer your question - I did wonder about tongue-tie. It seems less obvious as an issue in DS's case, from what I have read (and he does take a dummy), but it could be the case. I am not sure how you get it diagnosed (?) but I do have a GP appt booked for next week, so will raise it then.

I tried mixing breast milk into the Gaviscon the other night, and that helped. One thing I am struggling with is whether it's worth trying to administer at night - for his final feed and during the night. He feeds much more calmly at night and all being well usually comfort feeds himself to sleep (bet he won't do that tonight now I have said this!). This means he feeds from one breast and there's no natural break to administer Gaviscon. Also he finds the whole process of being given Gaviscon upsetting, I'm a bit loath to disrupt the feed-to-sleep process, as DS is SO hard to get to sleep and was even before he clearly had reflux.

My instinct is not to, as generally when he has reflux it's a day and not a night issue. This said, he's been sleeping badly at night the past week, tho that could be for other reasons (e.g. we are not at home right now). Who knows?!

He has quite a bit of restless wriggly sleep at the moment, tho this seems to calm when I put him next to me versus in the cot. So I am inclined to think it's a question of being unsettled rather than having reflux issues in the night (???).

no experience of giving to a baby, but I've used it myself, and it's wonderful stuff imo, so much more effective than gaviscon. when I take it I have no problems at all, feel totally normal. So I'd say from my eperience it's a lot more effective than gaviscon.

Thanks, sillyoldfool. I'm naturally hopeful the Gaviscon will work, but doubtful as to how effective it is. The administration of it also makes it very hard, I find - the quantity you need to get into the baby, and frequency of it, plus the preparation process. I know Ranitidine is supposed to taste foul, but I can only imagine (though may be very much mistaken) only needing to give it 3 x a day and in a smaller quantity is easier in some respects.

It's a pain getting TT diagnosed, especially posterior tongue tie. basically IME you need a good breastfeeding counsellor. GPs don't usually know much about it. Some HVs and midwives can spot TT too - but some only think they can and will tell you "it's not a TT because baby can stick tongue out" or other such rubbish. I'd try to find a local bf cafe or la leche league and see if they have BF counsellors visiting. it is worth getting checked though if you can, if it is TT it's easily treated and will probably sort the reflux.

does he seem to swallow a lot of air when feeding? very farty? flattened or white tipped nipples after a feed? "clamping" feeling when he feeds? shallow latch only on the nipple? falls off the boob and has to be relatched? clicking sound?

feeding better at night/when sleepy is common for both reflux and TT.

I agree ranitidine much easier and more effective than gaviscon. My (excellent) GP said that ranitidine doesn't really have any negative side effects so was quite liberal in prescribing in iyswim. hope you can persuade yours...

I found ranitidine to be a wonder drug. Gaviscon didn't work for us, she either refused point blank to take it or I forgot, or we were out and about so too much faff.
the ranitidine stopped her symptoms dead within 3 days she was sleeping well, feeding normally and a happy little soul.
She is still on it now at almost 8mo, she hasn't been sick in weeks so I'm thinking about going to gp to ask about weaning her off it. Things did get worse briefly when we started weaning but a slightly higher dose worked and settled it down within a day or two

My DS had reflux from very early on and I gave it in some expressed breast milk (EBM) via a bottle then put him straight on the breast as soon as it was given (as my breast feeding was established).
At night I continued to do it by taking EBM up at bedtime in a chilly jacket from freezer, added gaviscon in and also took up thermos to gently warm at time of feed.
At 4 months I had to double gaviscon as reflux seemed worse and by 8 months he was on ranitidine & gaviscon which was magic! Ranitidine made a massive difference, sleeping improved, eating improved etc.
weaned him off at about 2yrs as they said he should have grown out of it and he just deteriorated, back on ranitidine for further 14 months til symptoms started creeping back again, now seen paediatric consultant and he's on omeprazole tablets which are working fantastically, and he's doing great just swallowing tablets like a grown up! Looks like a long road for us though
I would definitely recommend the ranitidine though, easy to give, easy to titrate the dose and they get used to taking the medicine quickly, good luck

Ooooh - thanks all. Very encouraging to read stories of reflux getting sorted. I managed to get Ranitidine prescribed today. We had the worst night ever last night, so it came in good time...

Minipie - several of your tongue tie symptoms do really reflect DS's feeding. I asked the GP about it and she could only tell me he doesn't have anterior tongue tie, and suggested I ask the HVs. I will be aiming to do so at a weighing clinic tomorrow. I will also be very prepared to pay money for a BF counsellor or such like if I still think he may have tongue-tie but the HVs can't be sure or don't seem to assess him properly.

In spite of scare stories of Ranitidine being hard to administer as it tastes awful, so far it has been HUGELY easier than Gaviscon. Infant Gaviscon is such a nightmare to prepare and give babies I really want to write an impassioned plea to Reckitt Benckiser to sort out their delivery mechanism! Obviously it's far too early to tell, but DS has seemed much cheerier today and is currently sleeping in the sling on DH past his almost dead-set 35-minute deadline. Really hoping for a better night. Have ordered a cot wedge too and fingers crossed that will assist!