My son, who is 3, was prescribed Predisone yesterday for wheezing due to a viral illness. I had been giving him breathing treatments before bed for a few days to help him breathe better at night, but he wasn't getting better, so I took him to the doctor yesterday. They said he has "reactive airway" and that he should be tested for allergies once he is better so that we can control these asthmatic reactions in the future. Anyway, he was wide awake in the middle of the night and I noticed on the information card for the medicine that sleeplessness is a side effect. My question is, if I give him the medication VERY early in the day (he only needs it once per day for the next couple of days), will that help? I gave it to him yesterday afternoon because that is when we got done at the doctor and got the prescription filled. I'm just trying to prepare myself for the sleepless nights if the time of dosage doesn't make a difference. I'm hoping someone has had experience with this drug before and can give me some tips. I hate using or giving my kids unneccesary medication, but should I try to give him Benadryl at night if he wakes up like that to counteract? I'm SO not on board with that kind of thing normally, but he's a mess! Thoughts?
Thank you to everyone for your answers. The more I look into this drug, the more I don't want him to have it! It's a scary drug! Anyway, he is only on a 3 day dose, so just one more dose tomorrow. I put him down for an early nap because he was super crabby from not sleeping last night, but he still can't stop coughing long enough to sleep. I guess it's just one of those things we'll have to live through. Next time this drug is offered though, I will be sure to ask if he REALLY needs it! I'm not thrilled with what I've been reading about it. :-(
My son had to have that too at age 5. He is opposite. If it makes most kids tired it will make him bounce off the walls you know? Its a steroid so wide awake is what I would think anyway! Yes I would give it early so maybe both of you will get some sleep! Hope he feels better.
There is a very rare side effect to prednesone that you should be aware of. It happened to my sister and it was terrifying (would have been less so if we all knew what was happening)
Prednisone psychosis. Its linked to insomnia, but after days of not sleeping results in a psychotic breakdown. We had to do 72 hour hospitalization in a psych ward for my sister and it took a lot to bring her back to normal. It was terrifying. We didn't know if it was an onset of schizophrenia or bipolar or what.
I"m not trying to scare you, but some people when they cannot sleep from prednizone develop a psychosis and if memory serves not every one comes out of it like my sister did within a few days, but rather months later. Be on the look out for hallucinations, lucidness, strange talking, incoherence. Again, its a very rare side effect, but it happened in my family. My sister, though asthmatic, will never touch that drug again.
Try OPC3. It will really help him get healthy. It's an all natural antioxidant. All my kids are on it. :)
definitely talk to the dr. or pharmacist about timing of the medicine. prednisone can cause hyperactivity, so it will affect his sleeping. taking it earlier in the day could help, but check with your dr. or pharmacist before changing what time of day he takes it. he may need it at a specific time of day because that may be when his symptoms are most prevalent. my husband and i both have asthma and it is very common for it to be worse at night than during the day.
good luck.
I nearly had a psychotic break in December from taking my Prednisone the wrong time of day. I was taking it twice per day and was not sleeping. I started having sleep deprivation and ended up back in the ER. The doc realized what was going on and gave me some Valium to help me sleep. I slept the first day about 18 hours. I needed the steroid to help breathe so I am glad I was able to get help with the sleep issue.
Yes, give him the med early in the day so that it won't be peaking during the night.
I think this question would be best addressed with your doctor or pharmacist. We can't say without the education how other drugs would interact such as benadryl. I think most doctors have a nurse line you can call and voice your concerns and they could give you some tips on when to administer and what to do about sleepless nights.
Also, I'm sorry to hear he has to take prednisone. My mom had to take if for her lupus and she got that puffy face and hated it. Hopefully he won't need it for long!!! Best of luck to you!
The initial time of dosage doesn't make a difference, but you ought to give prednisone at the same time every day. So it you gave it to him at four in the afternoon yesterday, for example, don't give it to him at six o'clock this morning because that's too soon for another dose. Call your doctor about it...you can probably move the dose four hours earlier than you gave it yesterday, but I would ask about it.
I know all medications have side effects and that we need to be careful and thoughtful about which medications we give our children. I also know that prednisone can be an effective medication for reactive airway and that difficult breathing has it's own miserable side effects. Please consult your pharmacist and doctor regarding his specific medications, dosages and reactions. And I agree, that whenever you get a prescription, it doesn't hurt at all to ask: Is this necessary? What are the side effects? Why are choosing this medication? My best to you and your son.
if he is on a 7 day dose he probably won't sleep more than 2 or 3 hrs till day 5. preds do this to me. benedryl hypes me up but it controls my allergies so I feel better and have more energy. the bendryl may or may not work. He can't help it it raises your heartbeat. just give him something to do that would be very physical. take him to the park everynight. but this may not help either. 4 more days mom
As a pharmacist, giving the prednisone earlier in the day may help him sleep at night but it may not. I would also assume that given the amount of sleep your son got he isn't as cranky as you would have assumed. Both of these are common side effects of prednisone (sleeplessness and elevated mood). Make sure to give him the prednisone with food. I would not give Benadryl for this. Patience and a nap (for you) will help get through this brief time (probably a 5 day course). Given the same set of circumstances I would have done the same thing - dose yesterday afternoon and next dose in the morning- for my little guy and I would be very cranky but have the little guy on the mend.
Having been on prednisone myself many times I can tell you that the time of day it's taken doesn't have a lot of impact on the side effects it causes. I always take it first thing in the morning and rarely get more than 5 hrs of sleep while on it.
