About Dr. Frederick Blount Expertise Pediatrician, retired. I trained at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia some years ago and I did private practice here in Winston-Salem for 30 years until I went full time to the Wake Forest Medical School until retirement.
Pediatrics - Prednisone induced psychosis causing pain in 9 year old?
Follow-Ups to Answer from Expert Dr. Frederick Blount
ella wrote at 2008-08-07 20:00:06
My 12 yo son's story is very similar and has now lasted a year. He received 80-90 mg prednisone in the hospital for asthma for about one week. He had severe joint pain, elevated blood glucose, severe stomach cramping with diarreha (SP) and vomiting. He missed 80+ days of school - only one in the last quarter. He was doing better and then ended up in an ER during a camping trip and was given prednisone. His debilitating symptoms returned within a day, and he is still struggling with them after 2 months after stopping the med. His symptoms did not remit when he did not have to go to school or during breaks (and obviously not durnig the summer) He missed park & rec day trips, parties and holiday celebrations because of his symptoms. He has had "one of the most thorough work ups" and all results were negative. On line, I read side effects of prednisone can take up to a year to go away after high or long courses of treatment. Most medical professionals have been dismissive of this infor. Our last appt with a pediatric GI specialist offered the following idea: the prednisone burst sensitized his central nervous system, so what may feel like a 2 to me feels like an 8 or 9 to him. Also, many of the meds prescribed may actually perpetuate the symptoms. So most of the meds are being DC and amitriptyline will be added for 3 reasons: prevent headaches, slow the digestive tract down, and desensitize his overall pain response (like with fibromyalgia.) Just FYI. Hope your little girl feels better soon.
