Infantreflux.org | Zantac- good or bad????

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April 23, 2008 at 8:48 pm #50742

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi to all, I am new here. I have a 5 week old little boy Ethan. When he was born he started one formula similac advance and it make him throw up. So we went to similac sensitive, made him constipated and throwing up still. So we went to similac soy, it worked for about a week. The dr ws haivng me put karo in his bottles to make him poop, but it did not work. So after two weeks of different formula we started similac alimentum, and it has worked wonders. BUT he is still throwin up, gassy all the time and just crabby. So doc GERD and sent us home with Metoclopram and Rantidine (Generic Zantac)

Now here is my question how long should I give it to see if the zantac works. The Metoclopram tightens the muscle around the espohugus so he doesnt spit up. But he is still so uncomfy. He arches his back while feeding all the time and cries. He also is sooo darn gassy. He is tootin all the time. He has been on the meds since Monday 4-21. Any help would be great. If anyone has had experience with Zantac please share your thoughts on it.

April 23, 2008 at 8:55 pm #50743

hellbennt
Keymaster

hi & welcome!

I have a LOT to say & (most of) it’s here:

J

Groupie Intro: my intro: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853&PN=1&TPN=1

so glad you found us!

~laura

April 23, 2008 at 9:20 pm #50747

Anonymous
Inactive

Zantac is very wt sensitive so be careful of that. I would only give it a week or 2 at most to see if it works. If not you probably need something stronger like a ppi such as prevacid,zegerid, nexium. None of these will stop the spitting up, only time will do that. but they will make it so he isn’t in pain anymore. Good Luck, Glad you found us.

April 23, 2008 at 10:18 pm #50753

Anonymous
Inactive

We hate Zantac at my house, it made my little boy so gassy and added to his allready really loose stools. Prevacid has worked lots better for us. As was said above I would also not try it long. I would go ask for some prevacid. PPI’s are supposed to be the safest and most effective meds to treat relux. Why don’t all these doc hop on the band wagon! Also, maybe try some Mylanta Cherry Supreme, if it makes him feel better, you’ll know the reflux really needs to be treated. The other issue is that the Allimentum may still be causing the gas etc. All of my kids still had MSPI issues on Nutramigen (similar to Allimentum) and needed Neoctate.

April 23, 2008 at 10:49 pm #50754

Anonymous
Inactive

Thank you all of you for the help. The poor kid just cannot get comfy. I am going to call the doctor tomorrow and let him know that the Zantac is not working. I just do not like the fact that he is only 5 weeks old and has to be on meds. Does the Mylanta help with gas? How much should I give him, and is it going to give him the poops? We are good in that department. Its so nice to know that we are all here with the same problems, its nice to vent!!!! THANKS!!!!

April 24, 2008 at 9:42 am #50767

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi Laura, I just wanted to share with you I took your adivce and made an appointment with a pediatric gastronologist….and they can get us in today!!! YIPPEEEE I will be sure to share with you what I find out. Thank you for sharing all of your great info.

April 25, 2008 at 1:50 pm #50856

Anonymous
Inactive

my daughter was put on the same thing of zantac and reglan (Metoclopram)… it did nothing for her. She did not get any relief until the meds were changed to prevacid, the PPI. I really dont understand why peditricians even give that combo (however i do know that it does work for some) . I saw a gastro doc. who was very supportive and thankfully knew about kids needing the higher does of PPI’s (30 mg of prevacid a day, and its an extremely safe drug).

I had also done my own research on reglan- everyone has to come to their own decisions and i’m sure its great for some but I was completely freaked out after i read information on it and saw the side effects. I dumped it down the kitchen sink- my GI Doc. was in total agreement and said he normally did not recommend reglan except in extreme cases where the child is failure to thrive. I’m not telling you this to scare you but i’m thankful my daughter wasnt on it a day longer than she was. Again do your own research and follow your own motherly instincts , they are usually right 😉

Hang in there- my child cried for the first 2-3 months of her life and didnt nap but maybe 30 minutes a day, NOW i have a sweet sleeping baby (Thank you God for the makers of Prevacid)

Good Luck, Heather

June 6, 2008 at 1:57 pm #52300

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi- I have a daughter who is currently on Zantac and it doesn’t seem to work well, we have a script for Prevacid. The doctor wants us to wait a few days (she just increased the dosage) before trying the Prevacid.

