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Prednisone Rollercoaster?

T

TonyaH

Guest
Hi all...
I have a question about prednisone. Andrew has been on a maintenance dose of 10 mg every other day for about three years,,as long as he has had ABPA. Whenever he is having a problem he is given a burst of 60 mg every day and slowly tapers down to maintenance dose. (pretty common routine). Well, the last burst he was put on was in April, and he is now back to his regular dose. But since April when he started the burst, he has been all over the place emotionally. Mostly, just very very angry like I've never seen him before.

I decided to stop his prednisone entirely, just to see what would happen. His last dose was last Wednesday and by Friday he was a different kid, and gets gradually back to normal every day.

I know he is dealing with alot emotionally right now, and don't want to put all of his anger on the prednisone, but my question for you is why he is showing such a marked improvement now? If he was going to have this kind of reaction with prednisone, wouldn't he be having it from the time he started the med years ago? Can a person's body and tolerance change with age? Any experience you could share would be wonderful!..oh, and options of getting around prednisone would be super, too!
Thanks!
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Hi all...
I have a question about prednisone. Andrew has been on a maintenance dose of 10 mg every other day for about three years,,as long as he has had ABPA. Whenever he is having a problem he is given a burst of 60 mg every day and slowly tapers down to maintenance dose. (pretty common routine). Well, the last burst he was put on was in April, and he is now back to his regular dose. But since April when he started the burst, he has been all over the place emotionally. Mostly, just very very angry like I've never seen him before.

I decided to stop his prednisone entirely, just to see what would happen. His last dose was last Wednesday and by Friday he was a different kid, and gets gradually back to normal every day.

I know he is dealing with alot emotionally right now, and don't want to put all of his anger on the prednisone, but my question for you is why he is showing such a marked improvement now? If he was going to have this kind of reaction with prednisone, wouldn't he be having it from the time he started the med years ago? Can a person's body and tolerance change with age? Any experience you could share would be wonderful!..oh, and options of getting around prednisone would be super, too!
Thanks!
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Hi all...
<br />I have a question about prednisone. Andrew has been on a maintenance dose of 10 mg every other day for about three years,,as long as he has had ABPA. Whenever he is having a problem he is given a burst of 60 mg every day and slowly tapers down to maintenance dose. (pretty common routine). Well, the last burst he was put on was in April, and he is now back to his regular dose. But since April when he started the burst, he has been all over the place emotionally. Mostly, just very very angry like I've never seen him before.
<br />
<br />I decided to stop his prednisone entirely, just to see what would happen. His last dose was last Wednesday and by Friday he was a different kid, and gets gradually back to normal every day.
<br />
<br />I know he is dealing with alot emotionally right now, and don't want to put all of his anger on the prednisone, but my question for you is why he is showing such a marked improvement now? If he was going to have this kind of reaction with prednisone, wouldn't he be having it from the time he started the med years ago? Can a person's body and tolerance change with age? Any experience you could share would be wonderful!..oh, and options of getting around prednisone would be super, too!
<br />Thanks!
 
M

mamerth

New member
I did a prednisone burst a few weeks ago. I was a mess emotionally for several days after using the prednisone--- angry, crying. Not your typical PMS. I don't normally do prednisone. Feel bad for my family if I have to do prednisone again.... I might just pray and hope they hospitalize me first to spare my family the emotional trauma.
 
M

mamerth

New member
I did a prednisone burst a few weeks ago. I was a mess emotionally for several days after using the prednisone--- angry, crying. Not your typical PMS. I don't normally do prednisone. Feel bad for my family if I have to do prednisone again.... I might just pray and hope they hospitalize me first to spare my family the emotional trauma.
 
M

mamerth

New member
I did a prednisone burst a few weeks ago. I was a mess emotionally for several days after using the prednisone--- angry, crying. Not your typical PMS. I don't normally do prednisone. Feel bad for my family if I have to do prednisone again.... I might just pray and hope they hospitalize me first to spare my family the emotional trauma.
 
