Just started prilosec, HELP w/?'s

[Anonymous]

My LO was on zantac and it wasn’t working as it should, helped some but not alot. Got a referral to a GI specialist, they prescribed prilosec. They told me to cont with the zantac WITH the prilosec for 3 days before stopping the zantac use. They did tell me about the 4 hour spacing rule. They told to get the prilosec flavored so my baby would take it better (it’s compounded). Now I’m reading here that compounding is not good and flavoring is not good? Is this the case for everyone? Did ANYONE have good luck with compounded/flavored prilosec? If not, can I just opt for not flavored, and will it be ok then? Also, I have enough zantac to last me more than 3 days, should I cont alternating them for longer than 3 days, as it sounds like it takes longer than that for the prilosec to really work??? Any other tips?

[Anonymous]

Not a pro with prilosec or compounding, but here is what I do know.

It can take up to 2wks for it to work, so keep up the Zantac for that long to make sure the baby has meds on their system. I would not get it flavored as that makes it very unstable. I would go to the marci kids website to find out about “how to compound” and give that print out to the pharmacy and then ask them to give you a print out when they are done about how they compounded it. Most of the pharmacies do it wrong. This is coming from the wife of a pharmacist! I have heard that it tastes horrible from other moms on here so I am not sure how well your lo will take it. Is there anyway you could do a different PPI maybe the prevacid solutabs? They taste great we never had a problem with Cooper taking them. You do have to time around meals but the other they get the easier it is. I am sure someone else will chime in but just wanted to give you some “quick” help.

[Anonymous]

Thanks. I will print out the compounding info and bring it to my pharmacist. I just called them adn they said they have never had a problem reported to them about the prilosec loosing it’s efficacy, even with flavoring, but they sounded very open minded in talking to me. Also, do you know if it has to be refridgerated? I am reading yet, but my pharmacy is telling me that the prilosec w/sod bicarb does not have to be? I have it in the fridge just to be safe.

[Anonymous]

Speaking from what my husband has told me… all compounded meds have to be kept in the fridge. Our dog is on a medicine that we have compounded and shipped from Arizona and it comes to us on ice and we have to keep it cold… so in my opinion it is best to keep it cold.. Good Luck.. I would ask them to only make you a 2 week supply if at all possible b/c after that I know it is pretty ineffective.

[Anonymous]

Can I ask you one more thing (you are being so helpful!), if I do ask for every 2 weeks, does that mean I pay the same co-pay every 2 weeks instead of every month (it’s $45!). Also, if I brought the unused portion back to the pharmacy (only had it 2 days) would they re-compound me something wihtout the flavoring in it to try? Is that unheard of??? Or would I need to start over with a script and a new co-pay?

[Anonymous]

My DD has been recently switched from a compounded prilosec to the solutabs and let me tell you…A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE!!! She had absolutely NO relief w/the prilosec. We didn’t realize that it was the meds not working until AFTER her having to go through endoscopies and then changing meds. So, if you can, I’d give the prilosec no more than a few weeks to see improvements. If there are none, I’d switch meds! Also, you might have been told that b/c it is compounded that you CAN give it w/food…NOT SO according to our Ped GI. He said that in order for it to do it’s job it needs to be given on an empty stomach followed by a meal, just like the solutabs. Just our experience, but the prilosec wasn’t worth all the long months my DD spent on it w/NO relief. If I had to do it all over again, I would have gone straight to the solutabs. Also, we had to refridgerate ours! HTH! Good Luck!

[hellbennt]

first of all, I hope that your prescription is a proper dose to begin with.

have you looked it up at http://www.marci-kids.com?

if it’s not a proper dose, then I suppose I would start there.

next, I would look up at HOW it should be compounded to see if it’s even being given in the ‘right’ ml dosing- there’s info here:

compounding from lori: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=7855&TPN=1

then, what I would do is: to write a short sweet note to the pharmacist asking your questions (about co-payment, etc) & making your request of how to have the prilosec compounded. short & to the point. first, you’d have to call & get pharmacist’s name & fax number. then, I would fax your request stating how to compound the prilosec.

