Prevacid Approved for Young Children but Perhaps Prescribed Unnecessarily
October 31st, 2007 amy
Prevacid and other stomach distress drugs commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and ulcers in adults are becoming more commonly used by children, but do children really need these medications? According to Medco, the number of children ages 5 to 11 on stomach distress medications has risen 31 percent. Pediatricians say the rise in these prescription treatments might stem from higher rates of obesity and stress. But does a one year old child who occasionally spits up really need to be medicated?
Of all the stomach distress prescription medications, Prevacid is the only one approved for use in children over age 1. Nexium, a similar drug, is only approved for children over age 12. Protonix, another proton pump inhibitor, is not approved for children. Aciphex, however, is approved for children over age 2. Prilosec OTC was approved in 2003 for use without a prescription.
In conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics, a doctors’ association started a website geared toward parents and published guidelines intended to help doctors treat GERD in children back in 2002. According to a survey of 1,245 pediatricians published in July, those guidelines may not be well understood. Research shows that over 50% of doctors started using Prevacid to treat babies under age 1 for spitting up, even if the baby wasn’t irritable, despite the guidelines stating to wait until the child is at least 18 months old.
Because taking such medications has become commonplace for adults, it’s not altogether surprising that many parents don’t think twice before treating their young children with the same medications. Yet young bodies don’t always react the same way adult bodies do. The results of prolonged use of such medications may not be good for a young child, especially one who doesn’t truly need medical treatment.
