More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

Mamma2Ethan — Fri, 16 May 2008 21:32:58 GMT

First of all, let me say that I respect your right to your opinion, however I have to say that unfortunately, not all cases of GERD can be treated naturally through diet, exercise and cider vinegar. My son is not 23 months old and takes 30 mg of Prevacid per day, and it has been a life saver. Here is his story: He was born at 38 1/2 weeks and healthy. Had problems nursing from the get go turns out he had Laryngomalacia and Tracheomalacia and had problems with his suck, swallow, breath reflex. He was also labeled as colicky and was told that he would outgrow it...they were wrong. His breathing continued to get worse and by the age of 8 months had already had aspiration pneumonia 4 times. He also has dysphagia and once we began thickening ALL liquids to nectar consistency he was able to drink without aspirating. He also has severe GERD and began developing oral aversions and was Failure to Thrive...Now that he is on the PPI he is actually able to eat and is starting to gain weight. He also had severe asthma and the more I have researched GERD, I feel that is the main cause. Since he has been on the PPI, I no longer have to give him the inhaled steroids. Sometimes MEDS are Neccesary!

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

peggysue777 — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 12:59:15 GMT

I agree, the drug companies, most Drs, and FDA are all trying to eliminate the population. We should let God control the population (life and death) not us. And NO we are not overpopulated. We could actually take all humankind and put them in the state of Texas!! Dr. Mercola is the only Dr. I know of out there that thinks as I do. We have got to get the word out that we do NOT need a prescription for everything that we have. Good grief, what did they do in the old days when there wasn't any? We need to get back to cooking like they did, and working (physically) like they did. We also need to bring morality back!! I am very concerned for humankind right now.

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

Lynn46 — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 03:49:28 GMT

Here is my sad story, and why I no longer take these horrible acid-blocking drugs.

I had heartburn for many years, in fact, most of my adult lfe. The heartburn got worse over the years because I gained more weight over time and was aging (am now 60). I had a major health crisis (surgery to remove a tumor from my pancreas) about 15 months ago and then lost a lot of weight. (Also, my gall bladder was removed 16 years ago.) After the latest crisis was over last year, I decided a new goal in my life was to get off all prescription meds. The first ones I stopped were Prilosec (previously was on Prevacid and Nexium), Tums, and Singulair (for asthma and allergies). After being off acid-blocking drugs for about one year, I now realize (in hindsight) that I was experiencing side effects from these drugs (no heartburn, but had chronic sensations of indigestion, also had fairly frequent diarrhea).

In addition to a vastly improved diet (including the elimination of Splenda), I take digestive/pancreatic enzymes with my food (because I have no gall bladder and only 1/2 of a pancreas). Voila--no more heartburn, no more uncomfortable sensations of indigestion. For me, the weight loss and use of digestive enzymes are my solution to what was a long-standing problem.

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

Trudy_203 — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 22:27:09 GMT

The toxins are everywhere! It seems that the FDA wont be satisfied until the whole world just drops dead!

Just like in medications, there are also harmful toxic chemicals lurking around in conventional personal care products. Be educated, visit www.tgorganics.mionegroup.com, contact me through my site for more information and samples.

Stay well,
Trudy

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

yhtoroddd — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:16:27 GMT

My two sons age 3 and 5 have had diarrhea pretty much since age one and blood in stool for two years. I have stopped giving them cow milk , soy products(they drink goat milk) and eat I think a pretty healthy. Stopping the dairy really helped with the frequency of the blood in stool. Now maybe only once a month instead of daily.

They also get alot of stomach pain and heart burn and have been taking Zantac which I want to quit. The pain after eatting is getting worse as well as how long it takes them in the washroom.

They tested negative for celiac. Tested positive for Group A strep on their anus. They do not have hemmrhoids. There doctor wants to now do a colonoscopy and gastroscopy. I want to find out if there is something more serious but really scared to have them go through being put to sleep and do the test.

Does anyone think anything could be wrong besides food allergies? I am giving them fish oil and probiotics. (maybe not enough) Something genetic?

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

healthnow — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 16:10:24 GMT

Are there cases where the drugs are necessary? My 7 week old turned blue from acid reflux and would have died had I not woke up. He did not fuss or cry, his muscle did not work to keep milk down. We held him for the next 9-10 months after feedings in addition to the Omeprezole. He is now almost 2 yrs old and off the medicine. I just recently starting reading mercola and love it. I would have tried anything natural like the apple cider vinegar, but did not now about it as no information was given to me by the doctors office.

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

sophiesue2 — Thu, 19 Apr 2007 12:19:41 GMT

What, then, should I do about an infant with GERD? The Prevacid has enabled him to continue breastfeeding, while my doctors tried to soften me up to the idea of supplementing with formula. He wasn't gaining weight, he was fighting the breast, he was MISERABLE.

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

Guru — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:45:32 GMT

Kudos to you Dr Mercola, i have been reading your articles for several years now, and just recently decided to get involved and put in my 2cents worth.

It takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to go against mainstream medicine, and i'm glad you have the kahuna's to do it.

