Steroid Guidance

[Tattoomom]

DD4 just finished a 5 day steroid burst and did great, but went downhill about 3 days later.

 

Pediatrician agreed to try a month long taper (yay!)

 

1) Do we stay on her Augmentin (she takes it once a day)

 

2) Someone mentioned not doing Ibuprofen during steroid treatment?

 

3) Anything I need to know about her being on a long course of Prednisone? I know it will suppress her immune system. Anything else?

[Kathy4Him]

Tattoomom:

 

My son, 23 was on high dose steroids for a month beginning Nov 12, 2012...60 mg, 40mg, 20mg, then 10mg

(a week each)and has remained on 5 mg daily. since then.

 

The only problem we saw was that on 60mg he had a hard time sleeping but once he dropped down to 20mg he was ok. He has done fine. Even did a taper 2 weeks ago as he was sick and Dr. thought it would help to do a dose pack for 5 days.

 

He is on antibiotics daily and has been since Oct. 15, 2012. He is also on an immunosuppressant...cellcept. We are careful not to get him out in crowds because of the suppressed immune system, but he is fine.

 

I think your daughter should do just fine and hopefully it will help.

 

Kathy

[dcmom]

tattoo mom-

 

Let's see...

 

Steroids and Ibuprofen should not be taken together (unless your doctor tells you differently) because the combo greatly increases the risk of stomach bleeding.

 

While we don't do daily antibiotics normally, I do them during steroid bursts, this is our protocol to help with inflammation and also to reduce the risk of infection while on steroids.

 

Certainly steroids can make the child irritable- be prepared. Also, be prepared for increased appetite- for us, that is a blessing- but if weight is an issue stock up on healthy foods and snacks.

 

From my research, it seems steroids can lower potassium, so we try ti increase the intake of potassium rich foods (bananas, oj, canteloupe, raisins, etc).

 

My bottle of melatonin says not to take with steroids- so we do avoid that as well.

 

Steroids can cause difficulty sleeping- we either give the whole dose in the am, or half with breakfast and half with lunch.

 

I read once in an article on MS a suggestion to take ibuprofen after done with the steroids for several days to avoid "rebound inflammation". We do this also.

 

That is all I can think of now- good luck.