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Prevacid Vs. Prilosec for Infants

Prevacid and Prilosec are both medications used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and erosive esophagitis in the pediatric population. In children over one year of age they have been proven to be effective and their side effects are minimal. However, neither medication is currently approved for use in infants.

  1. Definition

    • Prevacid's active ingredient is lansoprazole. Prilosec's is omeprazole. In spite of different chemicals, they have the same action in the body. They are proton pump inhibitors that block glands in the stomach from secreting gastric acid. Both medications are used to treat GERD and erosive esophagitis in children and teens. The most common side effects are diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea, and constipation.

    Use in Infants

    • The prescribing information for Prevacid states that studies were conducted for infants and children over the age of one. In the age group of one to eleven, there was a 50 percent reduction in frequency and severity of GERD symptoms. However, the studies in infants under the age of one concluded that even though there weren't any unusual side effects, Prevacid did not help GERD symptoms. Prilosec's prescribing information simply states that the safety and effectiveness in patients under the age of one were not established.

    Recent Studies

    • Researchers at the University of Adelaide in Australia published two studies in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. In January 2007 they reported that Prilosec improved GERD in ten premature infants. However they also stressed that the safety and efficacy needed to be studied. In November 2007, they published a study of fifty infants with GERD who were treated with esomeprazole (a form of Prilosec). Their conclusion stated that the medication was well tolerated and the infants had less GERD. A study at the Louisiana State University in 2008 was published in the journal Pediatric Drugs. They treated infants with Prevacid and reported that the medication was well tolerated and successfully decreased the frequency of GERD.

    Clinical Trials

    • The manufacturers for Prilosec (AstraZeneca) and Prevacid (Takeda Pharmaceuticals) continue to pursue research studies to determine the safety and effectiveness of their medications in infants. Three clinical trials have been completed studying treatment of GERD with Prevacid, one for neonates, one for babies (under 28 days), and another for infants (under one year). Two clinical trials were completed testing the use of Prilosec for treatment of GERD in neonates and infants. The results for these completed studies have not yet been reported. As of September 2009, a new study was recruiting participants for a clinical trial to study the effectiveness of Prilosec in infants.

    Factors

    • Since recent studies suggest that these medications are effective for infants, physicians may prescribe them "off label." If your infant is being given Prilosec or Prevacid it's important to give them the medication at the same time every day. According to the prescribing information for Prevacid, it can be mixed with applesauce, pudding, strained pears. and apple or orange juice.

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