I personally used to have heartburn daily, and was told i have a hiatial hernia that needed repair.. i used to use all the prescribed medicines that shut down the digestive process until i came across 'digestive enzymes'. I find these little miracles in a pill do wonders for me, and have long ago thrown away the prescribed medicines... i very rarely have heartburn anymore. I also discovered that the less of anything you drink while consuming a meal does wonders... since the solution of hydrochloric acid in my stomach is not being diluted with whatever i'm drinking... the ph of this acid i'm told is 3 and the ph of water is 7... since it takes a ph of 3 to break the fats and etc from protein in the stomach, it seemed counter productive to raise the ph and dilute the acid by drinking much with meals. I still drink some, but usually raw milk in milk amounts or r/o water. I save my coffee for sometime after meals, or significantly prior to eating.

I am happy to declare that i haven't had any serious bout of heartburn in almost 9 years now. I will never go back to the drugs. Personally speaking I am somewhat a fan of the 'clock' diet, which is where a person realizes that the acid content in the stomach is at its peak concentrations early in the morning, typically between 5-6 or so. This is when i eat most of my proteins, alternating between fresh fruits and veggies throughout the rest of the day. Obviously organic is the ultimate when in season, and the local farmers market is usually the best place to get the produce. :)

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

Michigan Mom — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 16:41:48 GMT

I realize it's a different class of drugs, but Zantac is very commonly prescribed for infants. It seems every other baby on the plant is being diagnosed with GERD. Could this be the outcome? Poor digestive function for life?

They prescribe this garbage because the babies cry when laid down. Insane. My babies cried when I laid them down, too. They weren't sick, human babies need human contact, not drugs.

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

Russ Bianchi — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 07:05:13 GMT

Who needs fiction thrillers, when you have so much that is insane in our midst, among non fiction?

If the Big Pharma's, Congress', FDA regulators', as well as the Lawyers' & Lobbyists' for Big Pharma, own children, were first REQUIRED to undergo this Kafkaesque protocol, it would NEVER be implemented.

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

helpingheart — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 03:28:33 GMT

Organic Lemon Juice or Organic Apple Cider Vinegar will be best to treat heartburn!

See Dr Mercola's article - it great!!!

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2005/04/30/supplement-safety.aspx

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

minnie-me — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 02:00:19 GMT

I urged my husband to trade in his weekly oversized bottle of TUMS, for 1 or 2 Tbs of Organic, unpasteurized, unfiltered apple cider vinegar whenever he suffered a bout of heartburn. Guess what? He hasn't bought TUMS for over a year, and very rarely even needs the vinegar anymore. Our stomachs need acid. Antacid type medications are designed to neutralize acid. Makes sense, doesn't it? Vinegar can be taken straight, mixed with water and even with a little raw honey for flavor.
If people would eat right, the acid reflux problem would most likely right itself. Stop serving fried trans fats and other garbage to kids, and present them with healthy foods. That would sure bring the numbers of true GERD sufferers down to an insignificant number...but then, who would feed the greedy legalized drug lords????

Mary, I work with medically fragile, multi-handicapped children, all whom are tube fed. I understand what you are saying about PPI's being used to prevent aspiration pneumonia. Many of our children are on stomach meds for this very reason. One of our children has a difficult time keeping her formula down, no matter what. Ensure,Pediasure or similar milk based formulas are used routinely. What are your thoughts on rice based formulas used in tube feeds? This thought just came to me as I was reading your post. I would probably be out of line to suggest this to a parent with no valid information, but it makes sense that the milk based formulas are harder on the systems of some. I don't even know where you can purchase specialized formulas or what the cost involves, but it might just be worth looking into...Just a thought....

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

Witch Doctor — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 00:38:29 GMT

I can tell you the long-term effects of PPIs.
1) reduced stomach acid
2) reduced absorption of foods
3) bacterial overgrowth due to low acid in the stomach.
4) stomach inflames
5) inflammation spreads to esophogeal sphincter.
6) weakened sphincter allows more reflux.
7) bacteria and inflammation work up the esophagus.
8) REAL HEARTBURN, meaning more PPIs and antacids.
9) All body systems degrade, i.e. premature aging, due to malabsorption of nutrients.

Yep, I can predict the future. Yep, I've been there, done that. The solution (for me): stomach acid pills, and salt - both sodium chloride and potassium chloride - back in my diet. Friggin' miracle.

Nothing is more important than stomach health. It all starts here (look down). Just my opinion. Duane

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

PPARGammaGirl — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:31:10 GMT

This is complete lunacy!

The kids didn’t even have gastro-esophageal reflux disease, but “…[a]t least 1 gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-predisposing disorder was present in 79% of the patients”.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are indicated for gastric/duodenal ulcer, reflux esophagitis and heartburn, not for some invented “predisposing disorder”. GERD itself responds well to dietary measures, and nobody really knows what the effects of long-term treatment of PPIs are - they may even cause certain tumors[1]. What predisposes little kids to an essentially benign adult complaint? Perhaps simply being alive is a predisposing disorder!

1. Merchant, S.H., et al., Sporadic duodenal bulb gastrin-cell tumors: association with Helicobacter pylori gastritis and long-term use of proton pump inhibitors. Am J Surg Pathol, 2006. 30(12): p. 1581-7.

re: More Insanity -- Heartburn Drugs for Kids

mmc88121 — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 23:11:53 GMT

Having a handicapped child I am aware that many of them are on PPI's for GERD, it is pushed as a way to prevent aspiration pneumonia. But almost none of the parents are told of the side effects of the medication, such as osteoporosis, and an increased risk of fractures. With the specific conditions I am talking about osteoporosis is fairly common even if the children are not on any medications.

Mary