omeprazole (lozec) and breastfeeding

[toddlerbob]

My doctor wants me to try a week of omeprazole to rule out a stomach problem (we think it's gall stones). However a quick Google would suggest it's not a brilliant idea. I am not doing anything until after my ultrasound tomorrow, but has anyone else taken this?

Okay it's not gallstones so it's looking like I should take them. Anybody?

bump

I have taken this but I don't think I was pregnant. It was fantastic and I felt much better after a 4 week course! (I had suspected ulcer). As far as I remember, there was nothing that contraindicated it in preg/breast feeding but I think it was in that category where they don't know if it affects preg or is excreted in breast milk. It just inhibits acid in the stomach rather than being an antibiotic or anything though. Sorry, not much help.

Just out of interest though, surely this won't rule out gall stones? and I can't see how it will 'rule out' stomach problems either? Is it just to see if it makes you feel better?

So glad its not gallstones toddlerbob.

So many drugs have not had specific studies done on them and therefore say something like "safety in breastfeeding has not been established".

This doesnt mean its not ok to take as why would the doctor have prescribed it?

I take a very similar drug, but am not breastfeeding (lansoprazole).

Why not ring the doctor's to put your mind at rest?

fox - I had a scan today which ruled out gallstones. My GP wanted me to try this and see if the symptoms went, which would isolate the problem as my stomach.

My ds is 15 months so I presume my GP would assume he wasn't breastfed any more. I didn't volunteer the information because I was a little startled about the whole thing.

I will call again in the morning, after all I haven't taken them yet, what harm will one more day do?

oh I see - sorry to be nosey and glad its not gallstones! No, I doubt one more day will make a difference - always better to check. Hope it works!

Try this site bob, for detailed info on drugs and their effects on breastmilk.

I've looked into the whole issue of drugs and breastfeeding in some detail as I take a drug that is often considered to be contraindicated in breastfeeding. In the course of researching this I have discovered that (a) most drugs pass into breastmilk in very low concentrations indeed; (b) with a very few exceptions (mainly potent anticancer drugs) the benefits of bfeeding outweigh any disadvantages from maternal medication; (c) most drug information leaflets advise against breastfeeding because of inadequate research data, not because of any proven danger.

If he's 15 months, presumably breastmilk is only a small part of his overall food intake, so any effects would be even less pronounced than in a younger fully bfed baby.

hth

Please help!

Our son Jacob who is now nearly 4 months old has been suffering from reflux for the past 3(ish) months. We have tried Infant Gaviscon but with little success.

After seeing our paed recently she has prescribed Omeprezole (Lozec Mupps). Our problem is that no one seems to know how to give it to him! We know that it has to be disolved but it tastes so horrible that he wont even think of taking it. It says that it can be given with a little fruit juice but this doesnt cover the taste and we cant give it in milk as it effects the meds. I have read that you can use the casule form and remove the granules - then mix with a little mashed fruit but we are not keen to give him anything that may be inhailated (ie the granules).

I would be so grateful if there is someone out there who has used the same meds and can tell me how you got your baby to take it.

Any advice would be very much appreciated...

how strange (to find a post I did over 2 years ago!)

coincidentally, I'm on omeprazole again. I just swallow the capsules. Normally with babies, after gaviscon, they try something like ranitidine (both my two had reflux though this was years ago so protocol may have changed). I didn't even realise you could get omeprazole for infants!

It says in my leaflet that you can open the capsule and mix it with fruit juice or yoghurt but I would call the pharmacy or your paed and check what they advise. What strength omeprazole have you got?

Hi Foxinsocks

Im on Omeprazole too! Makes me think it must be genetic! Jacob is on 5mg to start. The problem is that the Omeprazole isnt for infants, its for adults but they do suggest in the info with the tablets that it can be given to infants who wont swallow the whole tablets by diluting it in water first. Im on the capsule form (granules in a casing) but wouldnt like to give these to DS as they are quite big and hes not on solids yet.

Not sure about ranitidine - hasent been mentioned. Are you from UK? - may be something they prescribe in other countries.

yes I'm in the UK. I think reflux treatment of infants has moved on since mine were babies - ranitidine is Zantac I think and they used to try that first (but then, when mine were little, I don't think they gave omeprazole to infants yet). I'm glad they do now - it's all that ever worked for me!

Hope you find a way of getting it in him. You would think that if they are going to start prescribing it for infants, they would come up with an infant friendly format wouldn't you!

Hi Foxinsocks

This is the probelm we seem to be having in that its actually not designed for infants of jacobs age so no one knows how to give it to him - all they know is that it wont do him any harm. I know our local hospital have been in touch with the company who makes the omeprazole to say there is a need for it in liquid form - we shall see!

I doubt they'll miss such a good marketing opportunity!

I hope you have some success and ds starts feeling better. Funny about the genetic thing - I've always wondered about that. We were told that because dd had reflux that did not mean ds had any greater chance of having it but lo and behold, he had it too.

My grandmother has it too - it cant be by chance im sure...

Thanks for your advice fox