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Original poster

Acid reflux and Ranitidine

23 replies

Joshuasmum · 19/08/2004 11:04

Does anyone have any experience of using Ranitidine for acid reflux?
My DS has just been diagnosed with acid reflux - Gaviscon didn't help and we have just started using Ranitidine. The Paidiatrician has said that sometimes things get worse before they get better - is that true and what can I expect? Any side effects?
Anyone actually use it and found it to work...?
Would so appreciate any feedback - I have struggled with feeds for so long before having this diagnosed! I couldn't get people to take me seriously because my DS hasn't struggled to gain weight and is very smiley most of the time.

OP posts:

Pancake · 19/08/2004 11:46

Hi Joshuasmum. My ds2 had very bad reflux and gaviscon also didn't work for him. We used Ranitidine and something sounding like don peridogne for about 5 months and it did help eventually. However the reflux only really went away when ds2 went onto the bottle at 7 months. We did start to rely on the medicine and had to wean ourselves off it! I don't remember any side effects.
I really can sympathise with you as we went through a hideous time - ds2 used to scream for an hour before being fed, hate feeding when he eventually did and then just threw it all back up again. Quite soul destroying. But hang in there - it does get better.

Twinkie · 19/08/2004 12:07

Ooohhhh No one told me that ranitidine makes things worse before it gets better - I have been using it whilst pregnant and gave up after a short while because things got worse.

Go out and buy the baby whisperer book - she did a programme on reflux and changed the life of one lady whose baby had it!!

Original poster

Joshuasmum · 21/08/2004 20:37

Thanks for the feedback...
Pancake, can you remember how long it took for Ranitidine to work? The paeditrician was a litle vague and seemed to imply a week to 10 days.
I have chosen not to use the dom whatever since we don't seem to have as much of a sickie problem and the C&G Omneo Comfort milk seems to have eased the sickiness. My DS is already on the bottle and I have been told that he might be more settled once he has some solids.

Twinkie, I checked with the pharmacist and he told me that Ranitidine works more instantly on adults than on infants. So, not sure why it should have got worse for you....!? By the way, what is teh baby whisperer book?

OP posts:

Sandi102 · 21/08/2004 21:04

I think i'll b going back to c the GP because GAviscon isn't working for my ds. He's not sick after feeds, just screams and screams whilst feeding. He's so uncomfortable, although hungrey and I feel helpless because I cannot do anything to soothe whatever pain he's in whilist feeding. I think I'm going to call my HV to come round and observe whilst he's feeding, because this is clearly not normal feeding and ds is distressed. It takes me an hour to get 60z down him. Sometimes i'm walking around and feeding him, sometimes lie him on the bed, propped up with a pillow (i know ur not supposed to, but need to get the milk down him some how!)
Any feedback on methods you've used will be most helpful. Joshuamum, is the Rantidine working?

mum2oliver · 22/08/2004 20:35

Oh god!!!
My ds is nearly 6 months and still suffering from hidden reflux!
He was diagnosed about 3 weeks ago.I visited the doctors 14 times and my hv 4 times and was fobbed off every time.No one ever said reflux becaused he wasnt bein sick.
I was so annoyed when diagnosed not that anything works!!
I changed his milk when he was 10 weeks old to Omneo and for about 3 weeks he was a different baby.It then crept back.Ok its not as bad now but oh my god I went thru hell.He was in so much pain. I was feeding every few hours.I couldnt get into any routine at all.The first 10 weeks of ds life was spent sleeping,attempting to feed (a few ounces at a time)and lying on his front almost wacking his bottom.I dont know why but this really eased it for him.
Feeding him a bottle now is quite the same so just take time with it,and things are so much better now solids are being given.I mix as much formula as I can with the food that he has so he is still taking enough.
How old is your ds Joshuasmum?
All the best.Hope it gets better.