I would then read the following & consider using this:

Caracream: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11191&PID=94236#94236

if this (caracream) is what you decide is best, then I would ask for prevacid (w/ the caracream- read above to know what I’m talking about). I only say this because we went through this: Compounded prilosec then prilosec w/ caracream and then prevacid w/ caracream. so, I’m trying to save you the hassle and tell you to just go to prevacid w/ caracream…

as for the zantac: yes! continue for a good 2 weeks. how much does baby weigh? I’d figure out the max dose for weight which is 10mgs per kilo

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

as for the compound needing to be refridgerated: yes!

[Anonymous]

THANKS!

[Anonymous]

Oh, do you guys know if there is any reason why a doctor would prefer prescribing a compound over the zegerid packets, or a prevacid solutab? In other words, I’m just wondering if I should anticipate a battle with the GI if we decide we don’t want to bother with compounds anymore. Also, what are the cons to using these forms, over using a compounded prilosec? And does prilosec specifically come in any other form other than compounded that an infant can take?

Geesh, seems like everytime a question gets answered, I have 5 more to ask!LOL!!

[Anonymous]

We have used Prilosec compounded for about 18 monhts. the thing with th ecompund is you have to find a REALLY REALLY good pharacy. Ask the GI for a good one. I am not tlaking your run of the mill chain pharmacy. I’m talking a GOOD pharmacist.

We get ours done at our chidlrne’s hospital. I pick up an entire month at a time. We have not had any isssues with it at all.

Yes, it needs to be refrigerated iin order to stay effective all compounded meds are like that jsut like Augmentum or E-mycin. then need to be in the fridge and kept cold.

I have however accidenlty put mine up in the cabinet with all of Jedd’s other meds overnight before and it was just fine.

As far as picking it up everyother week. The inisuracne co will probably charge you the FULL do-pay for each pick up. Yo uahve to remember that ins. co are in teh MONEY making business they could care less about you and your child’s needs.

Sorry abou that but that has been our exp with JEdd. You would not believe some of the essentials for him to reain ALIVE that have been fought for by us to get approved.

You CAN however see if the pharmacy will charge the ins. co. for the entire bottle BUT only make you 1/2 the amount and then you can go back and pick up the other half….KWIM…..

HTH

ETA that ours is flavoured. Without the flavor it’s pretty nasty. And No I don’t think there is nay other way to take prilosec unless the child is big enough and old enough to use the OTC Prilosec.

Another good med is the Prevacaid solutabs. We coudln’t/can’t use them due to Jedd’s severe oral avserions from being 100% tube fed for a very long time. We HAD to have a completely liquid PPI. So that was prilosec.

*Jessica*2008-09-13 19:14:58

[hellbennt]

pix123 wrote: Oh, do you guys know if there is any reason why a doctor would prefer prescribing a compound over the zegerid packets, or a prevacid solutab?

I would think a dr would prescribe a compound because it’s liquid and a baby can take a liquid. a dr might not realize that a baby can take the solutab by dissoving it in some water or even by just sticking it in baby’s mouth, along side inside of cheek. as for zegerid, it’s fairly new, so dr might not be familiar enough with it to prescribe it. same for solutabs- not as new as zegerid, but in the scheme of things, fairly new (wasn’t around 5 yrs ago when I started this)

Also, what are the cons to using these forms, over using a compounded prilosec?

cons with solutab:

*have to be given on empty stomach followed by a meal 30 minutes later

*have inactive ingredients that may (or may not!) affect baby- aspertame and lactose (milk SUGAR, not milk protein)

cons with zegerid:

*it is made with prilosec (not necessarily a con)

*it needs some ‘tinkering’ -not difficult to do! but you need to read up and find out more buffer to add, like tums or mylanta- you can read more about it other places on the board

*fairly ‘new’ and not as known about

And does prilosec specifically come in any other form other than compounded that an infant can take?

*zegerid (does NOt have to be timed around meals- so it’s essentially a compound that you mix up yourself)

*you can use either prilosec OR prevacid w/ Buffer Babies/caracream.

again, like zegerid, using this product essentially allows you to make your own ‘compound’ and you do not have to time around meals. read here:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=11191&PID=94236#94236

hellbennt2008-09-13 22:12:03

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