[SusanMary]

Dexamethasone - how much is too much?

by SusanMary on Thu Apr 17, 2014 1:30 am

I was diagnosed in 1996 - that's 18 years ago.

My first treatment was high dose chemotherapy with ever changing drugs over a 6 month period, then 2 autologous stem cell transplants. This put me into CR for 8 1/2 years. First relapse was in 2004, and I had a 3rd auto SCT in 2005 which gave me just 2 years CR.

Since then, it seems to have been a round of short remission then relapse and treatment until now, when I am being treated for my 4th relapse (since February of last year).

With every chemo drug I have also had dexamethasone and I am getting a tad concerned that my body will start "breaking down" from all of the dex I have consumed. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

[Dr. Jason Valent]

Re: Dexamethasone - how much is too much?

by Dr. Jason Valent on Thu Apr 17, 2014 7:55 am

You are correct that there are unwanted side effects from long term dex use. Particularly with accelerated bone loss. However, Zometa / Aredia are commonly used to protect bones and should offset this risk.

Every time studies have been done to try to eliminate dex, the other drugs never work as well alone as they do when combined with dex. So it generally is a necessary drug.

[goldmine848]

Re: Dexamethasone - how much is too much?

by goldmine848 on Thu Apr 17, 2014 8:02 am

Following up on this, have there been any studies on the lowest effective dose of dexamethasone?