Sandi102 · 22/08/2004 21:35

oh mum2oliver, its so reassuring to know me and ds are not alone. I can't wait for ds to become more established on solids..only just started to wean him..i've taken him off gaviscon after 4 weeks, because he's not improving..

today i tried infacol b4 each feed, and he fussed a little less..he took his time to drink and was a lot calmer..if it is trapped wind, can u reccomend anything else that is better than infacol?

I hope ur ds doesn't suffer for too long..i hate to see my ds so distressed at a time when they're supposed to getting filled and content with feeds..

Spod · 22/08/2004 21:54

Sandi.... how old is your son? My dd is 10 months, and from the time we introduced soilds at 6 months she had horrible trapped wind. We tried every available product on the market, nothing eased it for her. Then I went to a cranial osteopath and she's a different baby. It worked for her within 36 hours. She had a relapse because of teething, took her back, fixed it again... I have a thread in the Health section called 'what works for wind'. I don't know anything about reflux I'm afraid... but you could call a c.o and ask if its something they can help to treat. hope things improve for you. I know how you feel.... awful isnt it?

Sandi102 · 22/08/2004 22:20

i definitley think its either one of 2 things: Trapped wind or hidden reflux.ds is 15 weeks and was feeding fine (plus farting and bringing up wind fine) until at 7 weeks he started to fuss..i thought it was a phase, but it just got worse..i've been to see my GP 3 times and I've tried every bottle and teat, but nothings worked.and yesterday we seemed to remember that we took him off infacol at 6 weeks..don't know why, we just thought ds was a happy baby who didn't suffer colic..but then the fussing probs started..

how does c.o work?

SueW · 22/08/2004 23:20

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

Sandi102 · 23/08/2004 10:38

the infacol is working!!..less fussing and much more calmer, but taking an hour to feed 6 oz..well the length in which he's taking milk isn't a problem, as long s he doesn't scream and arch his back anymore..what a breakthrough!

my MIL keeps telling me to give him gripe water. What's the difference between that and infacol?

Spod · 23/08/2004 15:13

Sandi, glad things are improving for you! If infacol works then stick with it... not sure what the difference is btw gripe water, but you can give infacol earlier... think gripe water from 4 months? dont have a bottle to check on for you, sorry. In my experience though, gripe water had a more immediate effect, and i still use it from time to time and it can help her to fart! The CO is difficult to explain, but basically (from what I understand of it)... she treats the nerves, muscles and structural misalignments that can be causing problems, ie trapped wind in our case. Its a very very gentle treatment, all about getting alignment back to where baby is comfortable. In terms of how that helps wind, its to do with things like the positioning of the oesophugus (spelling???), and that if their head/neck is out of kilter, they will gulp more air in, however well you latch them on. Its been a wonder cure for us I can tell you! But your son is very young and infacol may be all is needed. But, lots of people use co on tiny babies... Even if infacol works, co may be able to help you ds be more comfortable generally, and then there would be no need. I must sound like an advert for co, but I just couldnt beleive the difference it made. Have a read through my thread on it.... other people have posted helpful wind-related things there too. let me know how things go.

Original poster

Joshuasmum · 23/08/2004 16:13

It is sssooo reassuring to know there are other people struggling with the wind/ reflux thing! I am just about at my wits end too.
At 10 weeks we had a real trapped wind problem and managed it using gripe water and chamomile tea. Then at 15 weeks started sicking significantly more than usual and being uncomfortable with it (arching back, shouting, taking feeds in 3 stages etc etc. This has been going on for 4 weeks on and off - try 3 HV's, 3 GP visits and a paediatrician visit! The ranitidine so far hasn't done much - the Omneo Comfort milk has done more -don't know where to next!?????????

I thought I might try CO - Spod do you think it has merit for refux? I thought it was mainly for colic/wind?
Sandi, think I have come across you in other threads...? Glad to hear the infacol works for you - you could also try the Omneo Comfort milk if the infacol stops working for you.
Mum2oliver - I can't believe they took so long to diagnose, I thought I had to pester to get a result! My Ds is 18 weeks now - very tempted to start some solids, but I fear this will make things worse. It seems to help some refluxers andothers appear worse with it?? Sounds like yours improved - did you start on baby rice?

