Prescription Acid Reflux Medicine For Babies

Find more tips here.

Prescription acid reflux medicine for babies.

Several acid reflux treatments are available for these babies. Rarely infant reflux can be a sign of a medical problem such as an allergy a blockage in the digestive system or gastroesophageal reflux disease gerd. Gastroesophageal reflux disease gerd is when food or liquid travels from the stomach back up into the esophagus the tube from the mouth to the stomach this partially digested material is usually acidic and can irritate the esophagus often causing heartburn and other symptoms. Infant reflux generally isn t a cause for concern.

Jacqueline wolf a gastroenterologist and associate professor of medicine at harvard medical school and author of a woman s guide to a healthy stomach. But one children s health expert has noticed an alarming increase in the number of infants being prescribed acid. Three conditions poor clearance of food or acid from the esophagus too much acid in the stomach and delayed stomach emptying contribute to acid reflux says dr. Over the counter and prescription medicines.

The doctor will only prescribe a medicine if the infant still has regular gerd symptoms and if. Don t get me wrong there are times when these medications drastically help with gerd symptoms but parents should know that it s not a sure bet. 20 2011 babies may spit up and cry and fuss for seemingly no reason. The infant has problems sleeping or feeding.

It s very unusual for the stomach contents to have enough acid to irritate the throat or esophagus and to cause signs and symptoms. A doctor may recommend medicines that treat gerd by decreasing the amount of acid in the infant s stomach. Taking control of your. Infant reflux usually clears up by itself.

For the babies that do have gerd and try acid suppressing medications i can tell you from clinical experience sometimes it makes certain babies less irritable and sometimes it doesn t. Acid reflux can be treated with changes in feeding burping and sleeping position or in some cases medication or surgery. If they spit up after feedings but are gaining weight sleeping well and aren t fussy they re likely fine. However some infants who make a mess after feedings do need intervention.

You have tried making feeding changes. However babies who spit up frequently and have other symptoms such as poor weight gain irritability or a prolonged cough may have gastroesophageal reflux disease gerd.