orapred - side effects

[lmp6573]

My six year old son was on orapred for three days due to croup.  He weighed approximately 48 pounds at the time.  Approximately two days after completion of his treatment, he became very anxious and somewhat depressed.  This has continued for a period of about two weeks.  He has also recently refused to eat and/or drink for periods of up to four days.  Basically, he has had a severe personality change.  My question is:  Can orapred cause anxiety and depression, and if so, how long can it continue?  Is there any evidence that it can alter hormones or affect the part of the brain regulating personality?

Thank you.

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

As you probably know, Orapred is a corticosteroid. Such medications can produce psychiatric symptoms, though by no means does this occur often. Side effects of a psychiatric sort - e.g., agitation, high energy level - are transient in nature. They do not persist. Discuss this with your son's pediatrician, and likely he/she will guide you that over time the effect, if due to the medication, will wane.