How much zantac? Where to get Losec?

[shniks]

Hi there. My baby has reflux and she is on zantac, she takes 1.5mls three times a day, so a total of 4.5mls a day. She weighs around 6.5kgs. How much zantac are your babies taking? How much do they weigh?

Also, for those on Losec, does anyone know a Melbourne GP willing to prescribe it? My paed did not offer to put her on it but she cries so much and is so unhappy I think she needs it.

**UPDATE: I just wanted to update this 6 months onwards, maybe it will help some others out there.

I found a new Paediatrician who was wonderful and decided to try my daughter onb Losec after zantac stopped working. Well within 2-3 days I had a totally different baby, no more crying, no more sleep issues, no more fussy behaviour, happy to lay flat. I was so relived and happy, and my poor baby was finally happy too. It pays to persist and trust your instincts no matter how many times someone tells you your baby is just a fussy baby.

I am happy to say that at 12 months I took her off Losec and her reflux has finally disappeared! No signs of it at all. There is a happy ending in sight for anyone out there struggling with the same thing. Mewssage me if you want to know of a fantastic Paed. in Melbourne.

[Supermum]

Hi there schniks

You won't find a GP to prescribe Losec unless your bub has bad reflux. My boy was diagnosed by barium swallow and there's only a couple of other ways to correctly diagnose it unless you have a baby who projectile vomits at you most feeds (good indicator). Most people even suffer from reflux to a certain degree.

I think it's worth pressing a paed as to the reason why your bub is unhappy. Are there specific times when she is upset? Is it directly after feeding? Is it always? There may be something else wrong or perhaps you just have a grumpy baby (they do exist).

I just really think that it's unnecessary to medicate a baby for something you actually don't know they've got. Push for answers until you get one.

Good luck ... it's no fun having an upset baby.

[shniks]

Thanks for the reply, maybe I just need to be more assertive with my Paed. I am sure its reflux because she used to refuse to eat despite being hungry, had failure to thrive, was crying after eating and used to vomit all the time. Now she eats better and only spits up but she does it about 30 times a day and her breath smells like acid. The zantac worked initially but now we are back to the same old fussiness, thats why I want to know if she is on the maximum dose. She looks like she is in pain and is uncomfortable, I feel sorry for her.

[Supermum]

Well Mum's know their babies. Go on your gut instinct and get an answer - we had to go to a number of health professionals before we found one who would listen to us and test for severe oesophagul reflux.

No fun for bub and no fun for you.

Wishing you and bub all the best.

[logan's mum]

Hi there. You can read mine and Logan's story on another reflux thread in this forum. Our GP is fantastic and prescribed Losec as soon as he saw that the Zantac was no longer effective. We knew it was reflux without having invasive testing done as the medication worked right away. (Until he grew anyway, and then we just had to up the dose). From memory, Logan was on 2ml a day of Zantac and it had stopped being effective. He was about 5 weeks and around 4.5-5kg (can't remember exact). Unfortunately for you our GP is is Sydney, but keep trying and asking questions until you get answers - your baby does not need to be in pain! We had a disaster with the Paediatrician, but the GP has been fantastic, and will send us to another peadi when the time comes if we need it.

As was said before - you are the mum and no one knows your bub better than you. If you think there is probably something up then there more than likely is.

Good luck.

[Supermum]

Hi there

I just wanted to clarify that the reason our son was tested via barium swallow (not actually that invasive) was because his symptoms were very severe and they wanted to rule out a number of other medical conditions. I don't want anyone to think that I would have this done unnecessarily. :( He vomited constantly, started vomiting blood and screamed for most of the day and night. To be quite honest, I think too many people make the assumption that their baby has reflux (obviously not the case here) without investigating other possible causes.


without having invasive testing done as the medication worked right away.

cheers,

[Rell]

You are absalutly right supermum, sometimes excesive vomiting can be caused by other more serious condittions. I assumed my son had reflux and it turned out he had "pyloric stenosis", a blockage at the bottom of the stomach which if left untreated will lead to death.
I don't think ANY mother would want tests done on thier child unless necessary

[logan's mum]

Hi Supermum,
I'm really sorry if you thought I was having a go at you in anyway! Absolutely not! I was relaying our story. I said "invasive" I guess because of my nursing background - any procedure involving putting something into the body is referred to as an "invasive procedure" and I was simply saying that we did not have any tests done as we didn't need to. Your bub obviously did need the test done to rule out other causes. I'm so sorry if you took this as some sort of personal attack. It was not meant that way. :o

[Supermum]

I've sent you a PM Logan's Mum but for the public record ... you are not offensive and did not offend me. I welcome all responses, agreeable or otherwise and now know you are a health care professional so it's not like you don't know what you are talking about. Thanks for your concern anyway, it's refreshing. deb

[logan's mum]

Yeah I guess it's hard to get accross the tone of what we are saying inthis medium. No worries. Hope you and your lovely kiddies are doing well. :)

[oliversmum]

Hi Schniks,

I totally agree with persisting until you find out exactly what is wrong with your bub. I too had a bad reflux baby, vomitting constantly, screaming and he also vomited blood on a number of occasions. In the end after trying Zantac, Losec, different formulas, etc & still seeing no improvement my local nurse recommended I go see a Paed. Gastroenterologist (he is a head Paed. Professor at the Qld Uni and President of a number of overseas associations)who booked us in for an Endoscopy. It was the biggest decision my husband and I had to make for our 4 month old son, but I started to wonder if there was something more serious and didn't want to continue medicating him incorrectly. So, very glad we got it done and my mind is now at ease. He is on 3ml of Zantac 3 times a day and he is a different baby. Time could have been a major factor, because we did initially try the Zantac, and the same thing happened, he was burping and regurgitating a lot and it was very acidy. Agree, it is not normal for a baby to constantly cry regardless of what anyone professional tells you, babies only cry when they are trying to tell us something. Trust your motherly instinct and do what's best for you both, at the end of the day your with your bub 24/7 and your the only one who can decide if there's something not quite right.

Good luck, :)

[shniks]

Thanks so much for the words of encouragement. Thats it, next time I go see the Paed I will be more assertive! My baby does not need to be miserable all the time, I hate to see her cry and look so uncomfortable all day. The worst thing is that she wont play much because she is unhappy. Fingers crossed for the next appointment.

[logan's mum]

You go girl, and don't take no for an answer!!!! :D

[Caitlin's Mum]

My little boy is 6.5 kgs and he is only on .75ml of Zantac 3 times a day and it works wonders. Before though he was on Karicare HA AR formula for his reflux but he was always uncomfortable and always screaming in pain and trying to push wind out of his rear end. The doctor told me to try the lactose free formula which I did and the change in him was amazing.

[shniks]

bumped up for update at top.