Does anyone have any recommendations for severe headaches and hot flashes on Dexamethasone treatment? I am a male taking 20 mg on each mon/thurs! I feel like my heads a balloon! I also take my dex in the morning should I take it at night instead?
Thanks
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Re: Severe headaches on dexamethasone treatment
Hi Barneasada,
It is best to take the dex in the morning. "Corticosteroids should preferably be taken in the morning to mimic the natural production of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands." It would make it easier for you to get back into your natural rhythm on the days you don't take dex.
Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/cancer/medicines/dexamethasone-tablets.html#ixzz2VrXajyQk
I would get hot flushes/night sweats when I was on 40mg dex. Apparently it is a side effect of dex but it doesn't affect that many people. I found eating less simple carbohydrates helped (this might not be part of the problem).
I would get really nasty headaches when I took the combination of cyclophosphamide and dex together. I think my kidneys did not like the combo and I found that I was retaining a lot of fluid. I discussed taking a diuretic with my doctor and that seemed to help me. Are you taking any other medication at the same time as the dex? Could it be a combination of the medications?
I hope your headaches improve,
Libby
It is best to take the dex in the morning. "Corticosteroids should preferably be taken in the morning to mimic the natural production of corticosteroids by the adrenal glands." It would make it easier for you to get back into your natural rhythm on the days you don't take dex.
Read more: http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/cancer/medicines/dexamethasone-tablets.html#ixzz2VrXajyQk
I would get hot flushes/night sweats when I was on 40mg dex. Apparently it is a side effect of dex but it doesn't affect that many people. I found eating less simple carbohydrates helped (this might not be part of the problem).
I would get really nasty headaches when I took the combination of cyclophosphamide and dex together. I think my kidneys did not like the combo and I found that I was retaining a lot of fluid. I discussed taking a diuretic with my doctor and that seemed to help me. Are you taking any other medication at the same time as the dex? Could it be a combination of the medications?
I hope your headaches improve,
Libby
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LibbyC - Name: LibbyC
- Who do you know with myeloma?: myself
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2009
- Age at diagnosis: 43
Re: Severe headaches on dexamethasone treatment
I'm on 25 mg Rev, 1 Velcade shot a week (double dose of 1.0 mg) due to nueropathy, 40 mg of dex 20 mg mon/ 20 mg thurs, acyclovir, bactrum, prilosec, aspirin, and lunesta as needed. I feel like a menopausal woman mon and thurs. Tues and Friday I light up like Rudolph as my face gets really red. Honestly IDC about red face. These are minor things to complain about... It's the headache that is the worst... When I have the headaches the nueropathy seems like a joke HA and we all know how the PN feels ... I'm out of ideas past Advil, Tylenol, water
Mark
Mark
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Barneasada - Name: Mark
- When were you/they diagnosed?: Jan 2007
- Age at diagnosis: 19
Re: Severe headaches on dexamethasone treatment
when my multiple myeloma was active I had a lot of migraines. I can't remember if treatment increased them or not? Velcade gave me blood pressure issues,(low BP) and Dex gave me high blood pressure so there was these weird ups and downs all the time. I was on high dose pulsed dex 40mg 4 days on/off. on the off days I would have bad pains in my arms and legs, so I might have had headaches too.
Not really "allowed" as the oncologist told me to stay away from advil, but I would take it anyway as it works great for migraines, Aleve. Tylenol doesn't touch migraine pain for me, and narcotic pain pills actually give me a migraine so sometimes you have to just have to take what works
Not really "allowed" as the oncologist told me to stay away from advil, but I would take it anyway as it works great for migraines, Aleve. Tylenol doesn't touch migraine pain for me, and narcotic pain pills actually give me a migraine so sometimes you have to just have to take what works
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
Re: Severe headaches on dexamethasone treatment
I have had patients with headache after dex. One other thing to consider is if you are getting ondansetron or similar anti-nausea medication with the treatments as these can cause headache as well. I have tried diuretics but they don't seem to help the headache from dex. I have had to discontinue dex in several patients as they refused to take it due to the headaches. You have to be very careful with ibuprofen (and all NSAIDS) but with close monitoring of kidney function, one dose every few days is sometimes reasonable. Should be discussed with your treating physician.
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Dr. Jason Valent - Name: Jason Valent, M.D.
Beacon Medical Advisor
Re: Severe headaches on dexamethasone treatment
I didn't know Kidney function was the reason we need to stay away from Advil etc, I learn so much from this forum, Thanks Dr. Valent. 
I am now in remission so I've been taking NSAIDs back at my "normal" rate for migraines, a couple times a month, I will ask my specialist, because if I should avoid I will need to find an alternative that works. My kidney function has not been affected by multiple myeloma.
I sometimes joke I'm a bad cancer patient as I dont' really know / follow most of the rules about what to avoid,
When I was first diagnosed and in the hospital starting my first chemo cycle we had a "Superbowl party" and I requested my sister to bring a full sushi dinner spread. lol. Later learned that Sushi is a big NO when going through treatment
I am now in remission so I've been taking NSAIDs back at my "normal" rate for migraines, a couple times a month, I will ask my specialist, because if I should avoid I will need to find an alternative that works. My kidney function has not been affected by multiple myeloma.
I sometimes joke I'm a bad cancer patient as I dont' really know / follow most of the rules about what to avoid,
When I was first diagnosed and in the hospital starting my first chemo cycle we had a "Superbowl party" and I requested my sister to bring a full sushi dinner spread. lol. Later learned that Sushi is a big NO when going through treatment
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lys2012 - Name: Alyssa
- When were you/they diagnosed?: 2010, Toronto, Canada
- Age at diagnosis: 32
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