Heartburn drugs may not be effective for children, according to a new study.
Researchers found there is little evidence that acid-suppressing drugs ease symptoms in infants. The study looked at 12 clinical trials that tested several medications on infants and older children. Some of these drugs have names like omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and esomeprazole (Nexium).
The findings, reported in the journal Pediatrics, showed little change in infants that drugs eased symptoms such as crying or fussing after being fed. For older children, there was better evidence of a benefit.
Dr. Steven J. Czinn at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore told Reuters Health that parents may still try the medications on their children. However, many babies and children with acid reflux can forgo medication altogether in favor of diet changes.
