Why zantac for babies

In moments like these, what do you take now? What do you give your baby? Spoiler alert: We have always strived to avoid prescribing ranitidine in infants. Once available only by prescription, Zantac became an over the counter medication several years ago and is one of the most widely used drugs on the market. NDMA is classified as a probable human carcinogen a substance that could cause cancer based on results from laboratory tests.

More information about the situation will likely become available from the FDA over the coming days and weeks. Individuals seeking alternate therapy to treat their condition should speak with us at GetzWell or other healthcare providers. NDMA is an environmental contaminant that comes from industrial processes and certain pesticides. NDMA can be found in drinking water, dairy products, vegetables, and grilled or cured meats, and it can affect animals and humans through the liver. Gastroesophageal reflux occurs when gastric contents slosh up from the stomach into the esophagus.

Reflux issues are very common in babies and are expected to improve in time through natural development. Despite the widespread prescribing of Zantac and ranitidine to babies, multiple studies have indicated that there are several potential risks and dangers of treating babies with anti-reflux drugs.

The longer a baby is treated with a drug like Zantac, the greater the risk. According to research on the effects of Zantac in newborns, potential dangers of giving Zantac to babies include increased risk for:. Evidence of these potential dangers has been known for years.

However, more recently, there has been a new wave of concern among parents of babies who have taken ranitidine due to major recalls of Zantac and ranitidine products. Since September , over a dozen pharmaceutical manufacturers have issued recalls of their Zantac and ranitidine products after they were found to contain toxic amounts of NDMA. This chemical has been linked to several types of cancer and poses the greatest danger to individuals who have been taking ranitidine for months or years on a regular basis.

Stores and pharmacies such as CVS Pharmacy, Target, and Walgreens have also pulled name-brand and generic Zantac products from their shelves to prevent further exposure to this cancerous chemical. The U. Food and Drug Administration FDA released a statement on September 13, alerting doctors and patients of a discovered contaminant—a carcinogen known as NDMA—in certain Zantac and ranitidine products. This discovery was made by the independent pharmaceutical research company, Valisure, which detected unsafe levels of NDMA in ranitidine during routine testing.

As a drug that is commonly given to babies suffering reflux, one of the biggest questions coming from parents following this recent FDA alert is whether their babies are at risk for getting cancer after being given ranitidine.

Are babies who have been given ranitidine at risk for developing cancer? According to medical and scientific experts, NDMA is unlikely to cause cancer unless a person has been exposed to high doses over a long period of time.

However, it may be more difficult to determine the effects of NDMA in babies, who can be more sensitive to drug effects and may be at greater risk for harm. New mothers who took Zantac while pregnant may have also unknowingly exposed their babies to NDMA while in the womb.

If you took Zantac regularly while pregnant, or have given your baby ranitidine to treat reflux, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the manufacturers of Zantac products to seek compensation. Learn about different causes. Gripe water is a remedy available in liquid form. It contains a mixture of herbs and is often used to soothe colicky babies. Have you noticed your baby refusing to eat, feeling stiff in the stomach, or straining when having a bowel movement?

These may all be signs that your…. But is it safe for infants? Poor feeding in infants describes an infant with little interest in feeding, or who is not feeding enough to receive the necessary nutrition. Learn sleep disorder signs and when…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Zara Risoldi Cochrane, Pharm. This recommendation was made because unacceptable levels of NDMA, a probable carcinogen cancer-causing chemical , were found in some ranitidine products.

Understanding heartburn in babies. Forms and dosage for babies. Zantac side effects. These side effects may include: headache constipation diarrhea nausea vomiting rash. Drug interactions. Parenthood Baby 06 Months 1 Year. Causes of Acid Reflux in Infants. Read this next.