My son is 10 weeks old and has acid reflux his Dr gave him Prevacid should I be concerned?
He was first put on Zantac and the doctor changed him to Prevacid because even on the Zantac he was still spiting up stomach acid, he was fussy, always holding his head back, and can not go in his car seat without crying - he seems very uncomfortable. On the up side he is gaining weight and eating, however at times he seems upset or uncomfortable while eating. I want my son to be comfortable but I am concerned about giving him a stronger Rx (Prevacid). He has not seen a GI and the doctor does not think we should change his formula (he is currently on soy because the doctor felt that he was lactose intolerant - his stool was not tested). Do you think using Prevacid is safe for a 10week old baby? Should we try switching the formula first? Should I request to see a GI to get their opinion?
Thank you,
Concern New Mother
Hello! There are so many treatments for reflux and it is very complicated to figure out which treatment to try first, what to add later, etc.
There is some concern about using Prevacid and the class of medications called Proton Pump Inhibitors or PPI's with very young infants. The North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Heptology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) has expressed concern about the remarkable increase in prescriptions for GI medications for infants and children. Certainly home care (positioning, small feeds, burping) and dietary changes are the first line treatments. Medication may be added if needed.
On the other hand, I certainly don't want to second guess the doctor's plan. After listening to the symptoms and examining your son, I am sure the doctor carefully planned the treatment. If you are uncomfortable with the medication, it might be a good idea to ask if a non medication approach would be an option. This might include changing his diet, thickening his feeds, spacing his feeds, elevating his head for sleeping and much more. Some parents find that a different bottle or nipple decreased ingested air as well.
It can take a few tries to find a treatment plan that reduces the worrisome symptoms. You may need to go back and forth to the doctor several times. This is part of reflux treatment.
Jan Gambino
The Reflux Mom
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