When to give Zantac to baby?

[marit]

My ped. subscribed Zantac to DS, beause of suspected reflux. I didn't quite understand though, when am I suposed to give it to him. Before/after feeding? how long before/after?

Thanks,

[BillK]

Our son (almost 5 months old now) has been on Zantac for a while now - 3 times a day - we just give it to him about 3/4 of the way thru the first, midday and late afternoon feedings of the day. It tastes so awful we didn't put it in his formula (didn't want to ruin the whole bottle for the poor lil guy) - hopefully he'll be off it very soon - I HATE having to give it to him.

[Laurelsmom2002]

Well- we do the efferdose ones- (if thats not what your dr prescribed- please ask to switch- its almost tasteless- salty water is what it's like
I do it in am b/f first out of bed feed and then b/f dinner
DS is a different kid on it ---so much better

[jamsmu]

I journaled for a while, trying different times to find what was best for DS. I don't even remember when we ended up giving it to him, but I know we eneded up doing just twice a day.

[lvales]

My dd is on Prilosec - she only has to have it once a day.

The pharmacy mixed it up with Grape cotton candy flavoring - but it still tastes like a$$. I just put it right in her breakfast - I give her fruit with her oatmeal so it hides the bitter taste pretty well.

I don't know how well it would be hidden in formula, though. How much do you have to give him? My ped also recommended Mylanta until the meds kicked in, so she had both for a few weeks. She liked the cherry flavor of the mylanta. Maybe you could mix it with some pedialyte or something that has a better flavor and is kind of sweet?

Linda

[marit]

Well, he is 5 weeks old and exclusivly BFing, so I can't mix it with anything. He screams when I give it to him, I really don't know what to do...

[Laurelsmom2002]

Seriously have the doc change the script to the efferdose ones- we disolve it in 5cc water and give 2cc in am- 3 in pm (we started w/ 2 in am when he was little) No screaming! He actually latches on to the syringe now- It truely made him so much more pleasant to be around- and he's obviously happier

[marit]

Thank you! I will do that on Tuesday! Do you give it before the feeding? How long before the feeding (1 hour? less?) and how long does the effect lasts?

[Mikesa3]

I so wish I had known about this when my ds was a baby.He screamed all the time but the ped never suggested silient reflux and I had never been around a baby that had it.Ped just thought it was a nursing problem since he gained weight so slow.I still feel bad/guilty for not knowing and not being able to help him.I know I did my best but I still think about it often even though ds is a happy and healthy 28 month old now.I just keep obcessing about it at times.One reason is because we don't plan on any more babies and I feel so sad that I didn't get to enjoy his first 6 months at all.Sorry for butting in on the thread.
Nancy-Mom to 6 great kids

[marit]

Don't apologize, I know how you feel. I feel the same about not reading "Happiest baby on the block" with my first colicky baby, I think it would have made a big difference. I didn't know about silent reflux either, my nursing consultant suggested it, not the ped!

[Laurelsmom2002]

I usually give it about 1/2 hr before a feeding in am and dinner time. It took a day to see a little result-a week made him a different baby! I try about every few months to get him off, but by day 4- he's rearing while nursing-ouch!- so back on the zantac he goes. Good Luck - its soo much better than that icky syrup

[ilovetivo]

After the ped prescribed zantac to Zoey, she was still have some small issues w/ reflux, but her not pooping enough, so she had me see a pediatric gastroenterologist (sp)

The specialist thought that her pooping every 4-7 days was an issue that could be making the refllux worse. So she put her on 1 oz of prune juice (diluted) a day (or more depending on her pooping and age). I have more info if you want it.

W/ the Zantac, I wondered the same questions as you. She said it doesn't matter if it's before or after feeding. It's the contant dosing in the system that works. Also, the minimum time between dosing should be 3 hrs. (the specialist knew that, not the regular ped. the regular thought 6 hrs)

Zoey is on .9 ml 3x a day now. (it was .7 when we started a few months ago). Now that she's older it was hard doing it every 8 hrs because of her sleep schedule. I was so confused b/c often she'd only get it 2x a day. So I asked the specialist and that's when she said abt the 3 hr minimum and to only do it during the waking hours (don't wake her to give her the meds)

We wondered about 2x a day instead at a higher dose, but she's still too young. Under 8 months of age, they metabolize it too rapidly to only do it 2x a day. But after 8 months you can take the total daily dose and divide by 2 for each dose. BUT - call your pediatrican, and follow their advice, not mine. :)

[marit]

Thank you for your advice! We do not have a pooping problem, just a screaming while feeding problem ;-)
Yesterday we gave it to him right after feeding and he screamed so bad I swore I won't give it to him again. I think it was a reaction to the taste. DH said it can't be a reaction to the taste for 1 whole hour! I'll try the one that tastes better next week, I hope it'll work better.

