steroid dosage? Side effects

[melanie]

I remember reading that someone said something about steroids and growth? Does it effect the growth pattern?

 

Does dosage really make a huge difference?

 

Do some kids do better on higher dosage ?

 

Why do some do 5 days and some 30?

 

melanie

[momaine]

My nephew has Crohn's Disease and over the years he was on prednisone for long periods of time. (between ages 12 and 20) They just could not get him off it and eventually he had to have a colostomy. His growth was behind but at times when he went off it, he would have growth spurts and though he is not as tall as his dad, he isn't over short either. I'd wager to say he was on it more than he was off it during those 8 years.

 

Our update. We're on day 3 of prednisone with my dd. Wednesday was the first day. She's on a tapering dose. (first day 6 4mg pills over the course of the day then each day one less pill) Now my dd is one of those kids that Advil works wonders for. But I read the caution with the prednisone and decided to skip the Advil while she was taking Prednisone becasue I figured it would take its place. I was wrong. The first day, while she still had the good effects from Advil still in her, she had a FANTASTIC day. Best day in months. We were home alone, just she and I and I painted the bathroom while she filled her morning with Sudoku and crossword puzzles. Great mood. She even told me she felt good, which doesn't happen easily even when she seems improved to me.

 

Second day, (still no Advil) not such a good day. Not terrible either, like before we started Advil and began antibiotics, but not great by any means. Last night, after that day, I decided to add the Advil back in and she fell asleep in front of the TV fairly easily. (that's a good thing for us)

 

Today I still gave her Advil and she's having a pretty good day so far. (this is day three but the prednisone dose is not as high as the first day)--now down to 1 pill (4mg) 4 times per day and only had one dose so far) Not as good as the first day, but definitely better than yesterday without Advil.

 

I wrote to Dr. T about it and he said the Advil and the steroids work in different ways and together it might just be the ticket for dd. We'll see where it gets us for now.

 

Angela

 

 

I remember reading that someone said something about steroids and growth? Does it effect the growth pattern?

 

Does dosage really make a huge difference?

 

Do some kids do better on higher dosage ?

 

Why do some do 5 days and some 30?

 

melanie