My 19 month old daughter developed Serum Sickness after taking amoxicillin for a double ear infection. She is taking an oral steroid called Prednisolon to help with the hives, joint, face and limb swelling. She is usually a great sleeper and has no trouble going to bed on her own. For the past few nights, she has been up almost all night, refusing to sleep and needing to be active. My husband and I have tried taking her on a walk, giving her a bath, turning off all the lights in the house, giving her warm milk...nothing seems to help get her to sleep. She has been up until 11 PM, sleeps for a couple of hours and then is up until about 5 AM. The lack of sleep is taking a huge toll on my husband and me. I wanted to know if anyone has had a similar experience after giving your child an oral steroid. Any advice, suggestions, etc. would be helpful. Thank you!
i would call the doctor ASAP! and steroids can cause swelling so that is odd it is also used to reduce it. I would think it would be better to be well rested than a little swollen
YEs, my son was on this at age 4. It was awful but necessary. Is she being weaned off of it or lowering the doses over time. It is usually recommended that you lower the dose rather than just stop it completely on the last day. With her being young I am not sure if the dose is enough to warrant weaning off. My son was on it after a week long hospital stay so maybe a stonger dose. Either way be prepared for some mood swings and difficulty as well when she stops taking it. Hang in there it doesn't take long but my son went from pleasant to a throw himself down in the middle of the store temper tantrum while weaning off. If this happens try to remember it is an effect of the meds not her behavior. It will help you be patient with her. Good luck
Yes....this is pretty normal. My son gets pretty hyped up on this. I give my child the steriod in the morning, but we only have one dose a day. Its a marathon to get him to sleep but then he usually stays asleep for a good chunk of time.
I suggest if at all possible taking shifts with your husband...Also maybe let her go downstairs and play awhile and bounce around then try to get her to fall asleep again. Eventually she will crash and catch up on all her missed sleep...I promise!
YES. Prednisone is a stimulant. My daughter has taken it a few times when her asthma has been really bad, and it keeps her awake. She is also extremely cranky, but that might not be solely because of the steroid. The worst part is that she recovers from asthma attacks best when she sleeps. I think the predisone hurts her as much as it helps her. Once she stops taking it, she goes back to her normal self within a day. I hope your daughter gets better soon.
Isn't it lovely how doctors have no problem handing out drugs like candy but failed to inform you, her parents, that this could happen? You have my sympathies. BTW: we knocked out chronic ear infections by taking our daughter to the chiropractor every week. She started going when she was about your daughter's age and just turned 2. This has been the best thing we ever did. I've heard they grow out of it around 2 very often and we're thinking we won't have to take her every week for very much longer. You may be able to avoid this again in the future by making an appt today! Our daughter never did need to go on antibiotics. For immediate relief of ear pain we warmed up and applied garlic ear oil from the health food store. Worked wonders. We go to Mainstreet Chiropractic in downtown Plainfield. God bless you and your family!
I have had to take Prednisone, in the past, for pneumonia, bronchitis...etc... It is a powerful steroid and, if the dr. prescribed it, I'm guessing she needed it, because it sounds like she had a severe reaction. Yes, it will make you WIRED and can make you very moody!!! Mood swings from happy, to crying, hungry, sleeplessness, irritability, constant movement, vivid dreams, etc.... And, I'm sure the lack of sleep is challenging, however, this will not last too much longer and if there was a concern for her airways to be affected, do not stop administering the medication. As your previous post said, you can take it at a better time in the day so that it will not disrupt her sleep as much and make sure she takes it, with food. I don't think, at her age, the dose can be divided, however, if it can, check to see if you can give 1/2 dose/am; 1/2 dose pm just before bed. Otherwise, try to administer it in the am. This is when a trusted local Pharmacist can give you good guidance. I'm guessing she is probably on it for about 5 days, or they may extend the treatment and have to "wean" her. (taper her doses.)
