I know you're not supposed to be on it more than 7 days at a time, but is there a recommended elapsed time period between courses? We cannot get the latest asthma flare cleared up with Xopenex (also started giving Singulair but that's a preventive) and the dr said if no improvement after 2-3 days, she'd have to be in Orapred again. Guess I'll have to haul her back to the dr tomorrow.

Abby was forever on Orapred. As a matter of fact, the last time she was on it, she took it for about a month including total weaning time. She had been on IV solumederol in the midst of it, so went back to Orapred to wean. I know that there are tons of risks, like growth problems and immunity stuff. Abby couldn't take her 4 year shots for a while afterward. My ped always said, "I hate to keep putting her on it, but when you have to use it...." I don't know if there are specific guidelines about time between courses, but Abby was on it ALOT at that age especially. She didn't seem to have any problems with it. Sending you hugs! I hope Catherine gets better soon!

Sorry I have no experience with it but I found a spot dealing with it:


http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/cdee/asthma/documents/pppresent/2medications.pdf


Look WAY down for it, it is around page 41 of a 45 page document. Just a blurb really.

Here it is again and unless my eyes deceive me it can be used as a maintenance med although most of what I have read usually says it is for acute cases.

http://www.uihealthcare.com/topics/medicaldepartments/pediatrics/asthmaphysicians/index.html


Let us know what the doc says. Poor Catherine. :(

Do you think that Catherine is on a high enough acid blocking med? Do you think her reflux is causing the excessive respiratory problems or do you think this is a separate asthma problem? Just curious.

Chelsea took orapred a lot between age 1 and 2. She had at least 25 doses which the ENT's eyes popped out of his head when I told him how many she had been given by the peds office and urgent care. For Chelsea, when we effectively treated the reflux by controlling the acid well, the need for that med disappeared. I dont know if that is what it is for her, but I just wanted to let you know just incase.

I hope she feels better soon!

I don't know, Carla. She's such a complicated little character that it's hard to pinpoint anything. She has horrible pollen allergies that could trigger all the respiratory crud. She has food issues that could trigger the respiratory crud. She still has an abundance of acidic-smelling wet burps and the occasional puke that could trigger the respiratory crud. I think all this just makes her super susceptible to every germ in the air, and all we're doing is treating the symptoms as they appear.

That sounds so much like Chelsea, I am so sorry. If it is any consolation she is doing really well now, all things considered. Hopefully as Catherine gets older it will get better too. Have you tried to add another reflux med or increase the prevacid to see what happens? There may be more than one contributing factor as you mentioned, but maybe addressing one may make an improvement, even if it is a small one. I am sure at this point you would love any improvement?!