Infant Gaviscon problem!

[Frettle]

DS (10 weeks) was prescribed Gaviscon 2 weeks ago, however I am struggling with his reflux still. He needs 2 sachets per feed (we tried 1 per feed to make the dosage last the entire day but it wasn’t resolving symptoms) but infants are only allowed 6 a day. He has 5-6 bottles in the day. When he has the bottles with 2 sachets in he is a dream and there are no symptoms, but when he has the bottles without all the symptoms come back. I don’t know what to do. Would omeprazole help? It’s such a struggle to get him to sleep when he is in pain. I’ve seen people saying that it’s supposed to build up in the system and help that way, but it seems like it only helps with that particular feed and after the next one he is writhing and screaming in pain. Please help!!!

Have you tried carobel in the bottles without gaviscon? You can't use them both in the same bottle in case it makes the formula too thick, but I think different bottles the same day is okay (check with a HCP, though!)

Omeprazole does build up in their system and could well help, but as it's a stronger medicine, not just a thickener, they will probably be reluctant to prescribe it if the right balance of thickeners seems to do the trick (and personally, I'd prefer that as well, although my youngest needed omeprazole, and it was absolutely the right thing for her).

We tried anti-reflux milk which contains carobel for weeks and it helped milk stay down but didn’t help other symptoms, which led to asking for gaviscon. I’ve just read on the NICE guidelines that over 4.5kg can have 12 sachets a day and DS is well over that, so I don’t know if this might solve the issue?

Definitely worth asking if he can have 12!

It might also be worth trying alternating between gaviscon and the anti-reflux milk. It might also be worth trying adding carobel yourselves to regular formula for the alternate bottles, as there's a range of amounts you can add – it might be that he needs a little bit more than is in the pre-mixed anti-reflux formula.

Go back to the drs. They can increase to 12 sachets a day of needed depending on age and weight. My daughter went up to 12 a day at 5 months. 10 weeks might be too early still up worth a discussion. They don't like to put it up unnecessarily as there is a risk of constipation. My daughter ended up needing lactulose too because of this.

Omperazole and gaviscon infant can be used together they treat reflux in different ways so the combination can be effective. Gaviscon thickens the stomach contents and omperazole tells the body to reduce the amount of acid it produces which can reduce reflux and reduce the discomfort if milk is refluxed.

If the antireflux milk helped the milk stay down but didn't help the other reflux symptoms it's overly optimistic to expect the gaviscon to do any differently as it acts in the same way - thicker feeds are harder to reflux.

I would speak to the GP about omperazole. It might be worth getting an appointment with your HV first to get an up to date weight as omperazole is dosed according to weight.