[kjpoppit]

Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by kjpoppit on Tue Dec 10, 2013 2:42 am

Wow! I feel as if I went a little crazy this past weekend. A little irritable and full of ambition. This lasted 3 days. Rearranging my kitchen, stringing outdoor Christmas lights, I could go on and On . I am on 40mg dexamethasone once a week. How long does this usually last for everyone?

[NStewart]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by NStewart on Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:08 pm

When I was on 40 mg of dex I took them on Saturday morning. I was a whirling dervish on Saturday and Sunday and then crashed on Monday. So, what you just experienced sounds a lot like how I reacted. I'm no taking 20 mg of dex before I go to bed and have a slight increase in activity the next day and no major crashes the next. I like 20 mg so much better than I did the 40 mg.

Nancy in Phila

[Anonymous]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by Anonymous on Tue Dec 10, 2013 12:23 pm

I was on high dose pulsed dex (40mg for four days, then four day break, then repeat for about 5 months) The crash would happen a couple days into my off days and would manifest as intense pain in my arms and legs mostly. Also I developed gastritis as stomach problems are a common side effect, and blurry vision.

[JBarnes]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by JBarnes on Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:38 pm

Kim, have them reduce your dose to 20mg dex twice a week instead of 40mg weekly. Worked well for me. You still feel a little bit like superman with 20mg but it only lasts a day. At least it did for me. Jerry.

[mike merrullo]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by mike merrullo on Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:51 pm

Hi after taking dex with Velcade... I did not want to be on it with the Revlimid . My dr prescribed Rittilin to combat the fatigue. It has worked really well.I have been doing this for 1 year now.

[goldmine848]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by goldmine848 on Tue Dec 10, 2013 4:31 pm

I am curious about taking Dex at bedtime. When I take it now I feel its effects faitrly quickly, even at a 20 mg. dose. I take an Ambien that evening and sleep is ok, but not great. I would think if I took it at bedtime that sleep would be difficult. Not so?

[boby]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by boby on Mon Apr 07, 2014 9:15 pm

I am on dex (40 mg, once per week), + Revlimid (daily) + Velcade (twice per week), all with 2 weeks on and one week off. So far only two cycles.

The first time I took dex (prior to this chemo, but a similar dose), I noticed that it made me burpy and kept me up at night. So when I started the chemo, for the once per week dex dose, I made a point of eating only easy-to-digest foods (like toast) on the day of taking it. I took the dex in the morning, right after breakfast. To reduce being wired and having difficulty sleeping at night, I did two things: I took the Revlimid at bed time (since it is said to make you sleepy), and I went for an aggressive walk (or hike) late in the afternoon, which helps burn off the buzz.

So far it seems to be working fine for me and I do not fear dex. Hope this helps.

[MattSchtick]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by MattSchtick on Tue Apr 08, 2014 7:10 pm

I'm on 20mg dex 4 times per week for 2 weeks, then a week off as part of my CVD induction therapy routine. I quite enjoy dex days now that I'm used to them a bit. I know I will not be able to sleep so I just sit up half the night playing Mass Effect on the computer or doing myeloma research, and then go to bed when I am good and tired. Next day I have a nice long nanny nap in the afternoon to compensate.

Dex seems to give me hiccups after meals and the short mood fuse means its not the day for telemarketers to be wasting my time with their 'BS'. Otherwise, its effects are all positive.

[genk]

Re: Dexamethasone (dex) side effects - how long?

by genk on Mon Apr 14, 2014 6:05 am

Dex side effects - Well I went through induction for 4 months. A month later I went in for an auto stem cell transplant. Induction was 25 mg Revlimid and 40 mg dex. I had so much trouble tolerating the dex when I went on maintenance after the transplant that my doctor kept dropping the dose till it was 4 mg per week and still I could not tolerate it.

I finally refused to take dex any longer because my quality of life was so bad I had no choice. I stayed on the dex for 17 months but suffered so badly I just could not stand it. I will not relate the effects because it was not pretty. Let it just be said life is much better without dex. I, as many have said, was in hyper gear for two days, then crashed for two more each week. I am glad I no longer take dex.