I'm scared to give DS steroid tablets

[coffeecake]

Hi DS is 4 and the doctors think he's got mild asthma as he has had a persistant cough for 7 months (not a major cough but still).
He was given a blue inhaler which didn't help much and then a brown one which he has been on for nearly 2 months.
His cough really improved to the point of stopping, but then we all caught a cold/cough and so did he.
The doctor today listened to his chest and found him slightly weasy, and because he had a temp last night he has put him on ABs AND steroid tablets for 3 days.
When you read the side effects of steroid tablets it really scares you (serious mental health problem such as thoughts of suicide ).
My goodness does he really need those even though he's on ABs as well? Also he's fine in himself but admittedly a bit weasy.
Any reassurance about those tablets would be welcome, as I will give them to him (I think) but want to feel a bit better about it.

DD1 who is 4 has had them more times than I can remember with no side effects at all.

Have a look at the Asthma support thread in Children's Health topic. Lots of lovely people with loads of experience of asthma in children on the thread.

DS2 has had steroids for his epilepsy & for his asthma.
None of the times has he reacted at all, negatively or positively.
He may have a weird digestive system or maybe just lucky i don't know.

I would go with giving them, it's only for 3 days, unless you are really worried.
It's likely he'll get prescribed them again in the future so would be handy to know if/how he reacts to them.

Hi coffecake

Try not to google medicines and side effects - you will scare yourself witless!!

Steroid tablets are often a very effective way of getting asthma back under control and a short course for 3 days is unlikely to cause problems

Both my dcs have had these in the past and I'm currently on an adult dose as well - have had significant experience of them over the past 7 years...

Be warned tho - the soluble ones which I assume you have taste vile.... You'll need to disguise them with juice or similar and should give full day's dose in early morning each day

You may notice your dc has difficulty sleeping or may seem a bit hyper but it will wear off again quite quickly

There is a children's asthma support thread on children's health - why not take a look on there too for some extra help or advice...

They work.

As hamster said though, the soluble ones taste vile. The only way we could get them into DSs was to crush them and dissolve in very sweet and pretty strong ribena.

But I was usually desperate to get the steroids down them as they work so effectively. We have had episodes of using them for 3-5 days for years and no side effects whatseoevr. Much better to get the asthma under control.

Where have you been reading about the side effects of steroids? What dose were those people given who had thoughts of suicide? How long were they on them before they developed those thoughts?

3 days is not long and presumably doc has prescribed a low dose.

Also bear in mind that steroids work. My dd has had them a few times (in similar situation when virus has caused asthma to kick off) and it really helps. It's miserable not being able to breathe properly.

Ok thank you for your advice everyone.
It's weird because you guys are talking about asthma attacks but frankly I don't know what that is, and I don't think DS has ever had one.
The other thing that worries me slightly is that there has been cases of chickenpox at his pre school recently, and it does say on the medicine information that you should strictly not take them if you are or have been in contact with someone with chickenpox as it could severely affects you.

Sparks regarding the side effects, I have read about them in the information that you get in the box as it always tells you to read carefully read it.
Also it doesn't say anything about the strenght of the dose when experiencing those side effects, it just says: "Possible side effects.
Steroids including prednisolone can cause severe mental health problems. These are common in both adults and children. They can affect about five in every 100 people taking medicines like Prednisolone."
And then they list them (feeling depressed, feeling high, mood swings, feeling anxious and having trouble sleeping, confusion memory loss, seeing or hearing things that do not exist, having strange and frightening thoughts.)

YOu are not going to get those side effects on a short course.
Maybe you could ring the surgery about the chicken pox bit?

Maybe I should just in case as DS hasn't had it.

Ok the thing about the patient information leaflet is that the drug companies are required to list every single side effect that has ever been experienced by anyone taking that drug.

Steroids have been around for years and are given to treat many different conditions. Sometimes people take them for months and months. It's really unlikely that your ds will experience that by taking them for 3 days.

'Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue); black, tarry, or bloody stools; blurred vision or other eye problems; chest pain; dark urine; fainting; fast or irregular heartbeat; fever; flu-like symptoms; increased or decreased urination; irregular or difficult breathing; mental or mood changes; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; severe or persistent dizziness; severe or persistent nausea or stomach pain; shortness of breath; slurred speech; stiff neck; swelling of the arms or legs; unusual tiredness or weakness; unusual weight gain; vomit that looks like coffee grounds; yellowing of the skin or eyes.'

This terrifying list of (rare) possible side effects/reactions is from....

Ibuprofen. Yes, like nurofen.

All drugs have possible side effects. A three day course is going to carry a lot less potential risk than long term high doseage. In the end, it's up to you.

Ds is 16 months and has already had 4 courses of varying duration of steroids. Never had any negative effects but they really work!

I do agree with mixing with blackcurrant juice though!

the brown inhaler, the preventor, has a lower dose of steriods than the oral tablets. there is a higher risk of after effects from the tablets than the inhaled preventors.

the preventor inhalers and other inhalers have improved dramatically in the last 30 odd years and are much safer than they used to be.

have to add, that my son has had oral steriods quite a few times, due to his allergic reactions.

however, we need to keep him breathing well, and keep airways clear. so he has to have them.

side effects of indigestion /heartburn really bad.

did wonder if the depression was due to them, but quite frankly , after going through a severe allergic reaction, its quite likely that you will be depressed. Near death does do that i think.

it might be worth talking to doc so that you can increase preventors at start of cold or infection for a short time to prevent the need for oral steriods.
but if asthma severe, and uncontrolled as often is the case for young children, there will be a need for them.
however , by the teens, asthma often dramatically improves, due to growth, and just preventors are required and its well controlled.