There are many infants that suffer from gastro-esophageal reflux (GER) and one of the treatments for this problem is ranitidine. The medication, in the form of syrup, is given to infants to control the amount of acid released by the stomach. It can help many infants from the painful symptoms of GER. However, the common question posed by all parents is how long does it take for ranitidine to work for an infant.

Usually, ranitidine will take around five to six days to show effect. However, the medication is given based on the symptoms that the infant is displaying and also the age is taken into consideration. In some infants, the problem resolves itself without any medication. Just thickening the feed with cereal often stops the gastro-esophageal reflux. Also, the doctor will fist try other methods of feeding, such as not overfeeding the infant or giving the infant smaller feeds. If this does not have an effect, then medication is used.

Ranitidine is prescribed to infants that cry and have problems eating and sleeping. Also, it is given when the child regurgitates too much and does not put on the required amount of weight.

The medication is a H2 receptor blocker that helps to reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. So, when a child regurgitates, there is no acidic content in the regurgitated contents of the stomach. However, it is important to note that ranitidine does not stop the regurgitation. It is meant to reduce the acidity in the stomach and thereby alleviate the painful symptoms of heartburn, pain and discomfort.

The medication has to be prescribed by the doctor and a parent should be patient enough for it to work and show its effects. Usually, ranitidine will begin working within a week of giving it to the infant. The doctor will prescribe the dosage of the medication and it will be adjusted periodically based on the weight of the infant. Generally, it has been seen that most infants outgrow gastro-esophageal reflux by the time they reach one or two years.

The usual dosage for an infant less than six months of age is 1 ml of the medication for every kilogram of the infant. The parent will be asked to give the infant medication, most probably, two to three times a day. If the prescribed dosage does not stop the symptoms of GER, it is quite possible that the doctor may increase the dosage. However, the doctor will ask the parents to wait for five to six days before coming back for a consultation.

There are some parents who also claim that within two to three days ranitidine was effective. So, this means that the time taken for ranitidine to work for infants varies from one baby to another. Generally, it should work within a week.

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