Check with your doctor if her condition worsens or if she does not seem to be getting better or if she develops any other side effects. If she is not considerably better by your last dose, notify your dr. as well. He may want to continue the course of meds. Good news for you that she should be just fine, afterwards. Bad news for you that you really may be lacking sleep for a few days but she should return to her normal routine soon.
Good luck.
Jennifer - I've recently experienced the same thing. On 9/27 my 2 1/2 yr old was given Prednisolone in the ER for an anaphylactic food reaction. She had to take it for a week and was the same was your daughter was acting. My ped said all you can do is ride it out, but make SURE to push potassium rich foods/drinks since the steroid depletes poatssium from the body. We gave Mandie gatorade (at pedi's reccomendation), bananas, avocados, muffins made with molasses, all types of beans, orange juice, cantaloupe, etc. Also, we were told that the "craziness/moodiness" from the steroid takes about 2 weeks to totally leave the body, and that the steroid suppresses the immune system (even farther than food allergies do apparently) so we should try to avoid crowds with her for a couple of weeks. It also seemed to affect her apetite negatively, so we tried to be creative at pushing potassium rich foods. Feel free to message me if you'd like more info. - J.
Hmm... I have never heard the term Serum Sickness before.. sounds like a nice way to say anaphylactic allergic reaction. Both my mom and I have life threatening reactions to penicillian-based antibiotics. While this is fresh in your mind, you might consider calling an allergist and getting the reaction checked out and be sure to write it down so this doesn't happen again. I have a hard time remember which antibiotics I am allergic to and which of the few I can have.
Both of my kids have life-threatening food allergies and asthma. Prednilisone(a very powerful steriod) is typically prescribed for us after a really bad allergic reaction or uncontroled asthma. It is a stimulant and will keep your daughter awake. Try giving it in the morning along with a large breakfast. You might ask your Dr once the symptoms have subsided or seem to be under control if you can remove her from the Prednilisone. We rarely finish the dose since it is such a nasty med.
Hi Jennifer Take your daughter in to see her peditrican to see if the medication she's on is causing this sudden change in sleep pattern. He/she can give you the best advice.
So sorry to hear about this - what a brutal couple of days and nights for all of you!
Great advice - I would echo to contact an allergist AND your pediatrician.
PLEASE be careful while your child is on antibiotics. Don't do any vaccinations while they are on them. My daugher had ear infections from 18mos to 3 years and was on antibiotics while getting her vaccinations. I wish I knew then what I know now. Ask your allergist as well about the ear infection - Once we took my daughter off milk she never had another ear infection....
Hi, Jennifer! I don't know anything about a toddler & Prednisolon but I do know that I was prescribed it for muscle spasms and it made me very hyper!!! I was up at all hours of the night: cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, etc... It was crazy!!! So, maybe your little one is having the same effect!?!?!? Hope this helps... at least a little.
I haven't had any experience with a child on the Prednisolon but my husband has been on it for the last 3 days for a bout of pneumonia and hasn't slept a wink! He has been up all night long. Last night I actually asked him to go downstairs and lay on the couch because he was tossing and turning so much. He spoke with his doctor this morning and she told him to take some benedryl at bedtime to try and counter act the Prednisolon. Maybe give your ped a call and see if what they could recommend.
Good luck.
That is a common side effect with that medication. Don't take her off the medication without consulting your doctor. Depending on the dosage she might need to be weaned off, but I don't have experience with it in children - only adults. Good luck.
Jennifer,
I do not have any experience with children and steriods, but when I take them, I just can not sit still. They always made me feel like my body wants to jump out of my skin. Luckily, it all ends once the meds end.
I would suggest doing shifts with your husband so you two can get more sleep. The first one to go to bed has to get up at 5 and whoever stays up with her until 11 gets to sleep in (past 5). I can imagine how frustrating this is for you two. Steriods are not fun meds and because of the side effects I only use them as a last resort - unfortunately that's the only thing that works.
Good luck,
C.