J

JennifersHope

New member
I have been on Prednisone or some form of steroids for eight years without stopping. Prednisone is for sure a nasty mood altering, hunger boosting, drug.

I am concerned, very concerned that you stopped the Prednisone all together after being on it for three years. I have addison's disease which means no adrenal function, Your adrenal glands are what make the steroids your body normally makes., Your son's adrenals are used to him taking external steroids so many, many times the adrenals stop making your natural steroids. IF you stop both the prednisone and your body has not picked back up making steroids your son will go into crisis, it won't happen fast but it is LIFE THREATENING when it does. You can not go from 10 mgs to nothing with out a risk.

I am not trying to scare you but in a way I am because it is serious. I am nurse so I am speaking both professionally and as a person to make sure your doctor knows and monitors your child.

Signs of not having enough steroid are low blood pressure, increased thrist, being weak, tired, and body cramping. Those are not the only ones, just ones I can think of.

If you already talked to your doctor and are being monitored please forgive me for butting in. Yes prednisone can make you totally moody
 
J

JennifersHope

New member
I have been on Prednisone or some form of steroids for eight years without stopping. Prednisone is for sure a nasty mood altering, hunger boosting, drug.

I am concerned, very concerned that you stopped the Prednisone all together after being on it for three years. I have addison's disease which means no adrenal function, Your adrenal glands are what make the steroids your body normally makes., Your son's adrenals are used to him taking external steroids so many, many times the adrenals stop making your natural steroids. IF you stop both the prednisone and your body has not picked back up making steroids your son will go into crisis, it won't happen fast but it is LIFE THREATENING when it does. You can not go from 10 mgs to nothing with out a risk.

I am not trying to scare you but in a way I am because it is serious. I am nurse so I am speaking both professionally and as a person to make sure your doctor knows and monitors your child.

Signs of not having enough steroid are low blood pressure, increased thrist, being weak, tired, and body cramping. Those are not the only ones, just ones I can think of.

If you already talked to your doctor and are being monitored please forgive me for butting in. Yes prednisone can make you totally moody
 
J

JennifersHope

New member
I have been on Prednisone or some form of steroids for eight years without stopping. Prednisone is for sure a nasty mood altering, hunger boosting, drug.
<br />
<br />I am concerned, very concerned that you stopped the Prednisone all together after being on it for three years. I have addison's disease which means no adrenal function, Your adrenal glands are what make the steroids your body normally makes., Your son's adrenals are used to him taking external steroids so many, many times the adrenals stop making your natural steroids. IF you stop both the prednisone and your body has not picked back up making steroids your son will go into crisis, it won't happen fast but it is LIFE THREATENING when it does. You can not go from 10 mgs to nothing with out a risk.
<br />
<br />I am not trying to scare you but in a way I am because it is serious. I am nurse so I am speaking both professionally and as a person to make sure your doctor knows and monitors your child.
<br />
<br />Signs of not having enough steroid are low blood pressure, increased thrist, being weak, tired, and body cramping. Those are not the only ones, just ones I can think of.
<br />
<br />If you already talked to your doctor and are being monitored please forgive me for butting in. Yes prednisone can make you totally moody
 
P

PatrickM

New member
Yes prednisone can definitely effect your mood. My son is 13 and he hates when he has to take it, he calls it the medicine that makes him "feel crazy". He is very emotional on it, moody and easily overwhelmed, not at all himself. You also have to be careful about how you come off of it, you are supposed to taper it. Be sure to let your MD know you stopped the prednisone. On a side note my husband was just prescribed a low dose of prednisone for a bad case of poison ivy. He wasn't on nearly the dose our children take, I think he took 40 mg one day and tapered from that, and he was miserable. He couldn't sleep, was very moody and you just feel like you can't control your moods. Good luck to you and your son. This can be so much for these young kids to go through.
 
