Hello,
This is my first time posting here, all the way from Australia:)
My dad has just finished his third cycle of Velcade and dexamethasone. I just wanted to see if anybody else has experienced extreme anger / temper / moodiness whilst on dexamethasone?
He had his last dex on Friday, so it's been nearly a week, and he is still having the worst angry outbursts, mostly aimed at my mother. He's completely unreasonable, we can't discuss it with him, as he sees it as all of us being 'against' him somehow. He says horrible things that I never thought I'd hear from my dad.
Suppose I just want to make sure that this is 'normal', in a way, or if we should be worried. I feel awful for my poor mum.
Thank you very much for reading:)
Forums
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Hi there,
This happened to me. I am now in my 7th month and experienced the same effects. At times I could not leave the room because I felt I would smash something, and this went on for hours. In fact, I became very depressed. I dropped my dex to 6x 4 mg once a week and now I feel normal again.
I would talk to your onc and see what can be done. Depression and anger is not a great way to heal.
Good luck and all the best to your dad,
Corrina
This happened to me. I am now in my 7th month and experienced the same effects. At times I could not leave the room because I felt I would smash something, and this went on for hours. In fact, I became very depressed. I dropped my dex to 6x 4 mg once a week and now I feel normal again.
I would talk to your onc and see what can be done. Depression and anger is not a great way to heal.
Good luck and all the best to your dad,
Corrina
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corrina01 - Name: corrina
- Who do you know with myeloma?: me
- When were you/they diagnosed?: October 2013
- Age at diagnosis: 51
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Ya, you should see what happens when I'm driving my dad around and someone doesn't signal their turn. My dad is on his 5th week of Velcade/dex/cyclophosphamide. The doctor lowered his dose of dex last week.
Anger is a problem with dex. It is a good idea that your father's haematologist knows about the angry outbursts.
Anger is a problem with dex. It is a good idea that your father's haematologist knows about the angry outbursts.
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Little Monkey - Name: Little Monkey
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Father-stage 1 multiple myeloma
- When were you/they diagnosed?: March/April of 2015
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Just a thought. On top of the dex, the idea of having to deal with cancer is something that can knock the psyche out of whack, also. So I would assume that there are multiple things going on.
Good luck.
Good luck.
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JPC - Name: JPC
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Hi Charliegirl,
Yes, I definitely became more aggressive and confrontational while on dex (40 mg - once a week), and agree with other posters that lowering the dosage, if feasible, might be worth considering.
Yes, I definitely became more aggressive and confrontational while on dex (40 mg - once a week), and agree with other posters that lowering the dosage, if feasible, might be worth considering.
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Here is one of Pat's columns dealing with dex side effects:
Pat Killingsworth, "Pat’s Place: Dealing With Dexamethasone Side Effects", The Myeloma Beacon, Sep 9, 2010
Pat Killingsworth, "Pat’s Place: Dealing With Dexamethasone Side Effects", The Myeloma Beacon, Sep 9, 2010
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KarenaD - Name: Karen
- Who do you know with myeloma?: Myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: November 4, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 54
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Hi Charlie,
Several Beacon columnists have written about the sort of dex side effects that you've mentioned. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon, although not usually as extreme as it seems to be in your father's case.
The columns about dex that I remember most are those from Stephen Kramer, who was really honest about his struggles with this particular downside of the drug:
Stephen Kramer, "Manhattan Tales: Life Had Changed," The Myeloma Beacon, Jan 26, 2012
Stephen Kramer, "Manhattan Tales: Steroid Adventures," The Myeloma Beacon, Feb 23, 2012
Sean Murray is his usual humorous self in his discussion of the subject. He says that his family calls him Tyrannosaurus Dex when he's on the drug:
Sean Murray, "Sean's Burgundy Thread: Dex Man Walking," The Myeloma Beacon, July 3, 2012
Also, even though it doesn't focus on the anger aspects of dex, it doesn't seem right to discuss articles about dex and leave out the creative "Agent D" column Kevin Jones wrote:
Kevin Jones, "Me vs. MM: Agent D", The Myeloma Beacon, May 15, 2012
I hope your father's doctors are able to get this dex side effect under control very soon. Good luck!
Several Beacon columnists have written about the sort of dex side effects that you've mentioned. Unfortunately, it's not uncommon, although not usually as extreme as it seems to be in your father's case.