[ilovetivo]

zoey didn't like the taste either - but grew to like it
i don't think screaming after eating is from the zantac. maybe they heartburn/reflux though.

the original ped said to give it before feeding, the specialist said it didn't matter. i'd call your ped though and see what they think

maybe dc has a throat thing going on. z has hand/foot/mouth now. it's very common in summer and highly contagious. it make lots of sores in the mouth. maybe the zantac burned on the sores, is he has it.

[marit]

What is hand/foot/mouth?

[ilovetivo]

Fever can go really high. Zoey didn't get one this time, but she's elevated for her. Last time i think fever 1 day, but just a little. She also only had 1 sore the first time in her mouth and 1 on her palm. Then red dots on her body a couple days later. This time 4 bad sores in mouth and red spots on the body. There's several strains and i believe once you get 1 you are immune to that one, but can get others.


From the latest Baby 411 email newsletter:

~Hand-foot-and-mouth (coxsackievirus):
Disease: A virus that causes ulcers in the back of the mouth, and sometimes a rash on the palms, soles, and around the anus.
Symptoms: Fever, lack of interest in eating. Rash can look like flat red dots, raised pimples, or ant bites. Ulcers are on the roof of the mouth and tonsils.
Diagnosis: The ulcers in the back of the mouth are classic. No diagnostic testing is done.
Treatment: Infection resolves on its own. Avoid citrus and salt. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain.
Contagious: Up to 7 days. Spread through saliva, poop, and contact with contaminated surfaces.


here's from another site:

Related concepts:
Coxsackievirus A16
Introduction:
A miserable child who has lost interest in eating solids? Perhaps the child has hand-foot-mouth disease.

What is it?
Hand-foot-mouth disease is a common childhood illness featuring mouth sores, fever, and a rash. Similar-sounding “foot-and-mouth disease� is a disease of cattle and is not related to this condition.

Hand-foot-mouth disease is usually caused by a virus called coxsackievirus A16. However, many children with coxsackievirus A16 infections do not have all of the features of hand-foot-mouth disease. Some have no rash, some have no mouth sores, and some even have no fever. A variety of other viruses in the Enterovirus family can also cause hand-foot-mouth disease (the coxsackieviruses are enteroviruses).

Who gets it?
This disease is most common among young children but is seen with some frequency up until puberty. Adults can get it, but this is much less common. Once people have had coxsackievirus A16 they are generally immune, but they could get another case of hand-foot-mouth disease from one of the other, less common viruses. Most infections occur in the summer or early fall, with the peak between August and October in the northern hemisphere.

What are the symptoms?
Children with hand-foot-mouth disease usually start to feel crummy 3 to 7 days after they were exposed. Often, the first thing parents notice is their children’s decreased appetite for solids. Children may also have a fever and a sore throat. A day or two later, many children develop sores in the mouth. They begin as small red spots on the tongue, gums, or mucous membranes. They may blister or form ulcers.

A skin rash may also develop over a day or two, with flat or raised red spots. Unlike with many rashes, the spots are often found on the palms and soles. Also, it is common to have the rash on the buttocks. Often, the red spots will form tender blisters (although not on the buttocks). Unlike with chickenpox, the rash does not itch.

Usually the rash disappears and the child feels better within about 1 week.

How is it diagnosed?
Usually the diagnosis is made based on the history and physical exam. Lab tests are available for the coxsackieviruses and other enteroviruses, but they are not usually necessary. Hand-foot-mouth disease is sometimes confused with strep throat, which can also begin with a fever and sore throat. It is sometimes mistaken for chickenpox because they both have blisters. It might be confused with any of the childhood exanthems. Also, many children with hand-foot-mouth disease are diagnosed with ear infections because the eardrums may appear red.

How is it treated?
Antibiotics do not help with hand-foot-mouth disease. The important issues are pain relief and plenty of fluids.

How can it be prevented?
The viruses that cause hand-foot-mouth disease are present both in the stool and in the respiratory secretions. It can spread by fecal–oral transmission, droplet transmission, contact transmission, and by means of fomites. Hand cleansing—especially after diapering/toileting and before eating—can help reduce its spread. Children are often kept out of school or daycare for the first several days of the illness, but it is not clear this prevents others from becoming infected. Other children in the class are probably contagious even though they will never develop symptoms.

Related A-to-Z Information:
Contact Transmission, Coxsackievirus, Droplet Transmission, Enteroviruses, Exanthems (Childhood rash), Fecal-Oral Transmission, Fomites, Strep Throat

[marit]

Freaky...