P

PatrickM

New member
Yes prednisone can definitely effect your mood. My son is 13 and he hates when he has to take it, he calls it the medicine that makes him "feel crazy". He is very emotional on it, moody and easily overwhelmed, not at all himself. You also have to be careful about how you come off of it, you are supposed to taper it. Be sure to let your MD know you stopped the prednisone. On a side note my husband was just prescribed a low dose of prednisone for a bad case of poison ivy. He wasn't on nearly the dose our children take, I think he took 40 mg one day and tapered from that, and he was miserable. He couldn't sleep, was very moody and you just feel like you can't control your moods. Good luck to you and your son. This can be so much for these young kids to go through.
 
P

PatrickM

New member
Yes prednisone can definitely effect your mood. My son is 13 and he hates when he has to take it, he calls it the medicine that makes him "feel crazy". He is very emotional on it, moody and easily overwhelmed, not at all himself. You also have to be careful about how you come off of it, you are supposed to taper it. Be sure to let your MD know you stopped the prednisone. On a side note my husband was just prescribed a low dose of prednisone for a bad case of poison ivy. He wasn't on nearly the dose our children take, I think he took 40 mg one day and tapered from that, and he was miserable. He couldn't sleep, was very moody and you just feel like you can't control your moods. Good luck to you and your son. This can be so much for these young kids to go through.
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Thanks everyone...I did not stop the prednisone in the middle of his burst. He was back to his 10 mg. every other day when I stopped it. But, thanks to all of your comments, I made it a point to call clinic this morning and explain what is going on. I did not realize stopping even a small dose like that could be so dangerous. Again, thank you all!

I am still curious, though, as to why the affects of the burst seem to be lasting so much longer this time. Can your body's tolerance for prednisone change as you age?
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Thanks everyone...I did not stop the prednisone in the middle of his burst. He was back to his 10 mg. every other day when I stopped it. But, thanks to all of your comments, I made it a point to call clinic this morning and explain what is going on. I did not realize stopping even a small dose like that could be so dangerous. Again, thank you all!

I am still curious, though, as to why the affects of the burst seem to be lasting so much longer this time. Can your body's tolerance for prednisone change as you age?
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Thanks everyone...I did not stop the prednisone in the middle of his burst. He was back to his 10 mg. every other day when I stopped it. But, thanks to all of your comments, I made it a point to call clinic this morning and explain what is going on. I did not realize stopping even a small dose like that could be so dangerous. Again, thank you all!
<br />
<br />I am still curious, though, as to why the affects of the burst seem to be lasting so much longer this time. Can your body's tolerance for prednisone change as you age?
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Thanks again everyone,
I spoke with our doctor yesterday and she thinks that since there have not been any ill affects from stopping the prednisone in the past week, that we should be in the clear. She also agreed to let him remain off the prednisone until July when we go for clinic. He is due for annual labs anyway, so she will run an IgE and we'll go from there.
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Thanks again everyone,
I spoke with our doctor yesterday and she thinks that since there have not been any ill affects from stopping the prednisone in the past week, that we should be in the clear. She also agreed to let him remain off the prednisone until July when we go for clinic. He is due for annual labs anyway, so she will run an IgE and we'll go from there.
 
T

TonyaH

Guest
Thanks again everyone,
<br />I spoke with our doctor yesterday and she thinks that since there have not been any ill affects from stopping the prednisone in the past week, that we should be in the clear. She also agreed to let him remain off the prednisone until July when we go for clinic. He is due for annual labs anyway, so she will run an IgE and we'll go from there.
 
S

summer732

New member
From what I understand, prednisone is one of those drugs that has a compounding effect. So as you go on taking the drug, the side effects could get worse. I think that is what you guys are experiencing.
 
S

summer732

New member
From what I understand, prednisone is one of those drugs that has a compounding effect. So as you go on taking the drug, the side effects could get worse. I think that is what you guys are experiencing.
 
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