The columns about dex that I remember most are those from Stephen Kramer, who was really honest about his struggles with this particular downside of the drug:
Stephen Kramer, "Manhattan Tales: Life Had Changed," The Myeloma Beacon, Jan 26, 2012
Stephen Kramer, "Manhattan Tales: Steroid Adventures," The Myeloma Beacon, Feb 23, 2012
Sean Murray is his usual humorous self in his discussion of the subject. He says that his family calls him Tyrannosaurus Dex when he's on the drug:
Sean Murray, "Sean's Burgundy Thread: Dex Man Walking," The Myeloma Beacon, July 3, 2012
Also, even though it doesn't focus on the anger aspects of dex, it doesn't seem right to discuss articles about dex and leave out the creative "Agent D" column Kevin Jones wrote:
Kevin Jones, "Me vs. MM: Agent D", The Myeloma Beacon, May 15, 2012
I hope your father's doctors are able to get this dex side effect under control very soon. Good luck!
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Jonah
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Charlie,
I have experienced the same issue with my husband. His initial diagnosis came September 2014. He was in critical condition and his myeloma was considered "high risk and very aggressive". Immediately he was put on Revlimid, Velcade, dexamethasone (RVD) – extreme levels of dex.
I know EXACTLY what you are going through. All you can do is try to be non confrontational as they feel like everyone is against them. Our doctor put him on some antidepressant / anti-anxiety medications, and it seemed to help. Later when his numbers were better they lowered the dosage of the dex.
Just remember, the patient does not want to feel like that, they literally just can't help how the dex makes them feel or what comes out of their mouth or their reactions. After my husband threatened to hit me, he instantly started crying and couldn't believe what he just said. I knew he would never hurt me, but it scared him that he would even say that. He immediately told his doctor and he saw a psychiatrist to help. That's were the anti-anxiety meds came in.
The good news is, he responded very well to treatment, so that he was taken off the dex completely.
Good luck to you and your family and remember, they need their family as support.
I have experienced the same issue with my husband. His initial diagnosis came September 2014. He was in critical condition and his myeloma was considered "high risk and very aggressive". Immediately he was put on Revlimid, Velcade, dexamethasone (RVD) – extreme levels of dex.
I know EXACTLY what you are going through. All you can do is try to be non confrontational as they feel like everyone is against them. Our doctor put him on some antidepressant / anti-anxiety medications, and it seemed to help. Later when his numbers were better they lowered the dosage of the dex.
Just remember, the patient does not want to feel like that, they literally just can't help how the dex makes them feel or what comes out of their mouth or their reactions. After my husband threatened to hit me, he instantly started crying and couldn't believe what he just said. I knew he would never hurt me, but it scared him that he would even say that. He immediately told his doctor and he saw a psychiatrist to help. That's were the anti-anxiety meds came in.
The good news is, he responded very well to treatment, so that he was taken off the dex completely.
Good luck to you and your family and remember, they need their family as support.
-
Daisygirl
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Thanks for all your replies! My heart breaks for Dad every day, and we do our very best to be as patient and loving as possible. I suppose I just needed to make sure that this was 'normal' behaviour.
I did manage to speak to his doctors about possibly reducing his dosage though. He's currently on 20 mg four days a week, which is apparently quite high. Hopefully it will get better soon.
Good luck to everyone else dealing with multiple myeloma and what it entails, definitely not an easy ride
I did manage to speak to his doctors about possibly reducing his dosage though. He's currently on 20 mg four days a week, which is apparently quite high. Hopefully it will get better soon.
Good luck to everyone else dealing with multiple myeloma and what it entails, definitely not an easy ride
Re: Dexamethasone and anger issues
Hello Charliegirl:
Yes, it affects me. Since I started dexamethasone in my first cycle of Revlimid plus dex weekly and Zometa once in three months, I erupt in business meetings and apologize. I meditate, but it does not helps to eliminate or keep me at my pre-dex level. I try to control by being as much positive I can be, but side effects of dex - anger - sometimes takes over.
I am on my eleventh cycle. My dex has been reduced from 40 mg weekly to 16 mg weekly, but anger is same level.
Yes, it affects me. Since I started dexamethasone in my first cycle of Revlimid plus dex weekly and Zometa once in three months, I erupt in business meetings and apologize. I meditate, but it does not helps to eliminate or keep me at my pre-dex level. I try to control by being as much positive I can be, but side effects of dex - anger - sometimes takes over.
I am on my eleventh cycle. My dex has been reduced from 40 mg weekly to 16 mg weekly, but anger is same level.
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MMFeb16,15 - Who do you know with myeloma?: Self
- When were you/they diagnosed?: February 16, 2015
- Age at diagnosis: 66
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