Ds is taking oral steroids atm and I have an important question - can anybody help please?

[emkana]

When we were in Germany ds got a very bad chest again - took him to the doc's there, who prescribed AB's yet again plus oral steroids should he become very poorly, and sort of left it to us whether we needed them.

Tuesday morning ds was breathing so fast we decided to give the oral steroids, 15mg, same amount today.

Now ds is much much better I'm wondering do I have to give them again tomorrow? When he's had them before it's always been three days, but could I stop after two?

Does anybody know?

Do you gradually reduce the dose, or is it the same? I know you are not supposed to stop them abruptly if it is a long course. I think to be honest, I would follow the instructions for the complete course of 3 days if that is what the doctor advised. If he had not had enough, and relapsed, would you then have to give another 3 days? IYSWIM.

Are you using preventer inhaler regularly?

Hope he feels better soon - it is distressing to see them poorly.

Thanks for answering.

Yes we use the preventer inhaler regularly, plus ds has been on longterm AB's for months... sigh...

The doctor in Germany was quite vague in advising how to take the steroids, so we're just going by what we did before when we had oral steroids. But I know what you mean, probably better to be safe?

Oral steroids are usually 5 day course Emkana - do you have enough for that? Sorry to hear he has been poorly.

I do have enough, yes.

When he had steroids orally in the UK before (twice so far) it was 15 mg a day for three days?

Yes - I guess sticking with what you usually do is the best course of action - at least you are in familiar territory, and you know that it has worked in the past. Does your ds have a good consultant? It sounds as if his asthma is quite bad.

I am off to bed now - hope he is better in the morning.

Well stick to that then I'd say.

I'll do that, thanks for advice