Zantac Dosage for Reflux

[Roxybond]

My 11 week old son has just been diagnosed with reflux (finally!) and is now on Zantac syrup. We only started on Thursday night so it's too soon to say if it's really working but I'm curious about the dosage prescribed by my GP. She prescribed 0.4ml three times a day, which is a lot less than others on this forum are using (I've seen a lot of 1ml three times a day).

I'll stick with this dosage for another few days but am wondering if it's too small a dose to have proper effect, particularly when he feeds 6 times a day.

To others with reflux babies, did you also have an extremely awake but extremely tired baby throughout the day who only slept at nighttime? My little man is so tired but only eventually crashes late evening and I'm sure only sleeps well then because he's so completely exhausted from being awake all day.

Thank you:)

[LeeJ]

When ds was 2 weeks old he was diagnosed iwth reflux, he prescribed .7ml x 3 times daily, which was based in his weight at the time, i think he was about 3.3kgs.
(our chemist had none for 2 days, and by then we had been on thickened formula, which seemed to ease his syptoms enough, so we havnt started the zantac yet)

not to over take your thread, someone said it can burn their little throats? is that right? how can i stop that?
(his reflux is getting worse, so think i will start him on it)

[farmerswife]

Both my DS had reflux and needed zantac. I dont remember the doses but was only . something to start with.

I was mainly replying to the sleep bit. Both were catnappers during the day with a horrid time about 5ish in the arvo. BUT on a positive both slept from 9 till 6 or more from about 8 weeks.

I bought one of those battery operated swing things. (mines a Fisher Price) The angle of the seat prevented the reflux and let them get a bit more sleep during the day. Could stretch their sleeps to close to an hour if i was REALLY lucky!! Saved my sanity, best $200 dollars we ever spent even if we couldn't really afford it at the time!!

[reAllytee]

Dosage is based on weight & they tend to start on a lower dose to see how it goes iykwim. It can then be upped as needed & as their weight increases.

That being said most g.p's are very conservative with their dosages in regards to these medications which can be frustrating but they dont have enough background to know how they can up it iykwim.

A Paed should be much more helpful but if the reflux is severe enough & not settling with the Zantac I would suggest going for Losec as this tends to be more effective ( Zantac is the starting point though ! ). If things continue not helping then I suggest being referred to a Paediatric GI as this is their area of expertise !

[Roxybond]

Thanks everyone,

Agree that it's a starting dose so we'll see how we go. On a positive note, DS slept for 8 hours for the first time on Friday & Saturday nights so I was praising the Zantac God but as of yesterday & again today, this is no longer occurring & he's still getting 0.4ml 3 times a day.

He now wants to feed all the time during the day & is awake a lot & will only sleep for 2 hours at a time (but during the day that's after he's been awake for 4 hrs)!!

Apart from the known side effects of Zantac documented on the leaflet that comes with it, has anyone noticed this behaviour in their little one who's on Zantac?

Given that he'll be 3 months on Friday, or is this a growth spurt instead?

I have to say that the Zantac has stopped his back arching, screaming at the breast, pulling off the breast & general unhappiness that seems to come with reflux, so that's good news. Thank you :)