Author Topic: Asthma medicine destroying sleep for 22-mo-old (Read 2642 times)

sacmommy · « **on:** December 07, 2005, 20:44:20 pm »

As if I don't have enough sleep issues... my dd was diagnosed with asthma 2 months ago. After much denial on my part, I have finally admitted she really does have asthma (she had an attack while we were on vacation last week), so I now have her on a steroid medicine daily (Flovent).

When she was first diagnosed, I started the Flovent on the pediatrician's advice. However, after a week it seemed to affect sleep (she started missing naps and having trouble going to sleep at night). As an experiment, I took her off the medicine, and sure enough all sleep habits came back to her. So, despite the pediatrician's assurances to the contrary, I am certain the medicine is affecting her ability to calm down and sleep (both the ped and a close family friend who is a pharmacist have assured me that Flovent DOES NOT affect sleep).

She's been back on the Flovent for 1 week, and starting Monday she's been a wreck. She missed her nap Monday - her usual happy singing in the crib, etc. for 1 1/2 hrs. Tuesday I had to really help her calm to sleep. Then Tuesday night was incredible - she woke at about 1:40 and was up for over 2 hours singing - at times very loudly. I finally gave her Benadryl to get some sleep at 4. And now she's singing at the top of her lungs in her crib and she's GOT to be exhausted (plus I took her to gymnastics just to make sure she'd be tired!)

Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of this? I'm such a novice in the asthma area, and I just don't know how to appropriately deal with it. I don't know what to do about the Flovent - the coughing attack was miserable and I don't want dd to suffer through something like that if it's avoidable. But I'm passionate about her getting enough sleep. HELP!!!

Kayna · « **Reply #1 on:** December 07, 2005, 20:56:17 pm »

Ds uses the daily Flovent as well. We haven't had any problems with sleep but maybe it's the age difference not sure. I would never stop his Flovent though. An attack can be very dangerous and it's not worth the risk to me. Is there any other drug they could substitute?

sacmommy · « **Reply #2 on:** December 07, 2005, 21:24:17 pm »

Thanks for your thoughts - I know you're right: She needs to have some kind of preventative measures. Also, apparently, irreparable damage can also be caused if she's not on the medicine, so I certainly want to treat it. It's just so frustrating to have my hard work on sleep trashed! The pediatrician says she's too young for any of the alternatives, and I don't think she believes me when I tell her it affects dd's naps. I think my dd must just be more sensitive than some to medicine (I know I am).

Kayna · « **Reply #3 on:** December 07, 2005, 22:35:37 pm »

I'm sure you're right about it affecting her sleep. Another poster once said that her daughter didn't sleep as good when they used Albuterol (another drug they probably used on your lo when she was having her attack).

I know what a pain adjusting to a new med. can be but once she gets used to it maybe her sleep will fall back into place. So sorry you have to see your hard work disrupted. Good luck and may you rest peacefully knowing your lo's lungs are all prepared for the next asthma trigger. :wink:

Kayna · « **Reply #4 on:** December 08, 2005, 15:07:29 pm »

Hi, just wanted to give you link to another post you may be interested in. HIH.

http://babywhisperer.com/forum/2-vt44056.html?start=10&sid=ac71afef231ba2882dcd1cfc9301c95c

sacmommy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 08, 2005, 20:20:43 pm »

Thanks, Kayna. I've really got to learn more about the medications available. I'm not a big medicine person to start with, so this is a bigger challenge than it might otherwise be. I'm at my wits end. For the fourth day in a row my dd is having trouble getting to sleep for a nap, and she's just exhausted. But she is so wired from the medicine that she's jumping in her crib and singing and yelling. It's so frustrating, and I can't even appreciate how happy she is about it all!

Thanks again for your ideas!

Kayna · « **Reply #6 on:** December 08, 2005, 21:43:45 pm »

Awww, I wish I could help more. Big hugs!! I don't know about the other meds out there either.

Just keep at your dr. until they come up with a better option. You are your only childs advocate. :wink:

Jenn© · « **Reply #7 on:** December 08, 2005, 23:21:13 pm »

Can you take her to a pediatric pulmonologist? (Lung doc) They are often more willing to come up with other treatments. Maybe Singular? Although for some weird reason, it is used for asthma at age 2, and allergies at age 1. BTW, steroids can affect sleep. Usually with oral versions, but if lo is sensitive, inhalers might do the same.

deb · « **Reply #8 on:** December 09, 2005, 00:27:45 am »

Our big issue was with Josie and Albuterol; I SWORE after the last time that she would NEVER have it again unless it was to save her life. It made her cranky and b!tchy and miserable - and the rest of us to boot! :x There's another bronchdilator now, forget the name but it starts with X, that apparently doesn't have the same effect.

The steroid she was on, though, didn't seem to have an adverse affect on her sleep - it was Pulmicort.

I would DEFINITELY investigate, through a specialist if possible, trying another medication. Doncha love doctors who think we don't know our own kids? :roll:

Kayna · « **Reply #9 on:** December 09, 2005, 02:24:42 am »

Quote from: deb

Our big issue was with Josie and Albuterol; I SWORE after the last time that she would NEVER have it again unless it was to save her life. It made her cranky and b!tchy and miserable - and the rest of us to boot! :x There's another bronchdilator now, forget the name but it starts with X, that apparently doesn't have the same effect.