Does anyone know anything about the connection between relux and lactose intolerance? I believe some reflux is caused by an intolerance to lactose.

OP posts:

Sandi102 · 23/08/2004 17:17

I've just made an appt to see c.o on Thur and also realised we're covered with our health insurance (Wish I'd done this weeks ago). ds has started to fuss again, but only when taking the last few oz of milk. I'll try the gripe water and see if that helps, if not I'll revert back to infacol. I suppose its all about trial and error. i read what works for wind, and the treatments are so diverse. I think you have to settle with what works for you're baby, because each baby is so different. Spod, thanks for the advice.

JOshuamum, so i don't know the difference, but i'll let you know how it goes with c.o. Like you i'm at my wits end too. I just wish feeding ds wasn't so traumatic for the both of us..i hate feeding him when we're out, because i feel kind of embarrased when he has his screaming fit..people must think i'm feeding him the wrong thing..changing the milk is going to be the last resort for me, so lets hope the c.o works..fingers crossed!!!

Spod · 23/08/2004 18:48

sorry, i don't know about reflux and co...I don't know what reflux is actually...sorry I can't be of more help. I guess you could ask a co about it though.

Original poster

Joshuasmum · 24/08/2004 22:16

Went to the co today - my ds hated it and howled the whole way though! Was an absolute angel for the rest of the day though and in fact seemd to feed less than usual - that works for me too !
The co said there was only 'fine tuning' to do though and that he was not majorly 'mislaligned' so this may not have much impact..? We'll see....

OP posts:

Spod · 25/08/2004 22:41

sometimes it takes a couple of days for things to settle after treament, i find. let us know how things are in a couple of days.

Sandi102 · 26/08/2004 15:34

I went to see the CO today and although ds winged throughout the treatment, when i gave his feed he didn't fuss AT ALL!!!..thankyou so much spod for the reccomendation. I go back for another 2 treatments. She said the problem area was with the neck and it was only slightly misaligned.
Joshuamum, please let me know your progress with feeding.

Spod · 26/08/2004 21:17

Sandi thats great!!! are things still okay feed wise? i do hope so. I took my dd back to the dd on tuesday, had a good treatment, but we've had 2 terrible days and nights with her... teething and wind! poor soul, hoping the effects of the co will kick in tonight. she's cutting a few teeth at the moment so maybe it takes longer to settle.... getting very little sleep!

Spod · 26/08/2004 21:18

that should be 'I took dd back to the co...' tiredness!

Sandi102 · 27/08/2004 08:37

hi spod, the feeding was great yesterday, but this morning's feed has gone back to fussing. Also last night was a bad night. ds is usually sleeping through now, but i think he's teething so he kept crying all night. I'm not seeing my CO for another 10 days! I wish it was sooner. Spod, how old is you're dd?

Spod · 27/08/2004 22:03

dd is just over 10 months... She's suffering tonight too! last night was perfect.... no probs feeding or sleeping... tonight, she's already having problems with wind! I hope its just a bad period of teething upsetting her, I may ring the co on monday and see what she thinks.... its always worked before

Original poster

Joshuasmum · 31/08/2004 09:39

Hi Spod & Sandi,

I am pleased to report that the combination of milk change, ranitidine and co seem to have finally settled my ds into feeding well with minimum fussing!!!!!!!!!
The osteopath did say that treatment is part of a wider puzzle and that it may not be the only thing that makes the difference, but it has certainly helped!
We still get hand waving and head turning during feeding, but it is manageable and I think it is just fidgeting and distraction rather than discomfort.
So, we have had a week of good feeds and last night he wakes up at 2 am for almost a full feed hasn't done that for over a month! I guess it might be baby rice time...

OP posts:

Sandi102 · 31/08/2004 12:48

Hi Joshuamum, so pleased things are working well for you. I've succummbed to ds's method of wanting to feed lying down on the sofa / bed (with head on pillow), he's so much at ease that way. Will continue with co and I've started on baby rice too. It's great fun!!

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