Behavioral changes with Qvar?

[Anonymous]

I'm wondering if any of you have kids whose behavior shifted when using the inhaler Qvar.

In late December, my 5yo daughter was diagnosed with asthma and put on Qvar. She also went from being a kid with a big personality but still a kind, loving child, to being angry, defiant, raging, screaming, refusing to brush teeth to the point where she will scream for half an hour rather than do so. She can't fall asleep, and last night kept screaming intermittently to keep her brother from falling asleep.

This sustained rage is new behavior, and I dread nights because she's gotten so difficult. I was thinking that maybe this was a phase...but when a friend asked when this behavior started and what was going on, I realized it began right after she started using this inhaler.

It's a much more straightforward answer than others I've been investigating. So I am wondering: Has anyone else seen a negative behavior change like this after starting Qvar?

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

We haven't used Qvar but there are anecdotal reports on the internet that it causes behavioral changes or aggression (although my DS has had behavior changes caused by a different medication). It seems easy enough to test -- stop it for a few days or a week and see if there's any difference.

[Anonymous]

Qvar kept my kid up all night. This, after we were told it was far less likely to do to that than albuterol.. They both keep my kid awake which leads to her being a weepy, exhausted mess.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We haven't used Qvar but there are anecdotal reports on the internet that it causes behavioral changes or aggression (although my DS has had behavior changes caused by a different medication). It seems easy enough to test -- stop it for a few days or a week and see if there's any difference.

Thanks! Yes, I'm going to do this and see if my nice kid comes back. Hoping this is the answer.

[Anonymous]

Are you sure about the asthma diagnosis? If it came from a pediatrician I might get a second opinion. You can also explore using meds intermittently only when there are symptoms. Also, you may not need to go straight to the steroids - you could just do albuterol for attacks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Qvar kept my kid up all night. This, after we were told it was far less likely to do to that than albuterol.. They both keep my kid awake which leads to her being a weepy, exhausted mess.

Oh, gosh, I'm so sorry. The lack of sleep is so very hard.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure about the asthma diagnosis? If it came from a pediatrician I might get a second opinion. You can also explore using meds intermittently only when there are symptoms. Also, you may not need to go straight to the steroids - you could just do albuterol for attacks.

The diagnosis came from an allergist, although by the time we got in to see her, my daughter was not having any wheezing. She was wheezing a bit in the fall (which I treated with albuterol), and we couldn't see the allergist until December. They tested her breathing, then tested again after giving meds, and there was an improvement, so they put her on Qvar. We also did allergy testing, and those came up negative.

We just went for a follow-up, and her breathing is great, so we are down to once daily. But now my inclination (as an adult with asthma) is to do as you are suggesting--to take her off and only treat when she's showing symptoms. But I've messaged her doctor telling her I want to take her off Qvar, and asking what she'd like to do going forward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Qvar kept my kid up all night. This, after we were told it was far less likely to do to that than albuterol. They both keep my kid awake which leads to her being a weepy, exhausted mess.

This is my post. I was wrong. Xopenex kept my kid up all night. Not Qvar.

[Anonymous]

My son took Qvar daily from about 1.5 to 2.5. He didn't have any changes from that or xopenex but did originally from albuterol. They have to give him levalbuterol instead. Albuterol via a neutralizer used to make him nuts as an infant. His limbs would just go a mile a minute. Now, at 3 when he takes it via inhaler for rescue purposes it has no effect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure about the asthma diagnosis? If it came from a pediatrician I might get a second opinion. You can also explore using meds intermittently only when there are symptoms. Also, you may not need to go straight to the steroids - you could just do albuterol for attacks.

The diagnosis came from an allergist, although by the time we got in to see her, my daughter was not having any wheezing. She was wheezing a bit in the fall (which I treated with albuterol), and we couldn't see the allergist until December. They tested her breathing, then tested again after giving meds, and there was an improvement, so they put her on Qvar. We also did allergy testing, and those came up negative.

We just went for a follow-up, and her breathing is great, so we are down to once daily. But now my inclination (as an adult with asthma) is to do as you are suggesting--to take her off and only treat when she's showing symptoms. But I've messaged her doctor telling her I want to take her off Qvar, and asking what she'd like to do going forward.

Just minor wheezing that wasn't even symptomatic by the time you got to the doctor? I would not put my kid on long-term controller meds for that. Find a doctor who will support the symptomatic approach. Steroids are big drugs, inhaled or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you sure about the asthma diagnosis? If it came from a pediatrician I might get a second opinion. You can also explore using meds intermittently only when there are symptoms. Also, you may not need to go straight to the steroids - you could just do albuterol for attacks.

The diagnosis came from an allergist, although by the time we got in to see her, my daughter was not having any wheezing. She was wheezing a bit in the fall (which I treated with albuterol), and we couldn't see the allergist until December. They tested her breathing, then tested again after giving meds, and there was an improvement, so they put her on Qvar. We also did allergy testing, and those came up negative.

We just went for a follow-up, and her breathing is great, so we are down to once daily. But now my inclination (as an adult with asthma) is to do as you are suggesting--to take her off and only treat when she's showing symptoms. But I've messaged her doctor telling her I want to take her off Qvar, and asking what she'd like to do going forward.

Just minor wheezing that wasn't even symptomatic by the time you got to the doctor? I would not put my kid on long-term controller meds for that. Find a doctor who will support the symptomatic approach. Steroids are big drugs, inhaled or not.

Thanks so much for this input. It did seem like a lot, but not breathing is the worst, and it did improve her lung function. The doctor supports stopping it, and wants to see us in two weeks to check her lung function. At that point I'll see what she says and decide from there.

[Anonymous]

Almost 4 year old has been on Qvar and Albuterol off and on since he was a bit younger than 3 - so a year. We haven't seen this side effect in him.

[Anonymous]

You should have called your doctor the first day that this happened!!!!
Call now - this is called an adverse reaction.

[Anonymous]

I'm an adult taking qvar and have experienced some side effects just because it's a steroid --- I tend to be particularly sensitive to steroid side effects. it sounds like something similar might be going on with your daughter?

good luck figuring it out and finding an alternative!!

[Anonymous]

OP- my son is 6 and was diagnosed with asthma at age 2. Our first preventative med was Qvar (started at age 3) and he was exactly as you are describing your child. Went from an easy going, happy, care free kid to an absolute terror overnight. Super emotional, very agitated, angry, irrational. We took him off Qvar (and all meds except for rescue Albuterol as needed) for one year. He managed fine but once he started Kindergarten he started having a lot more asthma flair ups (virus, exercise, allergy induced). We recently started seeing a pediatric pulmonologist (we too used to just see a pediatric allergist) who prescribed Asmanex. We just started him on that last week...and unfortunately we are seeing similar side effects. Feeling very discouraged right now because I know he needs the meds, but the behavior change is just horrible and I feel so bad for him!

No advice for you but total commiseration. I'll let you know if we find a corticosteroid that doesn't have the negative behavioral side effects!