Gaviscon Infant Sachets - 30

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  • Gaviscon Infant Sachets - 30

Gaviscon Infant Sachets - 30

From£7.99
  • Medication features

    Gaviscon Infant Sachets alleviate reflux or regurgitation in children and babies. Gavison forms a protective layer over the stomach, stopping the contents from entering the food pipe, thus, preventing reflux symptoms. Gaviscon Infant is suitable for formula or breastfed infants and children. The two active ingredients include magnesium alginate 87.5mg and sodium alginate 225mg, which work in harmony to relieve reflux acid. Avoid using in infants under age one year unless your doctor advises you to.

    • Simple dosage system
    • Fast-acting reflux medicine
    • Easy to administer with a spoon or feeding bottle

Overview

NOTE: After selecting this product, you will need to complete a short assessment, so we can make sure this medication is suitable for you. Pricing is provided as a reference only. The final decision on issuing this medication remains with our Prescriber / Pharmacist.

What is Gaviscon Infant?

The Gaviscon family of medications is used in the treatment of acid reflux. The Gaviscon Infant comes in a sachet form and works in the same way. Gaviscon Infant contains 2 main ingredients to treat reflux:

  • Sodium Alginate
  • Magnesium alginate

By creating a protective layer on top of the stomach contents, acid is prevented from being brought back up to the oesophagus which can result in the painful 'heartburn' sensation often associated with indigestion and reflux.

Infant Reflux

Infant reflux is quite common in babies and is a self-limiting condition, which means that it usually resolves on its own. The condition is commonly seen before an infant is 8 weeks and it is usually resolved when the child is 1 year old.

The symptoms of infant reflux are the following:

  • The child is sick or milk is brought up shortly after/during feeding
  • During feeding the child has a cough or hiccups
  • During a feed, the child is restless
  • After the child has been fed/burped, they are gulping/swallowing
  • The child is crying and is unsettled
  • The child is unable to put on weight as they are unable to keep their milk down
  • If the child has symptoms of reflux but is not sick or their milk is not being brought back up then this is termed silent reflux.

Practical Tips

  • Seek advice/support from your health visitor
  • Whilst you are feeding the child, hold them upright (they should be continuously held this way after they have fed for as long as possible)
  • If your child drinks formula milk, feed them smaller feeds more regularly
  • Ensure your child is sleeping flat on their back (not on their sides or stomach) and ensure their head is not raised
  • Visit the following NHS website links about breastfeeding advice and bottle-feeding advice

Effectiveness

Gaviscon Infant is a widely used and effective acid reflux medication for infants however every patient can respond differently to medication. If you find Gaviscon Infant is not effective for your child, you should get advice from your GP.

FAQ

  • How much Gaviscon Infant do I need to administer?

    One sachet should be mixed with 4oz of formula milk, and given to the baby as normal. For breastfed infants, 5ml of boiled and cooled water should be mixed with one sachet to form a paste, and then a further 10 ml of boiled and cooled water added to create a liquid. 

  • My baby is premature, can they use Gaviscon Infant Sachets?

    Administering Gaviscon Infant is not recommended for premature babies, or for children above the age of 2 years.

  • What are Gaviscon Infant sachets?

    Gaviscon infant sachets are used to help treat the effects of gastric reflux. The medication comes in individual sachet format and the medication contains 2 main ingredients, Sodium Alginate and Magnesium Alginate, to treat reflux.

    Both ingredients work by balancing out the levels in the stomach, therefore reducing the risk of reflux in the throat leading to pain and discomfort.

  • Who is Gaviscon Infant Sachets suitable for?

    Gaviscon Infant sachets are suitable for infants aged between 1 and 2 years of age. If your infant is allergic to any of the ingredients in the medication it should NOT be used. It is advised that you speak to your own doctor before giving this medication to make sure it is suitable for your child.

  • How do I give Gaviscon Infant Sachets?

    The amount of Gaviscon infant sachets differs depending on the size of the infant as well as the current method of feeding.

    If your infant weighs over 4.5kg then you would use 2 sachets per serving, if your infant weighs below this then it would be 1 sachet per serving. Depending on the current method of feeding the recommended guidelines are as follows.

    Bottle-fed infants - Mix either 1 or 2 sachets into 115 ml of milk in a feeding bottle and shake well before serving.

    Breastfeeding (infant milk preparations) - Prepare each sachet in 5ml of cooled, boiled water and leave until it forms a paste effect, then add another 10ml of cooled boiled water and mix together. It should then be given to the infant midway through breastfeeding or a meal using either a feeding bottle or spoon, whichever is easier.

Side Effects

Side effects are extremely rare with Gaviscon Infants Sachets, but it has been reported that an infant may experience constipation or diarrhoea. If this does occur, you should stop giving Gaviscon Infant Sachets to the infant. Avoid using Gaviscon Infant with infant milk preparations or other feed thickening agents that include a feed thickening agent.

Other

Warnings

Do not use Gaviscon Infant:

  • If your baby was born prematurely
  • If your child is allergic to ingredients
  • If your child is being sick, has a fever or diarrhoea
  • If you have been told or it is suspected that your child has damage to their kidneys or
  • If your child has been put on a low salt diet (each sachet contains roughly 21 mg of sodium)
  • If you have been told that your child has a blockage in their gut
  • If your child is taking any other feed thickening agents (including thickening agents in their milk)

Info Leaflet

Before taking any medicines, regardless of whether they are over the counter or prescription-only, it is essential always to read the patient information leaflet.

Patient Information Leaflet

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