Reflux medication- when to stop?

[MummaBear333]

My son has been on omeprazole for reflux now since he was about 3 months old and he is coming up for one.

He is on a low dose as far as I know (7.5ml at night) however no one monitors it. Not the doctor not the HV or the chemist.

We have tried ourselves to lower his dose to 5ml twice now as I feel he shouldn't still need it/shouldn't still be on it after so long.

I worry it will do him damage being on a medication for so long.

However both times we have tried to reduce he just becomes really uncomfortable and unsettled again.

Is there anyone else's little one who still takes it? I have tried to speak to my HV about it but she doesn't seem interested in taking him off it.

Who prescribes the omeprazol? 2 of my dc had reflux but they were both seeing the consultant paediatrician for it so she told me when to reduce the meds.

@elliejjtiny it was the HV who prescribed it.

As I said she doesn't seem interested in reducing it. One I never see her apart from when I contact her.

And when I do and tell him we are struggling to reduce she just says leave it and try again in a few weeks.

@elliejjtiny how long were your two on it for?

I jakey kept getting told, once he's sitting up it will get better and it didn't. Then once he is on solids it will get better and it hasn't!

Tonight he woke up screaming and went in to get him and he smells like acid and sick.

To flip it round, think about the damage reflux can do. So the benefit of your baby taking the medication outweighs any potential risk

Aww poor soul.

This may not be helpful as I am an adult - but I have had reflux for the first time in my life this past month as pregnant for the first time in first trimester.

The difference food makes is INSANE! Sometimes my stomach acid is so acidic, and other times its basically neutralised to water. Morning sickness is giving me a frequent measure on the acidity of my stomach acid.

My previous Mediterranean diet is an absolute no go. Tomato is the devil reincarnate and citrus is hell (even though thats apparently alkaline contrary to popular belief). Dairy has to be in extreme moderation. The only way I can drink milk is small amounts blitzed together with banana. Oil and fats are also not a goer!

On the plus - Tzatziki is god! It is instant relief to a ravaged throat and settles my stomach acid. Melon is also incredible. Apple sauce too. Really enjoying peppers, salmon for meat, and having a lot of rice as my main carb.

Good luck and apologies if this is not helpful

Ds4 was taking omeprazole until he was 7 years old. Dc3 wasn't on omeprazole because we tried it for a week and he kept spitting it out so he was on ranitidine, domperidone and gaviscon. He was on the meds until he was about 18 months old. It's best to keep him on the meds if he needs them. Reflux can cause a lot of damage to their teeth. Ds3 had really bad reflux even with the meds (it was a lot worse without them) and his baby teeth at the back are really weak and full of fillings. Thankfully it doesn't seem to have affected his adult teeth.