Steroids - how long will the side effects last?

[thebecster]

DS had serious asthma attack at the weekend , and is now on steroid tablets (Prednesilone 10mg). They've turned him quite hyperactive and aggressive and he doesn't sleep nearly as well as usual. Anyone with experience of this? He's on them until Friday, and then I need to take him to the GP to talk about reducing the dose. Does anyone know if his behaviour will continue like this, and how long will it last after he comes off the steroids? He's like Dash from The Incredibles at the mo, and I'm shattered!...

Anybody, please? He's only 16 months old and hasn't slept since 4am this morning, and he's running around like a mad thing. Usually he goes down really easily after his bedtime routine, and has a 2hr daytime sleep. Also he keeps hitting, biting and screaming - the steroid 'red mist'! I just want to know how long it will go on for...

Is he taking them in the morning? The earlier the better to help with sleeping. It might be worth phoning the GP and seeing if you can slowly start to reduce his dose before Friday - when did he start them? TBH, it can take a couple of days to 'come down' from the steroid high - is it possible that due to his young age, the dose is a bit high?
I'm a nurse and see this often in adults, but am not au fait with children - hopefully a pharmacist or someone with children's health knowledge will come along soon!

I have been on steroids for severe exczema and the energetic phase lasted as long as I was on the full dose. There was a noticeable difference in my energy levels when I started reducing the dose to come off them.

Did your doctor tell you to expect this level of side effects? DS was put on steroids for asthma several times when he was two and it didn't seem to affect him. (Although his attacks weren't bad enough to require emergency treatment.)

Thank you for replies! The doctor said side effects were possible because it's a high dose for such a little one. But his asthma attack was very bad, very very scarey... I'll make appointment with the GP to see if we can reduce dose. I'm giving him his tablets by 7am in the morning. If anyone else has any other experience would be so grateful to hear.