Inhalers causing nightmares/terror/screaming at night.

[LonelyLinda]

My DS has recently (4wks ago) been diagnosed as having Viral Induced Ashthma and was prescribed both brown and blue inhalers twice a day.

Soon after starting to use these he started to wake in the night absolutely screaming, scared of what is trying to attack him and gett him and asking me if I have a lock on my bedroom door so I can lock the monster out (he is just 3)!!! He was actually shaking with fear!!

I spoke to the GP who looked in his book and was surprised to see that hallucinations, night terrors, nightmares etc. are a side effect of the inhalers.

The GP told me to stop the inhalers straight away and has now prescribed Montelukask 4mg chewable tablets to take daily. I read the leaflet and the possible side effects include 'dream abnormalitiles including nightmares, hallucinations, irritability, anxious, restlessness, agressive behaviour, trouble sleeping, sleep walking suicidal thoughts'.

Anyway, last night was the first night after having one of these tablets and he seemed quite ok, no screaming for the first night in a long time and was actually happy (not scared) to sleep in his own bed.

I am just worried that these drugs build up and that it might start again and if anybody has any experience of this did their child improve or did they try different medication.

Any information or advice would be gratefully received! Thank you.

Nightmares and hallucinations are a known side effect of steroids (the brown inhaler). Some people are more susceptible than others - most people won't have any problems, especially with inhaled steroids. It's very unfortunate for your DS, but now the inhaler has been stopped he should be fine.

Yes I suppose it is just unfortunate as I'm sure that many people take them without any problems. Hopefully he wont have any more with taking the medication tablet form instead of the inhaler.

Dd1 reacts strongly like that to the blue inhaler, but is fine on the brown! but if she needs the blue, then she needs it (better no sleep but no asthma attack)

I think the priority is that the asthma is well controlled, then you can start worrying about tweaking the meds.

Sounds strange that the blue puffer was prescribed on a regular basis - its normally a reactive dose (ie used when wheezy, or for a short while after an attack until things go back to normal). The brown is the long term preventer which is taken regularly. You might find that you can go back to just the brown one in time. Have you got a regular review set up with a consultant or asthma nurse? Eg we see a consultant every 6 months to review doses and symptoms. Asthma uk are a good resource as well, might be worth giving them a call.

Hi Lukewarm, DS was given both of them to have morning and evening then go back in four weeks. This is when he had a bad viral cough.

Anyway I went back this week which is actually week 3, due to the nightmares, and the Dr said to stop both and just take a tablet which I presume is an alternative to the preventor.

I agree with you 100% that nightmares and being scared are obviously a better alternative to an asthma attack, just obviously worried about long term when his chest was ok iyswim.

The dr has asked me to go back in six weeks for a review. This is all really new to me and I don't really know much about asthma or treatment to be honest just that it's a big worry. I did go to the GP with my long list of questions and then when he changed the medication to tablets I suppose it brought a whole new load of questions for me to write down for my next review!

Thank you for your response, any information is helpful. Kind regards

Sounds like your gp is getting it under control, and will then review for a longer term plan, which is perfect. If the tablets aren't causing any more nightmares, then that's great too. Hopefully you won't have any problems until you go back for a review now , and then you might get different long term meds anyway.