The steroid she was on, though, didn't seem to have an adverse affect on her sleep - it was Pulmicort.

I would DEFINITELY investigate, through a specialist if possible, trying another medication. Doncha love doctors who think we don't know our own kids? :roll:

Glad you chimed in Deb it was you I was referring to in the upper post. :wink:

Jenn© · « **Reply #10 on:** December 09, 2005, 04:29:42 am »

Deb, you are thinking of Xopenex. Lovely stuff. Basically it is albuterol with the nasty side effects taken out. Less shakiness and such. And it's s'posed to be available in inhaler form soon.

Happy dance!!!

sacmommy · « **Reply #11 on:** December 09, 2005, 05:01:36 am »

Thank you all so much. I will definitely get more involved in getting switched to another preventer medication. It's so hard when you don't know anything about it ~ and I really like my pediatrician so it makes it harder to tell her she's wrong in this case! Plus a good family friend also supported her assertions.

I agree completely about the Albuterol -- we quickly realized that medicine is only for emergencies (which we did unfortunately have for a few days last week). Not only does it make our dd hyper and anxious, but it also gives her nightmares. Awful.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

annas mum · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2005, 15:36:24 pm »

Hi Sacmommy
In my other life when not being a mum to 2yr old Anna and 14 week old Nathan, I am a Respiratory Hospital Pharmacist in the UK , so hopefully I can help. As the other posters have mentioned , steroids such as Fluticasone (drug name for flovent) can cause sleep disturbances, as they can act as a stimulant,(small no's but it does happen) and albuterol can cause hyperactivity, in small no' s of children as it stimulates the nervous system. That is not to say they are not appropriately prescribed, as I am sure you are aware, the consequences of uncontrolled asthma are infinately worse. However Fluticasone is quite a potent steriod, so it is worth your while getting your daughter reviewed regularly as all asthma medication should be either stepped up or DOWN as symptoms dictate. Other mediation that is sometimes prescribed in childhood asthma, that can sometimes reduce the dose of steroid required, is a medicine called sodium cromoglycate - over here the brand name is "intal" not sure about in the US. that may be worth asking about. In general I would make sure as well as her "preventer" medicine that you always have a "reliever " medicine such as albuterol prescribed and carried with you at all times in case of emergencies

HTH

Feel free to ask me any questions if you need to

Regards
Clare

Jenn© · « **Reply #13 on:** December 11, 2005, 17:57:01 pm »

It's Intal over here too, and I think it is generic as well.

sacmommy · « **Reply #14 on:** December 12, 2005, 04:23:06 am »

Thanks Clare and Jenn, The more information I have the better I'll feel, plus it gives me more to talk about with the allergist and our pediatrician. I really would like to get off the Flovent as we notice a significant difference in her sleep (much less sleep, and increased crankiness!) All of this asthma education has been tough for me to embrace, and your knowledge and advice have been very helpful.

Jenn© · « **Reply #15 on:** December 13, 2005, 02:04:15 am »

Holler anytime. You might also get answers in the health forum. I just happened to find this one by chance.

sacmommy · « **Reply #16 on:** December 29, 2005, 05:20:09 am »

Well, I've now had several more appointments with the pediatrician, an allergist, plus a consultation with a pharmacist who is a family friend. From all of these professionals, I gather that the flovent is absolutely necessary to keep the asthma under control. Wwe had a very scary incident over Thanksgiving so we're more on board with dd definitely having asthma - I was in denial previously. I am uncomfortable with the flovent, as I know it causes sleep issues but I can't get anyone to give me a valid alternative so far.

Any ideas? Thanks!

Jenn© · « **Reply #17 on:** December 29, 2005, 14:36:39 pm »

Have you tried Pulmicort nebulizer treatments? It is still a steroid, but maybe it would cause less sleep trouble. That's the only thing that comes to mind at the moment. Might be worth asking about.

mattandcindy · « **Reply #18 on:** August 26, 2006, 00:38:15 am »

Hey Rose (Or anyone else with experience with Flovent!)
Did things ever get any better with your daughter?
Abigail was started on Flovent on Tuesday for a chronic cough that they are attributing to allergies (and possibly a slight case of asthma). Ever since then she has been sleeping TERRIBLY! She has been waking up at 6am (she usually sleeps until 7-8am) and her nap has gone to heck! Today she did about 45 minutes and for the first time ever actually crawled out of bed during her naptime!
The onlyl thing we can attribute it to is the Flovent. The doctor wasn't adament about her being on it-she is just trying things at this point to get rid of the cough. We were on Xopenex and she did great with it but it didn't seem to help her cough much.
Just wondering if anyone else has seen the sleep disturbance as a side effect of Flovent?
We are definitely thinking about stopping it to see if her sleep improves. I am not too worried about stopping it as she isn't on it for asthma or any scary breathing problems-just a chronic cough....

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Author Topic: Asthma medicine destroying sleep for 22-mo-old (Read 2642 times)