Q: My six year old son has been on Prevacid for 4 years for severe GERD. Are there some supplements (calcium, etc.) that I should consider as it looks like he will be continuing on this indefinitely.
Yes. In my opinion, the long term issues with Proton Pump Inhibitors need to be considered by all doctors. Unfortunately, many of the pediatricians are not familiar with the long term issues such as bone loss because the research is coming out in the adult literature not the pediatric literature.
It would be good to take this question directly to the prescribing doctor and see what he or she suggests for supplementation. You and the doctor may also want to do more frequent bloodwork or screenings to make sure his blood levels are fine. Not only does calcium need to be considered but new reseach is showing issues with blood levels of magnesium in some people.
My kids do take a Tums every night with their vitamins in order to help with their calcium especially given that my 12 year old is a refluxer and doesn't like milk.
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