Omeprazole for 7 week old with reflux?

[LSarafyan]

I've just been prescribed omeprazole for my 7 week old by the GP but the leaflet says it's not approved for babies under 1 year? We've been directed to give her half a tablet dissolved in water in a syringe once a day but I'm worried about doing this before checking that it's safe?

Has anyone used omeprazole to treat infant reflux? We've had a rough time the last few weeks and I'd really like to be able to treat it. I'm breastfeeding but my DD screams throughout, pulls away and is constantly bringing up milk curd and swallowing it then crying, arching her back etc. The health visitor and GP have both said they think it's reflux but HV also confirmed that I have an oversupply/fast letdown which is aggravating symptoms. I don't want to medicate her if it's going to be unsafe but we are also really struggling and she's so unhappy during and after feeds and i just want to help her! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Omeprazole has been used for years and years, and increasingly so since one of the other medications (ranitidine) is no longer available. It's listed in the BNFC which is the 'Bible' for children's medication.

bnfc.nice.org.uk/drug/omeprazole.html

Many child medications are used off-license by the way.

Scroll down for neonate and infant dosing...

Yup, it's fine. Two babies I know had it from 7/8weeks and my son had it from 6 months. Made a massive difference to all.

Its totally fine and a life saver imo

Very very commonly used for under 1s. I had the same concern until I realised how common it was. My LO is 5 months and on the max dose for her weight which is 1 and a half tablets dissolved.

Yes my eldest had ranitidine and the youngest omeprazole. You can ask for liquid omeprazole rather than having to dissolve a tablet. Both mine are fine now.

Have you looked at lactose overload?

Yeah it's fine, life changer!

Have you checked for tongue tie? Posterior tongue tie is often missed and can cause the back arching/pulling away. With posterior tongue tie baby makes an in out movement with the tongue rather than the snake movement needed to feed well.

My little boy had it and it was a game changer. He was tiny so started off with 2mg, essentially a fifth of a tablet. It does not really dissolve, more like disperses. Oh and if they happen to up the dose too much too fast it could result in purple vomit. Which was extremely alarming at the time but it was fine, the does just got reduced again. We never had to go up to the maximum dose and once he started on solids he did not need it anymore.

My DS had omeprazole from a few weeks old due to reflux along with gaviscon. Aged 7 he still takes it as he has reflux severely and he has gaviscon by his bed for when he goes to sleep as it always comes up when he lies down. Omeprazole can cause anaemia as it inhibits iron absorption but it was either risk anaemia or having him scream in agony for hours a day (and night).
I was told that they don't do omeprazole in liquid form and for a while we had to split it open and now he swallows the tablets whole. We were given Gaviscon first before trying ranitidine and omeprazole.
Is her cot/moses basket propped up at one end? That can help too. Plus holding her upright for a while after a feed can help too.

I hope you find something that works and DD is more comfortable really soon!