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Original poster

How long for omeprazol to work

14 replies

Naurts · 03/06/2018 18:48

Hi all,

We’ve just switched our baby from ranitidine to omeprazol, how long does it usually take for omeprazol to totally kick in. I’d like this reflux totally knocked on the head!

OP posts:

Jellybabie3 · 03/06/2018 22:13

Hi OP. We did the switch like you. We found it didn't work at all for us so cant offer any advice sorry. We switched back and it took a week for the ranitidine to kick in again. Hope you have better luck than us

Jinglesplodge · 04/06/2018 09:18

It can take a good couple of weeks to see the full effect and can get a little worse before it gets better... How have you been advised to switch? Your GP may not be a reflux expert (many aren't) and may not know you should stay on the ranitidine for a while until the omeprazole has kicked in.

Original poster

Naurts · 04/06/2018 10:26

Our GP told us to stop ranitidine, but we’re still giving him a wee bit on an evening. He used to get 1.3ml x 3 a day of ranitidine. I now give him 1ml once a day. So far his reflux has been ok, but I feel like I’m on edge at the minute, and every cry I’m thinking “is that reflux!?!?”

The doc told us to give him 5mg of omeprazol, which is half a tablet. He’s 7kg so that’s the lowest dose for his weight. Trouble is, when we dissolve it and try and administer using the syringe, lots seems to get left in the glass or the syringe, so we’re thinking of giving him the full tablet and then accepting that some will get left behind in the glass etc, and at least he’s getting the right dose or a wee bit more.

I just really want to get him back to sleeping on his back again, instead of on his side. He’s more comfy on his back as long as the reflux doesn’t get him.

OP posts:

Original poster

Naurts · 04/06/2018 10:34

Also, did you find it got rid of all reflux symptoms totally, or did you still have to feed your baby upright, keep them upright after feeds and sleep them on a wedge etc. I’m finding some of the compensating measures a bit restrictive when it comes to classes etc as at the moment we don’t put him flat on his back ever.

OP posts:

TheBeastReleased · 04/06/2018 10:47

It took about a week before we started to see an improvement with omeprazole (although that was the first medication he was given) and by two weeks most of his symptoms had almost completely resolved. He was started on 10mg.

Have you tried mixing the dissolved tablet with a small amount of fruit puree or baby porridge or something? This is the only way we can get it into our son without hysterics and him spitting half of it back out. I now dissolve the tablet in a tiny volume (about 2-3ml) of warm water, then mix this with a tablespoon of apple and strawberry puree and mix a crushed baby biscuit into it and he gobbles the lot. I also add his vitamin drops to it so I know he's getting those too.

CluelessMummy · 04/06/2018 11:11

I was told 7-10 days, although DDs was severe so I saw a marked difference in 48 hours. After a week it seemed to have taken full effect.

yikesanotherbooboo · 04/06/2018 11:46

It settles the pain of reflux rather than stopping the regurgitation of acid so you should continue your normal measures re lying flat etc. If your baby has a very sore tummy it will take a couple of weeks to heal. I wouldn't be fiddling with doses on a regular basis I would give each change a few weeks . How old is your baby? It does help a lot when they are sitting .

Original poster

Naurts · 04/06/2018 11:47

Thanks both, I’m going to ask my health visitor today about alternative ways to administer it, as each time it turns in to a battle trying to give it to him, he screams and half of it end up down his front. He used to love getting his ranitidine but hates this so much.

OP posts:

Original poster

Naurts · 04/06/2018 12:43

He’s 9 weeks old. He’s very big for his age though, just over 7kg and he’s been prescribed half a tablet (5mg) I think the lowest dose is 0.7mg times his weight (say 7kg) which would be 4.9. So he’s getting the lowest dosage (5mg) for his age and weight at the moment. It just seems so much is left in the glass and syringe, so I doubt he’s even getting 4mg to be honest.

I don’t want it to be ineffective because he’s not getting enough.

I’ll try purée if HV is ok with me giving him fruit at 9 weeks.

OP posts:

NauseousNancy · 04/06/2018 12:51

I noticed a huge difference after around 2 weeks. We did stay on ranitidine as well though - 1.8mls three times a day.

My little girl is on 5mg too, although she is 11 months. However, the doctor said we should dissolve a full tablet in 10ml of water and then give 5ml and discard the rest.

TheBeastReleased · 04/06/2018 13:53

Ah, I hadn't realised your baby was still so young (my son was 6.5kg at 6 months, so I just assumed your baby was around that age too!). Personally I wouldn't try solids before ideally 6 months, but 18 weeks at the very earliest - but see what your health visitor suggests. You could try mixing the omeprazole with some of baby's normal milk to see if that encourages him to swallow it rather than spit it out?

Also, before I started mixing it with the fruit puree, I dissolved the tablet actually in the syringe (rather than in something else then drawing it up into the syringe) because all the little granules of the omeprazole seemed to get stuck in the medicine cup we were using so I was sure he was only getting about half the dose. Then if there was any residue stuck in the syringe at the end, I would draw up a little more water and swill it around and give him that until it was all gone. It was such a faff though, and he ended up spitting most of it out anyway!

Bol87 · 05/06/2018 21:57

Two weeks ish over here.. that’s when I noticed a huge change! It worked brilliantly for us! It didn’t stop her bringing back milk but it clearly stopped any pain associated with it. hope it kicks in soon & helps. It’s horrible seeing them in pain!

Original poster

Naurts · 08/06/2018 22:14

Update for anyone wondering - I know how many threads I read thinking “I wonder what happened?”.

Reflux seems totally under control, within a week of taking it. We’re dissolving the tablet in the syringe which is much easier. He seems to have a bit of constipation and he’s been really grouchy until he does a poo, then he’s all smiles again. Have been giving him a bit of water so hopefully constipation eases soon as he adjusts to the meds.

OP posts:

Mommaplaysthebanjo · 14/04/2021 13:27

@Naurts thanks for the update. Hope your LO continues to get better. Thanks for the tip about dissolving the tablet in the syringe- We started it today but I was worried about how much of the meds are being left in the mixing pot! My DS has only had one dose so far and was better at the first feed following but has been quite screamy again since- am I right in thinking it will take a couple of days to kick in properly? X

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