Infantreflux.org | prevacid issue

This topic has 9 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 14 years, 9 months ago by Anonymous.

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December 28, 2011 at 7:50 pm #69600

Anonymous
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Sorry if this has already been discussed but I havent learned my way around the board yet to find it.

We have a 3 month old girl who has reflux. Our first daughter also had it. Our pedi put her on prevacid solutabs 15mg. Our insurance only covers the generic. From my understanding the generic is no longer being manufactured. I begged our pedi to prescribe prilosec but he refused saying “the book” says is isnt safe for a child under 2. So, we had to pay 220 dollars for 15 pills. There were 5 days where she didnt get any meds and she has been miserable, not sleeping vomiting out of her nose etc… I just dont know what to do. What are my options? Over the counter prevacid? any suggestions would be so appreciated. I just know we wont be able to continue to pay 220 every two weeks.

December 28, 2011 at 8:33 pm #69601

hellbennt
Keymaster

If your insurance will cover zegerid (a packet that has the drug prilosec in it plus flavorings and buffer- you mix it up and then you can give it to your baby as a liquid & you can give it at any time- w/ the solutabs you need to give on a an empty stomach, followed by a ‘meal’ 30 minutes later), you can TELL your ped (personally, I’d try a ped GI? someone who might know more that a ped does?) that you need a rx for zegerid 40mg packets. You can tell ped that you’ll throw out what you don’t need, but you NEED the 40mg packets (has to do w/ buffer etc)

This is pretty important to read through:

Prevacid 101:

scroll to the last page of this post, (it’s actually also about other PPIs like prilosec, too)
https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=1936&PN=0&TPN=1

December 28, 2011 at 8:36 pm #69602

hellbennt
Keymaster

oh wait- your ped is going by the book- I know about that book, LOL!

I aksed my own ped about something from ‘the book’ & then found out the proper answer…do you have any zantac? if not, get a rx to hold your baby over, until you get things straightened out- here’s about zantac dose:

Zantac dosing– my/other’s question (has axid & pepcid doses, too):

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8288&PN=1

also, in the meantime, if you’re desperate, ask your ped about carafate. I KNOW I sound like a drug-pusher! It’s just that I’ve BEEN there w/ a howling/shrieking infant and I learned all about what to do to get some relief for my baby…

Carafate:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=13485&KW=search+feeding+aversion+forum

Carafate spacing from PPI:

okay I did a quick search and here is what I found… 3rd post down from Sheri who unfortunately isn’t on much anymore… says space it 2hrs apart.
https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=10620&KW=carafate

December 28, 2011 at 8:45 pm #69603

Anonymous
Inactive

thank you. Yes we have zantac. I’m not really sure if it does anything for her though. I do think we are going to try and find a ped GI. thanks again.

December 29, 2011 at 9:50 am #69605

hellbennt
Keymaster

Looking for GI: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=660

there are recommendations for ped GIs in your area…

How much does baby weigh? I can help calculate proper zantac dose. it can be given 4 hrs seperate from the PPI.

also you can give OTC PPIs (I cannot tell you to do this! I am not a medical professional! I am *only* a person/parent who has kept herself up to date w/ the latest information available for the past EIGHT! years)

OTC zegerid:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14637

OTC w/ applesauce, pedialyte, etc:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14642&PID=113339#113339

Mixing RX zegerid 40mg packets:

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14587&PN=1

hellbennt2011-12-29 10:01:43

December 29, 2011 at 10:11 am #69607

Anonymous
Inactive

I didnt see any specialists in my area on there, one michigan one but it is about 3 hours away. I’ll do a search today.

Baby weighs about 12 lbs.

In all my dealings with several pharmacies, not one of them told me that 30 mg. solutabs are still being made and I could have went that route. I found out by reading this board.

Also, I’m seeing a lot about marci kids? what exactly is this?

December 29, 2011 at 4:54 pm #69613

hellbennt
Keymaster

MY TMY THOUGHTS: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=14643&PID=113344#113344

hellbennt2011-12-29 16:56:24

December 29, 2011 at 5:04 pm #69614

hellbennt
Keymaster

there’s a chart for converting lbs to kilos (it’s the 3rd page, from the link below):

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8288&PN=3

your baby is 12lbs = 5.4 kilos

Zantac dosing- my/other’s question (has axid & pepcid doses, too):

https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=8288&PN=1

highest dose by weight for zantac is 10mgs per kilo

dont! just! take MY word on this! read above! research all you can!

5.4 x 10 = 54mgs total, for the day, of zantac

your bottle of liquid zantac says 15mgs/ml

this means that for every 1ml of liquid you give, there’s 15mgs of the medicine zantac in that 1ml of liquid

so: 54 divided by 15 = 3.6mls, total for the day, of zantac

you divide into two doses- they can be uneven- you can give a higher portion at night (to help get through the night better)

you can give zantac, too, until things get straightened out more- make sur to space it 4 hrs from the PPI

December 29, 2011 at 5:49 pm #69616

Anonymous
Inactive

I was TOLD that the 30mg tabs were still available but when I showed up at the pharmacy to pick up the prescription, it wasn’t available. Called all of the pharmacies in the area: no generic prevacid solutabs in ANY size. 🙁

So, I spent several hours talking to several people at my insurance company (BCBS of MN) and even had my doctor’s office fax over a “formulary exemption” form… but was told since Prevacid was a “preferred” formulary drug, my copay was $90 rather than $40 (like it is for most name brand meds). We previously paid a $14 copay for the generic Prevacid.

My doctor will not prescribe Prilosec or Zegerid. No specialist in my area. I’m going to a different Pediatrician in the hopes of getting SOME help. So frustrating! I wish I knew what the heck was going on! nikelodeon792011-12-29 18:04:57

December 29, 2011 at 6:19 pm #69617

Anonymous
Inactive

nikelodeon79 wrote: I was TOLD that the 30mg tabs were still available but when I showed up at the pharmacy to pick up the prescription, it wasn’t available. Called all of the pharmacies in the area: no generic prevacid solutabs in ANY size. 🙁

So, I spent several hours talking to several people at my insurance company (BCBS of MN) and even had my doctor’s office fax over a “formulary exemption” form… but was told since Prevacid was a “preferred” formulary drug, my copay was $90 rather than $40 (like it is for most name brand meds). We previously paid a $14 copay for the generic Prevacid.

My doctor will not prescribe Prilosec or Zegerid. No specialist in my area. I’m going to a different Pediatrician in the hopes of getting SOME help. So frustrating! I wish I knew what the heck was going on!

This is exactly what I’m dealing with. we have a specialist in the area but it is a 6 mos. wait to get in. I think I’m just going to go ahead and start medicating her myself with OTC
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