Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHome RemediesMedicationSurgeryWhen to Seek Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Home Remedies
Medication
Surgery
When to Seek Help
However, babies with severe reflux (gastroesophageal reflux disease) may need medication or surgery.
s0ulsurfing - Jason Swain / Getty Images
Swallowing Problems May Be Due to GERD
Medicine for Reflux in Babies
The best acid reflux medication for babies depends on what symptoms a child has and what a pediatrician decides is the safest and most effective option.
How GERD Is Diagnosed
Antacids
OTC antacids that treat infant reflux includeMylanta, Maalox, and Tums. Mylanta and Maalox can be given to infants who are older than 1 month. Tums are not recommended for babies under 1 year old.
How They Are Used
If your pediatrician recommends that you give your infant an antacid, they will tell you exactly what dose to give them.
Babies and Aspirin Don’t MixMake sure any medications you give your infant do not contain aspirin or bismuth subsalicylate (an ingredient in medications like Pepto-Bismol). The use of these drugs in children has been linked to a life-threatening condition calledReye’ssyndrome, which causes brain swelling and liver failure.
Babies and Aspirin Don’t Mix
Make sure any medications you give your infant do not contain aspirin or bismuth subsalicylate (an ingredient in medications like Pepto-Bismol). The use of these drugs in children has been linked to a life-threatening condition calledReye’ssyndrome, which causes brain swelling and liver failure.
H2 Blockers
Prescription H2 blockers such as Pepcid (famotidine) are considered safe and are commonly used to treat reflux in babies and children. A liquid form of Pepcid can be used for babies, and kids can take chewable tablets. H2 blockers do come with a small risk of side effects, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, andconstipation.
OTC H2 blockers like Tagamet (cimetidine) and Pepcid can be found at your local pharmacy as liquids or tablets.
However, OTC H2 blockers are not FDA-approved for children younger than 12. Your infant will need a prescription if their pediatrician wants them to take H2 blockers for reflux.
H2 blockers work fast and can reduce your infant’s symptoms in as little as 30 minutes.
Infection RiskH2 blockers and PPIs reduce the amount of stomach acid in your infant’s stomach. Since stomach acid helps protect the body from infection, your infant’s risk of pneumonia and gastrointestinal infection can be higher while they’re taking these medications.
Infection Risk
H2 blockers and PPIs reduce the amount of stomach acid in your infant’s stomach. Since stomach acid helps protect the body from infection, your infant’s risk of pneumonia and gastrointestinal infection can be higher while they’re taking these medications.
Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are more effective at reducing stomach acid than H2 blockers.The PPIs that are approved for infants over one month old are Nexium (esomeprazole) and Prilosec (omeprazole).
PPIs have morelong-term side effectsthan H2 blockers, like liver problems, polyps in the stomach, and lowered immunity against bacterial infection.
Providers usually prescribe PPIs for four to eight weeks. Your provider will consider your infant’s age, weight, and other factors when determining the right dosage to give them.
Motility Agents
Motility agents likeReglanspeed up digestion and empty the stomach faster, so they can help prevent reflux. However, studies have shown that these drugs are not consistently beneficial for reflux and have serious side effects. Therefore, they are generally not recommended for infants and children with GERD.
Gas Relievers
OTC gas remedies for babies made with ingredients like simethicone may not specifically help with reflux, but they can relieve gas symptoms that could make the problem worse.
Surgery for Infant Reflux
During fundoplication surgery, the top of the stomach is wrapped around the esophagus to tighten the LES. The wrapping makes it harder for food to come out of the stomach and go up into the esophagus.
Fundoplication surgery can help children with severe reflux symptoms that do not respond to medication, but it’s still a major surgical procedure that has risks and potential complications. In addition, the procedure may not be effective for some children.
Tenex Procedure: Everything You Need to Know
Infant reflux can be hard to manage and disheartening for caregivers. Many families try multiple remedies before finding one that works. Sometimes, a treatment that used to work will stop working after a few months, and the search starts all over again.
Summary
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