I was wondering how long it took your daughter to feel better with the Prevacid? and what was the dosage/day?

we can’t get her to sleep much during the day with the Zantac and are praying the Prevacid works better and quickly!

she is 10 weeks old.

thanks,

Shaylan

June 6, 2008 at 2:49 pm #52304

Anonymous
Inactive

Wish my doctor would get on the Prevacid band wagon..
That’s why we are going to see a specialist this month, I can’t wait.
Hopefully my little man will get some relief.
I know nothing will help the spit up but Zantac doesn’t seem to be doing anything.
He is already on Alimentum and that has helped a lot with his crankiness(no more 4 hour crying spells).
Now if we can just get a better medicine for the GERD

Good Luck!!

June 6, 2008 at 4:43 pm #52305

Anonymous
Inactive

Hi! Sorry to hear about your little guy. I feel for you. Our experience with Zantac alone wasn’t great – Prevacid is much better (I see many people feel similarly). My comments have more to do with the Reglan (Metoclopram), though. My son was put on Reglan after an upper GI showed delayed gastric emptying. After he screamed for two solid days I refused to give him any more. Apparently, for some children the tightening/cramping effect that it has can be very uncomfortable (not to mention the other side possible effects). He was put on Erythromycin after that, and has done much better – no cramping, more pooping and less spitting up. Plus, he’s gaining weight.

I’m glad you were able to get in to see the Ped GI. Hopefully things will improve!

June 6, 2008 at 5:06 pm #52307

hellbennt
Keymaster

please continue the zantac! it can take up to 14 days for the prevacid! make sure to space the meds 4 hrs apart …

check ‘proper’ prevacid dose: http://www.marci-kids.com

check ‘proper’ zantac dose: Zantac dosing- my/other’s question: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=9539&PID=82914#82914

hellbennt2008-06-06 17:40:53

June 14, 2008 at 1:00 pm #52576

Anonymous
Inactive

i’m new here. HI. my little sweet baby girl is almost 7 weeks now. i’m losing my grip. Every doc says she’s gaining weight well and seems healthy..so that’s good..but when i read all these posts i think..god..i have a battle ahead of me.

She’s currently on Zantac..which we had to increase after she was awake for 3 days. she seemed to be doing ok..not perfect, but at least she was sleeping and eating normally, then yesterday she had another 9 hour period of being awake and screaming if we put her down. i lost it. i’m living alone and at risk for postpartum depression (history of depression) so my mom took her to keep her safe until i get myself together. funny part is, she’s been fine since she’s been there. i don’t know if it was just a bad day or what. she’s keeping her on a pretty rigid feeding schedule and sleep routine. i don’t know if that’s it..or if she’s on the mend, i just don’t know anymore. my doc gave me an emergency prescription for prevacid in case she goes 3 days without sleep again and i end up screwed on the weekend like last time, but she’s hesitant about moving to something stronger. i pray the zantac works but i’m losing hope.

this forum talks alot about meds and stuff like that..but can i ask the real question:

HOW DO YOU COPE? if i have to go through months without sleep, watching my baby scream in pain, trying to keep her happy when she refuses to sleep…HOW? i feel resentful, and responsible, and helpless. my god! my 70 yr old parents had to take her away from me to keep her safe because i can’t cope? i’m sitting here a ball of nerves afraid to even visit my own baby because she might cry or eat weird or choke and i’m afraid i’ll end up in tears again? this is pathetic!

i’m going back on anti-depressants and going to call my therapist to restart that, but i just don’ tknow how you people are doing it..

it’s only been a few weeks of this and i fear it will get worse before it gets better.

June 15, 2008 at 9:56 am #52606

hellbennt
Keymaster

hang in there! first of all, what saved ME and this is ME here, LOL, is BABYWEARING! just strap that baby onto you (& not a bjorn or snugglie, but hey, if that’s what you’ve got, then start there!) and start moving about the house…and outside…this helps w/ comforting the baby, this helps you have your arms free for movement, this helps you with bonding- it’s great. This will NOT SPOIL your baby- it will help you and her get yourselves together. I would find a local group or local person to help you with all of the babywearing stuff. sounds like you could use some support!

