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Original poster

Prednisolone! Experiences please.

26 replies

flapjackfairy · 30/06/2017 22:18

I have a 3 yr old with complex needs and a rare form of epilepsy.
He was given 3 days of prednisolone (10mg). He started to act strange after a couple of days and we spent a night in hosp as he was in such a bad way. He has found it almost impossible to sleep ( 6 hrs or so in 72 in short
bursts). He has been hyper when awake and keeps suddenly starting to scream and appear terrified for no apparent reason. It is like he is on drugs and suffering withdrawal.
The hosp dont seem to think it is to blame but he has not been right since he took it. It seems to come in waves of euphoria followed by complete distress and terror with nothing calming him.
He stopped taking it on monday and has been a bit better today but i am wondering if anyone else has any experience of this and if so how long was it until things settled down again.
I so wish i had never let him have it and would not touch it again unless it was life and death.
Dont know best place to post so posting here for traffic !

OP posts:
Original poster
flapjackfairy · 30/06/2017 22:19

Damn posted on wrong board ! Meant to be on chat. Sorry !

OP posts:
SabineUndine · 30/06/2017 22:24

I'm adult and recently had this for asthma. It messes up your sleep patterns and makes you feel weird and wobbly ime.

Covfefe · 30/06/2017 22:26

My ds had it when he was 6 and 7. He got the steroid 'moon face', was always hungry and put on loads of weight. Otherwise no issue. I was warned his behaviour may get challenging but it never did.

Original poster
flapjackfairy · 30/06/2017 22:26

Thanks Sabine. How long did the effects last ?

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Original poster
flapjackfairy · 30/06/2017 22:28

Thats interesting Covfefe because doctors didnt warn me at all and it is so distressing to see him so distraught.

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Zumbarunswim · 30/06/2017 22:29

My DS has this (pink tablets) when he has a bad asthma episode so he gets it for 3 days. It's the only thing that works for his asthma every time but makes him really hyper. It calms down after the last dose. His sleep isn't normally that bad cos he's normally sleep deprived by the time he gets to hospital.

Heckityflip · 30/06/2017 22:29

Poor little thing Sad Yes I had to take this for 5 days at a time every 3 weeks over a long period, I couldn't sleep well, had periods of paranoia, plus other side effects. They seemed to subside a few days after finishing the course. Link for patient info leaflet below with side effects (if you haven't already seen it)
www.medicines.org.uk/emcmobile/medicine/18138

Covfefe · 30/06/2017 22:30

His treatment was about six weeks and it calmed down fairly soon after.

Original poster
flapjackfairy · 30/06/2017 22:38

Oh thanks so much for replies. Hopefully we are through the worst then . It has been horrible! Dont know if the fact that he has severe brain damage from seizures has meant he has had a particularly bad reaction to it but not an experience i ever want to repeat!

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Haudyerwheesht · 30/06/2017 22:47

I was recently on 40mg a day for 2 weeks. I felt shaky, anxious, couldn't sleep for love nor money and was utterly exhausted. I haven't really noticed the kids reacting when they've had it (for asthma a few times) but it certainly isn't outwith the realms of possibility .

rachlooneytune · 30/06/2017 23:05

I get this a few times a year for my asthma... it can send me a bit hyper. I tend to lose my train of thought etc. But it's the only thing that works when I'm quite sick. Hope your baby is ok Flowers

rachlooneytune · 30/06/2017 23:10

Forgot to add... after a particularly bad episode I rang my doctor as I hadn't slept in 2 day and felt manic.... he confirmed that it can create manic episodes... so now I take slightly lower dose for a longer time if my asthma gets bad.

undercoverofstars · 30/06/2017 23:11

I got angry, unreasonable
I got hungry
I put on a few stone that has never shifted

undercoverofstars · 30/06/2017 23:11

They call it 'roid rage

Tiredflower · 30/06/2017 23:26

My daughter was on a highish dose for arthritis. Her appetite increased, she had night terrors, she was hyper and crazy angry in the day. Everytime I spoke to our nurse about behaviour issues she said yep that'll be the steroids.

DixieFlatline · 30/06/2017 23:37

I had a three day course last year for an allergic rash. I don't really recall any side effects, to be honest, but then I struggle with sleep routines anyway. I wouldn't rule it out for any reason in the future - they prescribe it when it's important to take it, not for fun.

PerpendicularVincent · 30/06/2017 23:48

I'm currently on this for Crohns disease. Side effects are sleeplessness, impatience, sudden bursts of energy and hot sweats. I am also pissing like a racehorse weeing a bit more.

Luckily, I haven't had the increase in appetite yet.

I hope your DS is ok Flowers

rachlooneytune · 30/06/2017 23:53

I was actually speaking to my dear grandmother about this medication also after the affects I had. She was going through cancer treatment at the time. She said she was fine but hadn't sleep In a week Hmmthought she was just excited to clean the house lol

mrwalkensir · 01/07/2017 00:35

just on a 5 day course for asthma, I didn't sleep for 48 hours - it does settle

Original poster
flapjackfairy · 01/07/2017 05:37

Thanks to everyone for sharing. We have had a better night thank goodness . I dont get why they dismissed my concerns when we were in hosp if it is so well known to cause these symptoms? They said it was unlikely to be the cause !! The night terrors have been the worst as for the first 3 nights whenever he tried to sleep he would drop off only to leap awake a couple of minutes later screaming as if petrified and looking like he could see something that wasnt there. He then carried on screaming for ages each time. He did get a few hours last night and only did it a couple of times. He must be exhausted by now ( i know i am ) .
Still am up to start making food for a birthday party for him and his foster brother so no chance of a lie in for me. I am cracking on while he is quiet .
Thanks again all x

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HotNatured · 01/07/2017 11:17

I've taken this medication a few times in my life when I used to get v bad asthma. I didn't notice any side effects. I'd say the usual dose was 1-2 weeks worth. Interesting to note that there are such side effects related to this drug, however. Such a shame steroids have such crippling side effects as prednisolone is v effective for severe asthmatic episodes.

Pinkkahori · 01/07/2017 11:24

My dd has asthma and has taken Pred many, many times. We are always advised that she should take it in the morning. I have noticed that it gives her a boost of energy followed by a low but it doesn't really affect her sleep.
You won't have the side effects of moon face or weight gain after a 3 day course. These are side effects of longer term use.
Also I think 'roid rage refers to anabolic steroids taken by some body builders/weight lifters etc rather than corticosteroids such as Prednisone although it definitely has it's own side effects.

Girlywurly · 01/07/2017 17:07

I take corticosteroids (although not pregnisolone) everyday because I have Addison's Disease. If the dose is too high, they can definitely cause psychiatric symptoms and, in extreme cases, psychosis. However, in my experience doctors do not talk about this. Don't know what to advise, other than to keep demanding a response...? Sorry your little one is going through this.

Original poster
flapjackfairy · 01/07/2017 19:06

Thankyou girly. I totally agree re drs. I had read up on side effects but was left with the impression that all this talk of issues is scaremongering by a few nutters on the internet !
He has not had any random bouts of screaming today so fingers crossed . We might all manage a decent night as although he was better last night still not too much sleeping going on ( by any of us really ). He missed his party as he crashed out and slept for an hour or 2 ! Oh well !

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Girlywurly · 01/07/2017 19:21

Poor little thing - so sorry he missed his party, but glad hear he's a bit more settled now. I hope that you're over the worst of it and all get a decent night's sleep.