Prescribed prednisolone for 3 yr old - croup

[Scorpiowoman80]

I’ve got 3 soluble tablets, it says take 3 daily. Prescription was only just put in and only got about half an hour ago. It has no instructions and I was wondering whether I dissolve all three together?

I have no idea about how but does it say to give in the evening?
Because prednisolone will keep them awake for hours.

The doctor said to give it when he flares up, which is usually in the middle of the night!

You dissolve them individually, 1 dose 3 times a day.

Prednisolone is a once daily drug. It would be dissolving the 3 tablets together. They're usually 5mg tablets, so that would give 15mg, which sounds a reasonable dose for croup in a 3 year old.

Can you ring a pharmacist and check?

My son has asthma so has had prednisolone prescribed several times, he's also had it for croup. It is there dissolved together. It takes several hours to work so I would give ASAP, not later. I found the best way to do it is dissolve it in a tiny drop of Fanta, or any strong sweet drink should work, you want as small amount as possible to dissolve them, then use a Calpol syringe to give. Nurses and doctors always tell me it is hard to get them to take it, but I've had no problem doing it this way even with a very fussy child.

For croup wait until it flares up and then try and get the three into him, petit filous OJ work

It makes mine go bonkers for a few hours.

Regular croup suffers. Best thing I’ve found is cold air.

Goes by weight of child.. three tab sounds pretty right. Don't give just before bed time!

Croup is treated with a one off dose of prednisone.
Usually 1-2 mg per kilograms. So 15 mg is right for average 3 Yr old.
Bonkers to wait for a flare up... Croup is a viral illness with symptoms becoming more severe at night... No one knows why... But the virus attacks the upper Airways and vocal cords making them inflamed and giving the characteristic barking cough.
You need to give the pred straight away so it can get to work reducing the inflammation in the Airways.
The best tip is to put the three tabs in a beaker, smash them a bit with a spoon, add a teaspoon of neat undiluted cordial... Any flavour.. Add one teaspoon of water to loosen. Its takes 5-10 mins to dissolve. Then you have about 10 mls of liquid to get down them
Pred tastes vile so strong undiluted cordial hides the bitter taste.
Do not dissolve in big glass of juice.. They won't drink it!

I am a GP, and my youngest dd was on prednisone frequently as a young child for brittle asthma.. This worked best for us.

And don't forget that when they are coughing tonight.. As they will as pred takes time to work and you still need the virus to be cleared by their own immune system... That you need to go and sit in steamy bathroom with them, this soothes cough and shortness of breath

@Theredjellybean as a GP you should be up to date with the guidance that says steam isn’t helpful.

patient.info/chest-lungs/cough-leaflet/croup
See also NICE guidance

Actually I wonder you haven't been given dexamethasone for croup. Has it all been sent to COVID.

Atietty soluble prednisolone is a lot cheaper than soluble dexamethasone £13 vs £30

I used to get a big (10ml) syringe. Measure 10ml water in it. Put water into a cup. Then crush mix and back into syringe and give like calpol.

Thanks ladies! He seems ok for now so I’m hoping he won’t actually need it! He’s got the barking cough for sure but breathing wise it isn’t too bad!

Stand by for a few potentially lively hours, it would make mine hyperactive.

Now my 6 month old has it!! Ah my little girl :( is a trip to a n e needed? She isn’t sucking in but she’s breathing noisily (she’s been a noisy breather since birth tho)! X

Paediatric nurse here. Dissolve them all together and give in the morning.

@Toddlerteaplease

Paediatric nurse here. Dissolve them all together and give in the morning.

That's the same advice our GP gave us.

Hospitals tend to use dexamethasone, GPs tend to use prednisolone. In hospitals one dex bottle can treat several children before it hits expiry. Not practical for GPs. Dex possibly kicks in slightly faster, but there have been a fair few studies comparing them, and seem to be pretty similar effect for croup.

Dex also lasts longer than pred

Croup doesn't need A&E unless there is stridor on rest and/or difficulty breathing.

Surprised you've been given pred. We've always been given dex for DS's croup. Even from GP

We have been given Dex too in the last few years. I really think you should go back to your pharmacist or GP for specifics of how to take it.

Dissolve all 3 together in tiniest amount of fluid (strong tasting or mixed into a spoonful of something like icecream) give in the morning as others have said. Good luck.