Here, she is WONDERFUL and can help you find someone in your area: her name is Dianne and tell her hellbennt from The Baby Wearer sent you . Call Toll Free 1.877.256.3541/LOCAL 519.256.3541 http://www.mothers-helper.ca/. Also, feel free to PM me more about finding babywearing help!

ok next of how to cope: just the fact that YOU ARE HERE is amazing! You are doing all that you can to learn all about this so that you can be the best advocate and care-giver for your baby!

there is a lot to learn, but you can do it!

the reflux might be execerbated by her formula or what is your diet- this is one thing to look at. the other things are the medication(s). Once you are on the road to getting a grip on these 2 major things (diet & meds), then everything else starts to fall into place.

I have a LOT MORE to say & (most of) it’s here. PLEASE read/skim/ scroll here::

Groupie Intro: my intro: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=853&PN=1&TPN=1

so glad you found us!

hang in there!

~laura

June 15, 2008 at 10:54 am #52609

Anonymous
Inactive

Definitely hang in there! What you are going through is very difficult, but it will not last forever and you are not alone. Yes, it can be a terrible, helpless feeling to watch to baby cry and not be able to stop it, but it doesn’t mean that you are a bad mom or that you are doing anything wrong. My first child was an easy baby, but when my second came along with terrible bouts of crying, it really threw me for a loop. After having one I thought I knew what I was doing, but the second was a whole new ballgame.

First of all, you are doing the right thing by trying to look after yourself. Your therapist can be a great resource, and can help you keep things in perspective. Also, if you know you have a history of depression, I would definitely talk to your doc about meds. You will feel better and be better prepared to help your baby. And try not to feel badly about asking your parents for help. Being a new mom is incredibly difficult, especially if your baby is constantly crying and uncomfortable, and it is critical that you seek out people in your life that are able to lend a hand.

As for what to do to help with the crying, I know that Laura suggested baby wearing, and that’s a great thing to try. For whatever reason, my son never did like the sling, but lots of babies do. What helped us was letting him sleep on his stomach. The GI doc later told us that reflux babies are often more comfy on their stomachs because the acid doesn’t come up as much in that position. I eventually got a Tucker Sling, which keeps him at a 45 degree angle, and he sleeps on his stomach in that – it has been a lifesaver! Another thing we have done, especially now that the weather is nice, is go for walks and runs. When we have had days when nothing seems to help I would put my son in the stroller and go for run. Sometimes he would just scream, but other times he would settle down and fall asleep. Mostly, though, I think it helped me burn off some stress and get a grip on things.

You mentioned that your mom has been keeping your daughter on a pretty rigid schedule. That was another thing that really helped my little guy. We kept him on a predictable schedule (sleep, eat, play, sleep, eat, play) for the first several months (we’re more flexible now that he is 6 mos, but the schedule is still more or less intact). He still had really rough periods when the acid was bad, but the schedule seemed to help his body stay regulated, and he slept better.

Other than that, I pretty much take things one day at a time. I am fairly new to this forum as well, but I belong to a wonderful mothers’ support group in my town that has been a huge help. When my first child was born I had nobody to lean on or ask for help, and finding a group of local moms was the best thing that I did. You can probably check your local paper or do an on-line search for “mothers group” in your area. There is something truly cathartic about sitting with another mom and swapping stories and tears. And that reminds me. There is nothing wrong with having a good cry. Sometimes that’s all you can do.

August 12, 2008 at 10:54 pm #55285

Anonymous
Inactive

I don’t know about the Zantac, but I have been dealing with the same problem for the last 4wks. They gave my little girl (now 6wks old) previcid but it didn’t seem to be helping, so they then gave her the metoclopram and let tell you what I found out. After her taking it for two weeks, she only seemed to get worse. She would double over in pain and scream and cry for hours at a time. At first we thought it was gas so we gave her the mylocon drops, but it still did not help. I started talking to some other moms who were going though the same thing. Apparently the Metoclopram is designed to be given 30 minutes before a feeding in order to speed up the metabolism. This helps the babies get the food out of their system before it has time to set on their stomaches to be spit back up. It was causing my little girl to have abdominal cramps (not gas!) which is what caused her to start screaming out in pain. After hearing that this may be making her acid reflux symptoms worse I immediately stopped using it. Only 1day later, she seems to be 50% better (no more screaming out in pain and crying for hours at a time). I am not a Dr. so don’t assume that this is happening in your case, but after the trouble I had, I thought you should at least be aware of it.
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