Ugh. It’s The Meds.

Look, I’m writing this while running on stale hospital cafeteria coffee, a pocket full of crumpled parking tickets, and a whole lot of hope. If you are reading this, you probably are too.

In my day job, I’ve designed systems training (amongst a zillion other things). I know that a computer program only works if the data going in is clear. If you type in garbage, you get garbage out.

This is exactly what is happening to our medically complex kids. And the cause is often the very thing saving their lives: the medicine.

We need to talk about a big word: Interoception.

What is Interoception?

Interoception is just a fancy word for your “internal sense.” It is how your brain knows if you are hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, or in pain. Think of it like your body’s internal WiFi signal.

For our kids, medication side effects can mess with these signals. It’s like a hacker is jamming their WiFi connection. The signal gets fuzzy, static takes over, and messages get lost.

Turning the Volume Knobs

Medications don’t just fix illnesses. They change how the body feels from the inside out. Medication side effects act like volume knobs on your child’s sensory system.

1. The Amplifiers (Steroids, Stimulants, Hormones)

Some meds turn the volume WAY UP.

If your child takes steroids or certain hormones, interoception tells them lies. They don’t just feel hungry—they feel like they are starving. They don’t just feel annoyed—they feel furious.

You see a tantrum in the grocery store. They feel a chemical tidal wave inside their body. They can’t just “calm down” because the medicine is revving their engine.

2. The Blunters (Sedatives, Pain Meds, Heart Meds)

Some meds turn the volume WAY DOWN.

These are used to keep hearts steady or reduce pain. But medication side effects can also numb feelings of joy or safety. Your child might seem “checked out” or zombie-like. They can’t listen to their body because the connection has been cut.

Why Your Doctor Didn’t Mention This

This is where it gets tricky. As a parent, it’s easy to feel frustrated that nobody warned you about this. You pick up the prescription, read the warning about “dry mouth,” but nobody mentions the behavior.

But here is the truth: We need our doctors. They are heroes at saving lives. They look at blood work, scans, and organ function. Their job is to make sure the heart beats and the lungs breathe. They are focused on survival.

But while they are watching the organ, you are watching the whole child.

The doctor sees that the levels are perfect and the medicine is working. And they are right! But you are the one driving home, watching the system crash in the backseat. It’s not that they are hiding information; it’s just that their lens is zoomed in on saving the life, while your lens is zoomed in on living it.

What You Can Do

If your child is struggling, stop and look at the chemistry.

• Are they being “naughty”?
• Or are the medication side effects peaking?

When interoception is blocked, your child feels unsafe in their own skin. You aren’t failing as a parent. You are just parenting through a signal jam.

We can work with our doctors. When you know the patterns, you can say, “Hey Doc, the labs look great, but the medication side effects are hurting their quality of life. Can we adjust?” It all starts by keeping track.

Free Download: The Chemical/Sensory Log

Don’t guess—track it. Log your child’s behavior against their medication times. Find the patterns in the chaos so you can have a better conversation with your medical team.

Sources:

• The Interoception Curriculum by Kelly Mahler, OTD
• Beyond Behaviors by Dr. Mona Delahooke
• Mayo Clinic: Corticosteroid-induced side effects
• Everything You Need to Know About Beta Blockers, Healthline