My 2 1/2 year old son had an alergic reaction to something and they gave him the generic form of Orapred (Prednisolone). He originally planned to only take a teaspoon twice a day for the first day, but the reaction kept getting worse, so we had to continue at that level for 6 days. I noticed some behavior changes in him within the first few days, but thought it was just because he was uncomfortable. He is now off of the steroid and has been for about 5 days, but over the last few days his behavior has gotten bad. He is throwing himself to the floor and banging his head on things and screaming at the top of his lungs. I know what you are going to say - he is two, but this is not my child!!! The Dr. says that if it is the steroid it will take some time to get out of his system.
I was just wondering if anyone else had dealt with this type of situation and how long it might have taken before the child was back to normal? It makes me cry to see him act this way!!! Please help!
I cannot thank the moms that replied enough!!! It was a very hard three weeks waiting for my little boy to come back to reality!!! I was shocked to hear how many of you and your children have no choice but to take this drug. My heart goes out to you. As for you other moms out there - stay as far away from prednisone/prednisolone/orapred if you can!!! That is horrible stuff!!!
Thanks again!
This is very very common. The children I've known that have taken it and my own son included have all big time personality changes..Strong stuff............
I understand what you are going through. My 1 year old had a reaction and was on them too. She threw terrible fits. She even hit the wall a few times with her fist. Anyway, after a couple of days being off of them, she is starting to become my little angel again. Just give it time, and before you know it, your angel will be back.
my 4 yr old has been on prednisone multiple times because of his sever asthma, and although he has never had this sort of reaction, i was warned of it by his pulmonologist. i got the vibe that it was a fairly commmon thing even.
can i also just complain, while we are talking about it, about how HORRIBLE prednisone tastes. and there really isn't an option (except for paying $300ish for Orapred - - no thanks, and thats for those of us who dont have insurance). why can't they find a way to make oral streoids taste reasonably okay. its crazy. :) okay. im done with my rant.
best of luck to you both.
My 18 month old is on the generic form of orapred regulary due to his ITP condition. This is a very normal reaction, it does take about 5-6 days for it to completely get out of his system once you have stopped the medication. My son turns into a different person when he is on the medication, he would act almost insane, but after the afects wore off he goes right back to his old self.
Holy smokes, yes....it was bad! My 19 month old daughter was put on the same thing after a throat procedure and the only word that I can find to describe her was EVIL. It was so bad! They call it "Roid Rage" You know like the guys that work out and use steroids, they go through Roid Rage too I guess. It took OVER a week AFTER she was off the steroids to get back to normal. I was devastated as my little angel was so mean and nasty...I couldn't wait to get her off the stuff! Good luck to you! Its definitely a very trying time!
S.,
I can't speak for your child, only myself. I have been on it several times and I even hate myself, usually take it for 7 days and stays in system another 7 at least. ITS AWEFUL! I treat eveyone badly and don't want to be around anyone including my daughter and husband! So, I can only imagine how it affects a child! Good luck and chin up!
S.
Hi,
First of all let me say I'm sorry for what your son went through. I hope he has an epi pen for something that would cause such an allergic reaction. Second, YESSSS!! My kids would be possessed when they were on orapred. They both have asthma and when we lived up in Chicago they would get really sick and need to be on it. One time after my daughter was on it for three days she was about 6yo at the time and I came into her room to find her jumping on the bed with this monkey face and crying very angry. I was scared for her. But a few days after she was on it she was fine again. UGHH! I hate that stuff. Just remember to try to agree with him and don't upset him because they can't help it. Good luck and I hope he is feeling better soon.
Yes, I have had this situation. My son has seasonal allergies and he gets the croup whenever his nose or chest is irritated and he "barks" with that seal cough like mad. The only thing that relieves it is Prednisone. He was a madman when he took it. He is a gentle 5yr old with a very caring disposition, but it made him a very violent boy and since he was about 4 1/2 he knew there was something wrong and he was crying because he didn't like "feeling mean". Luckily, it will leave his system. In 5 days he should be feeling better, i don't think the half-life of a steroid lasts that long, so give him a few more days to just get back into his mood. Do all the normal things you do and let him know that he was allergic to that medicine and it was the medicine that made him act that way, so he knows that he doesn't have to feel bad/angry about the way he acted...he'll be back to normal in no time. Keep your chin up, atleast you're a mother who knows her son well enough to know when he's not being himself and not blaming it on him. good for you!
Holy cow yes! My 6 year old (and myself) has always had a rage reaction to steroids. “Roid Rage” is real! It does dramatically decrease or become more sporadic as comes out of his system but it will still be there for about 7 days longer than as long as he was on it even tapering down. Basically meaning if he was on it for 6 days you can expect the rage for 13 days after he stops. Now I’m not a doctor it’s just the formula that has proven true with my son. He had had to take steroids off and on since he was 18 months old. Last November was his strongest and longest dosing regimen. We have a genetic inflammatory condition that causes (in him) severe asthma like symptoms and the only thing that can get his lungs to open back up is very high doses of prednisolone and colchicine. His rage symptoms lasted until mid/late-December and his last dose of pred was mid/late November. Even in me the rage is very strong. The only way I can deal with it is physical activity. This is for me personally I haven’t tried it with my son because he is usually too sick to exercise to the degree I have to, to get relief from the rage.
A. M
