Is your baby on medication for reflux?

Do reflux medications actually work?

Is your baby on reflux medication but they're still inconsolable?

Did you see improvements initially but then it started to wear off, or did it trigger a flare-up in their reflux or silent reflux instead? Are you at your wits end?

It frustrates me when parents are so readily advised, usually by their paediatrician, that reflux medications are the best next step in resolving their baby's acid reflux symptoms. It can be made to sound like your 'this will fix everything' solution, but that is, unfortunately, rarely the case.

The prescriptions are, in my opinion, handed out too frequently & often the answer to them not working is to increase the dosage or suggest a stronger medication on the 'reflux medication ladder'.

Ask yourself, as their parent & biggest advocate for their health & wellbeing:

❓ Do you know why they were prescribed it?

❓ Were you told why it works before prescribing it for your baby?

❓ Did the doctor tell you the common side effects were for that drug?

❓ Were you given the relevant information to make an informed decision?

❓ Are they actually improving your baby's symptoms?

We must start questioning the overuse of medicating infants for reflux & start to actually address the true causes of it instead. What if there was a better, unmedicated way to resolve your baby's reflux?

I can help you understand what these medications are, how they work, what the intentions are when they are prescribed for your baby, & what the known pros & cons are for each.

✨ Being INFORMED to make those decisions for your baby's health is the key! ✨

What are baby reflux medications?

Approximately 7% of all infants across the USA are diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux (GER) or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) each year, with 2-6% being prescribed associated reflux medications.

This 2023 publication by AAP reviewed the overuse of reflux medications in 270,000 paediatric patients, finding little to no significant improvements in symptoms taking either PPIs, H2RAs, or a combination of both. Of these babies prescribed reflux medications, over 2/3rds of them did not have the formal diagnosis of GERD - a criteria the AAP & NHS both use, alongside poor weight gain, pain or diagnosed mucosal injury via investigation.

Despite evidence that there are long-term complications possible (including increased risk of fracture & infections) with use of reflux medications in infants, & against the recommendations by the AAP without a formal GERD diagnosis, they are still being prescribed frequently to infants & babies.

What medications are used for baby reflux?

To help parents understand the types of medication frequently prescribed to babies with signs of acid reflux or silent reflux, I have here a brief outline of each drug type, the commonly prescribed branded names:

💊 Alginates

What is it: a non-pharmacological drug designed to stop regurgitation using a thickener to create a raft-like substance on top of the stomach acid. It is the only safe alginate for babies.

Common brand names: Infant Gaviscon

💊 PPIs

What is it: a pharmacological drug that supposedly reduces stomach acid production. These are drugs that typically end in ~prazole. These are not safe for use under 1 month old.

Common brand names: Nexium, Prosilec

💊 H2RAs

What is it: a pharmacological drug that blocks the action of histamine-2 (H2) to increase the acidity for digestion.

Common brand names: Pepcid (Famotidine) or Zantac (Ranitidine)

💊 Antacids

What is it: neutralise the stomach acid

Common brand names: Pepto, Mylanta

💊 Motility drugs

What is it: usually prescribed when there is poor movement of the food along the digestive tract, or delayed emptying.

Common brand names: Domperidone

💊 Antihistamines

What is it: histamines are chemical neurotransmitters that respond to allergens entering the body, activating the immune system. Antihistamines are designed to block this process.

Common brand names: Piriton or Cetirizine

💊 Antibiotics

What is it: more experimentally prescribed when an infection or bacterial overgrowth is suspected, or to speed up the rate of digestion.

Common brand names: Erythromycin

So, what's the answer?

Finding the actual cause of your baby's reflux or silent reflux symptoms is the only way to truly resolve their discomfort. Reflux medications have their place in reducing the discomfort, & sometimes the reflux itself, but none of them are designed to stop acid reflux from happening.

With the knowledge & understanding of what the pediatrician or doctor is suggesting for your baby, you can make an informed decision accordingly for your baby's health. It is more than ok to ask for the information related to the drug being suggested, & what the alternative steps are for your baby's reflux, if you choose not to take the prescription. You can go away & think about it before committing, do your own research, or get a second opinion.

The decision is ALWAYS yours as the parent.

Infant reflux or silent reflux is a tough journey for parents to navigate, there are so many variables & symptoms that are part of the larger puzzle. I can help you find the underlying cause of their reflux & how we can piece the symptoms puzzle together to resolve their reflux.

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Please note: this is intended as a resource to further inform yourselves of how these drugs work, NOT to prescribe or diagnose. Please, if you have any concerns, reach out to your paediatrician or ask your local pharmacist for advice.

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If you would like my help, you can email me, download my free reflux symptom tracker, check out my social media pages, or see my post on reflux medications

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Please note: if you are concerned about your baby's symptoms, you should seek medical advice & contact your paediatrician or a qualified provider.

This is intended for educational purposes only & does not substitute for a medical diagnosis.