Prevacid questions ...

Hi,
I am seeing the GI specialist again on Monday since there has been no improvement the last 2 weeks. He's on Alimentum, rice cereal and Zantac (although I took him off as per doc's advice because there was no difference in the last 3 weeks at all). She told me at the last visit, that the next step will be Prevacid and therefore I have some questions.

1. What does it do? Does it decrease spit up? Or does it decrease pain and discomfort only?
2. With what type of formula do you use it? Do I have to continue the Alimentum (I haven't noticed a difference since he's on it) ... it's so expensive and it doesn't seem to help.
3. How long will he need it?
4. What kind of dose will he most likely get at 2 months of age (he's probably in the 11lbs range).
5. Any other tips, suggestions that I should know of?

TIA!

 

Hi,
I am seeing the GI specialist again on Monday since there has been no improvement the last 2 weeks. He's on Alimentum, rice cereal and Zantac (although I took him off as per doc's advice because there was no difference in the last 3 weeks at all). She told me at the last visit, that the next step will be Prevacid and therefore I have some questions.

1. What does it do? Does it decrease spit up? Or does it decrease pain and discomfort only?
2. With what type of formula do you use it? Do I have to continue the Alimentum (I haven't noticed a difference since he's on it) ... it's so expensive and it doesn't seem to help.
3. How long will he need it?
4. What kind of dose will he most likely get at 2 months of age (he's probably in the 11lbs range).
5. Any other tips, suggestions that I should know of?

TIA!

 

Mine were on prevacid briefly. I posted a little while back about how difficult it was to give it too them. I used the water soluable tabs then the poweder form and both were difficult. They both have these tiny white beads that clog nipples. If you make the nipples too big they gag. So then I tried syringe and that didn't stay in their mouths. So then I tried a medicine dropper but they also spit that out. They have to get those white beads b/c that's the time release portion of the drug. So needless to say we are now on prilosec liquid and it;s much easier to give. I've heard good things about the prevacid though if u can get it into them.

 

I remember your post. I had no problem giving him the Zantac. I would just have him suck his bottle and then put the dropper in, so that he would suck both down before he noticed it. So I could do that again. I'll ask for the liquid stuff, just in case. Thanks.

 

quote:
1. What does it do? Does it decrease spit up? Or does it decrease pain and discomfort only? It doesn't decrease the spit up, but it makes it less pungent if that makes sense. IT really only helps the pain and discomfort. When they start sitting up more the spit up gets better.

2. With what type of formula do you use it? Do I have to continue the Alimentum (I haven't noticed a difference since he's on it) ... it's so expensive and it doesn't seem to help. Neither the alimentum nor the nutramigen helped my girls. I put them on Good start supreme and they have done very well on it.

3. How long will he need it? Depends on the baby. I tried to wean my girls off a couple of weeks ago at 9 months (the GI said she was going to try) because it seemed they were doing very well, but had to put them back on it. Turns out they were doing so well because of the meds. We will try again at 1 yr.

4. What kind of dose will he most likely get at 2 months of age (he's probably in the 11lbs range). I'm not sure of the dosage, but one thing I like about the prevacid is the weight range is much broader. My girls have gained 16 pounds since they started the prevacid and only had to be increased once.

5. Any other tips, suggestions that I should know of?
If you don't already have one, look into buying one of those foam crib wedges. I have one that is covered with a "plastic" covering and it worked wonders. They no longer use them, but they were perfect because the incline was slight so they weren't rolling to the bottom of the crib.

 

It did not help with the spit up but withint 3 -5 days, their pain symptoms were gone!

They are on 15 mg. We have the granual packets. It is mixed with 2 tbs of water. i got a syringe from safety first. it does not get stuck. the granuals WILL get stuck in a smaller syringe.

My boys smile now when they see it coming. The love it!

I tried 2 days this week to not give it to them but they showed sings again of reflux so they are taking it again and are immediately better.

We never had to increase the dosage.

They are on Nutramigen. I dont know if the prevacid alone has fixed their reflux or if this formula has helped. Once I saw the improvment, i never wanted to switch their formula because i was so afraid the pain would come back. It is expensive though.

 

1. Prevacid did help reduce spit up in both of my twins. They weren't showing any symptoms of pain due to their reflux, but they did spit up often.

2. We are still on the preemie formula, Enfamil Enfacare, until we switch to milk next month.

3. We will try and take the twins off a 1 year.

4. Both of mine right now are on a 1/2 tablet 2x/day. We do the 15 mg. solutab. They first started out around 11 lbs. and were on 1/2 tablet 1x/day.

5. If you use the solutab and need to split the pill, get a pill cutter, I got mine at CVS. Also, like PP I use a syrine and dissolve the 1/2 tablet in 3mls. of water. I do have to shake it around in between syrining into their mouths to be sure to get all the granulas. If there are still some left in, I put more water in.

Mine also don't mind taking it, they open their mouths for it.

 

My twins are 3 months old and Luke is on 1mg of prevacid twice a day. 0.3mg of Zantac twice a day. He had been on these meds for 3 weeks with no improvment, then I decided to switch his formula from Similac Neosure to Isomil Advance Soy Formula by Similac. I noticed a difference with the first bottle. He was always in pain when he ate and would scream during feedings. The first bottle of Soy he ate 3 ounces no problem burped him then he ate another 2 ounces. he hasn't eaten 4 or 5 ounces ever!! Poor gut I think he was starving!!! So we are on week 2 with Soy and he is consistantly eating 4 to 5 ounce bottles all nice and calm. So........SOY was my savior.

 

Our boys were on prevacid since their days in the NICU - they came off of it around 6 months. Our pharmacy mixes it up for you, so it was liquid form. Toward the end they were getting around .8 each. I think it was around .4 at 11 lbs - but it is weight based so the dr. will tell you. Didn't reduce spit ups, but definately helps pain and discomfort - my guys arched, squirmed, cried w/out it.

 

We did Zantac, but it made my daughter vomit. We decreased most of her problems by increasing her rice cereal. Instead of 1 tablespoon per 2 oz., we put in 4 oz. of dried cereal to 4 oz. of milk. It worked wonders and we very rarely have spitting ever. My doctor said if it worked, he was fine with it.