Levsin drops for gas
Moms View Message Board: Parenting Discussion: Archive July-December 2004:
Levsin drops for gas
Has anyone used Levsin drops to relieve infants' gas? My doc prescribed them, but I've read some stuff that I don't like. If you've had any experience with them, please let me know.
Thanks,
Ame
I have only used over the counter generic Gas Relief.
I have, too. But, Simethicone only relieves gas that is in the stomach. It does not help intestinal gas. The Levsin is supposed to help with that. The simethicone, as well as some homeopathic remedies are not working for her.
Ame
I've never heard of Levsin. Is it fairly new??
Are you sure it's gas? What are Helen's symptoms? The reason I ask is because DD was very fussy as an infant. Everyone, including our ped., told me it was gas or colic. I *knew* it wasn't and insisted on seeing a GI specialist. Turned out it was GERD (reflux). MUCH happier baby after she was put on Zantac.
Symptoms of GERD
Whatever it is, I hope Helen's doing better soon!
I don't know where you live, but I grew up in Canada, and we use and over the counter product called "Gripe Water." It is English. It works much better than anything over the counter or prescribed here. My oldest had a lot of problems and nothing here worked until I got some Gripe Water from Canada. I just had a family member bring it down when they came. I always have some on hand. Let me know if you can get some or not. It is perfectly safe. My niece was having problems and I kept telling my sister-in-law to get some and she was worried until her pediatrician suggested it and told her where to get it here in the states (she is in Portland).
I know that there are some infant massage techniques that can help relieve gas too.
Levsin is OLD - I used it for Jeff 21 years ago. We used Mylicon drops too, then he was put on some Rx med that was *strong*, but nothing really helped him - he grew out of it.
Levsin is a pretty old product. They did give you drops for your baby?
It's used to stop the stomach spasms that are associated with colic. The first thing most doctors will recommend is the Mylicon or gas drops. It is just simethicone. It basically just neutralizes the gas and bubbles in the stomach. It's pretty inert,not absorbed into the bloodstream. Does its job in the stomach then it's pretty much nothing. The gas drops are used a lot because for alot of babies it helps and is very safe. No side effects to speak of.
When that doesn't work they will try different things among them are Levsin drops. It's a pretty safe drug. I personally have never seen any bad reaction from it. Probably its worse side effect, which in some cases is a blessing in disguise, is its drying effect. It will give the patient dry mouth, dry up a runny nose, etc. And it may also make him a little sleepy if you only use every now and then. But that also may be a blessing for a baby who has not been sleeping because of colic.
Some other products that a dr may try include Zantac and Reglan. Both safe but have their own little side effects.
That's your speech for today from your friendly moms view pharmacist!!!
I used Mylicon drops with my DS when he was a baby and they always seemed to work.
WOW! I LOVE MOM'S VIEW!!! Thank you ladies!
Yes, I thought it might be GERD. My son has it, but his was the spitting up kind. She does not spit up, ever. Her doc diagnosed her with reflux today. We are putting her on Zantac and Gaviscon.
The Levsin is for gas, which the Mylicon (simethicone) is doing nothing for. Her gas is not in her belly, but in her intestines. The Levsin will help with intestinal gas, whereas the simethicone only helps break down gas bubbles in the stomach.
She was screaming steadily yesterday from 4 pm until 11 pm and then from midnight til 2:30. I was finally able to put her to sleep by putting her on her belly. The doc said that reflux and certain medical conditions are exceptions to the "back to sleep" rule.
Well here's hoping that the meds kick in and we can all get some sleep and have a happy baby in the house!
Of course, all of this is going on while she has an ear infection and is getting painful antibiotic injections!
Musicmom - Gripe water is great, but it's really an antacid, so the gaviscon and the the zantac should help. Thanks for offering to get it.
Trina - I was thinking GERD, but I was afraid I was reading into her symptoms too much, especially since my son has it. Thanks for the link.
Debbie and Karen - Thanks for allaying my fears about the Levsin. We'll start it today.
Thanks everyone!
Ame
Ame it could be as simple as something you are eating. I had to cut back on my dairy intake & peanuts while I breast feed Olivia.
Good luck.
Thank you, Emily, but I am not nursing ...
No, it's definately the reflux. What threw me off was that I didn't see any spit up. She's swallowing everything she spits up. I fed her and I could hear the stuff gurgling in her throat. The cough she has is also associated with reflux.
Another thought, do you microwave your formula? My son had real issues with the whole gas, fussiness. We found that ready to feed formula did better and even better yet don't nuke the milk! Use one of those bottle warmers. It made a world of difference with my kiddos. Or you can pour the milk right into a pan and let it warm and then pour into a bottle.
Thanks Kaye,
She does better on the powdered formula. We were going to keep her on the Similac Advance ready to feed, but she had a lot of issues with it, so we switched her to the Good Start. The constipation and gas issues have pretty much been resolved, but we have the Levsin just in case.
I do nuke it, but for 20 seconds, then I stir it well.
Her feeding goes well, up until the end, when she starts gurgling and fussing and trying to suck, but can't ...
As I said, all the signs of GERD were there, but the lack of spitting up made me think that was not the case.
Right now, she is sleeping, and has been since a quarter to five...
What a difference from yesterday!
Ame
The nuking it changes the proteins in the formula, shaking it up eliminates hot spots in the milk, but can't help with the destruction of nutrition. If she starts to have issues, try heating it without the microwave. My kids also did better on carnation formulas, not sure why.
Good Start is the carnation formula. So far, she's doing great on it! She napped from about 5 until 7:30, ate, went to sleep about 8:30, woke at 3:30, ate again, and slept until 8:30 this morning!!! She ate again, stayed up for a bit and then went back to sleep.
I can't believe this!
Ame
I want to know how the baby is doing? And how is mom doing? Hopefully alot better on the Zantac. GERD and an ear infection. No wonder she was screaming. The whole scenario is horrible on baby AND parents. The last time dd got a shot, I was holding her down while the nurse gave the shot. DD looked at me while she cried with a look that said, "Mommy is supposed to protect me. Why is she helping that lady hurt me?" As soon as the nurse was done, I grabbed her up and held her and cried myself.
I so truly hope everybody is feeling better.
We've had our ups and downs, Debbie. Thank you for keeping us in your thoughts.
After a great weekend with the "model" baby, she turned into Godzilla again on Monday. Although I have to say it was nothing like her prior attacks. I stupidly switched her to the Good Start with the DHA and ARA thinking that there should be really no difference in the formula. Well, was I wrong! She suffered from awful gas! The Levsin did nothing for her.
I am going to make an appt. for her to see a Ped. GI. She sounds very congested after she eats. I wonder if the Zantac is appropriate for her, or if she needs something else.
I know what you mean about shots. This one is particularly painful and I felt horrible!
Thanks again.
Ame
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