Treating Acid Reflux in Babies

Acid reflux in babies has become a concern for many parents. Many parents are giving Zantac (Ranitidine) to their children at adult dose levels. Articles linking acid reflux and normal baby spit up to asthma have caused many parents to call and set up an appointment with their pediatrician or pediatric gastroenterologist. Babies apparently have been spitting up ever since the first child was breast fed so many centuries ago. In researching the literature it became apparent that not all spit up is full of esophagus damaging acid. We were unable to find any good studies that directly linked acid reflux to asthma. Apparently more studies need to be made before any conclusion can be made. Acid reflux in babies can be a serious problem but Zantac is serious medicine.

Zantac is a very good medication but it has alcohol in it as well as other things that most people really do not want to put into their baby unless he or she really has a serious condition like GERD (gastoesophageal reflux disease). Zantac is an histamine-2 blocker (H-2 blocker) that reduces the amount of acid the stomach produces. Again this may or may not be a good thing. Prior to giving any medication to your baby you should do a good job of researching the pros and cons of such an action. The go slow approach may be the best option. Again Zantac is a very effective medication for serious acid reflux disease.

In reviewing reports and message boards about Zantac and babies with Acid reflux symptoms there is quite a bit of concerns about side affects. Also the Zantac does not stop the wet burp or common spit up problems. Recent testing show that using H2 blockers like Zantac and protein pump inhibitors like Prilosec had little effect on the frequency of baby spit ups. In one report the doctor doing the research speculated that drugs like Zantac were being given to the baby for the benefit of the parents because it made the baby less fussy. Researchers found that baby taking adult doses of Zantac still had no reduction in the amount of normal spit ups.

However if your baby is suffering from sleep apnea as a result of acid reflux symptoms then you definitely should see your pediatrician for advice and help. According to the study the use of Zantac did reduce apnea in babies with GERD and allowed them to rest more comfortably. Only a trained physician trained in gastroenterology will be able to correctly diagnose if Zantac is appropriate for reducing your babies acid reflux symptoms.

You can buy Zantac here

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