Steroid side effects?

• By gpawelski
• Posted October 1, 2008 at 11:45 am

A couple of years ago there was a phase III study of Xerecept that is a replacement for Decadron that does not have the side effects of the corticosteroid.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/37217.php

http://www.mywire.com/a/PRNewswire/Neurobiological-Technologies-Inc-Announc es/979322

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• By tetako
• Posted October 1, 2008 at 12:46 pm

Decadron is a steroid, which is great for decreasing inflammation, however it comes with many strong side effects with a dose as high as yours. All of the side effects you described are what one would expect when taking Decadron. Some people gain weight, but since you are losing weight, I would make sure to address that quickly by eating high calorie nutrition drinks, shakes, or foods. It is important for you to maintain your weight and energy level from food.

The pain in your fingers is called Neuropathy. You need to discuss this with your doctor, it is being caused by the Decadron. Due to the pressure of the lesions, you may not be able to taper off of the steroid at this time.

Good luck with your future procedures.

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• By pattyp1
• Posted October 1, 2008 at 7:13 pm

hey, Tina,
I looked up decadron in www.chemocare.com - it says to contact your doctor if you have unusual bleeding or diarrhea - the truth of the matter is, there are many other steroids that can do what decadron does - if your body isn't accepting decadron too well, your doctor might just help you out with a different prescription. bottom line - you need to talk with your doc and make sure he hears peripheral neuropathy and bleeding in the first sentence you speak
hope you feel better -
hugs
Pat

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• By Veronique
• Posted October 2, 2008 at 4:14 am

I am taking steroid (prednisol) for almost 10 years for a special illness (20 mg every 2nd day) and it has absolutely bearable side effects: like my skin is thiner, and I have sometimes low back pain (but it is comes with age as well). I eat almost no salt (this prevents me of gaining weight), and I take Kalium+ Calcium + Magnesium). I know there more modern steroids, but for me this is suitable.

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• By piglet
• Posted October 6, 2008 at 2:44 pm

just like to tell you about our experince with steroids. my hubby jeff is and has been taking dextramethosone for about a year, as he us now on tarceva we are finally able to start reducing these tablets. side effects have been pretty bad, eg, skin very very fragile and bleeding and bruising. muscle wastage has been bad and only recently has he been able to start execising to gain muscles back. weight gain has been a problem with jeff gaining about 30 pounds, breathlessness, fatique blah blah blah the list goes on, but thank god for tarceva, we have been able to halve the dose of steroids by half in 2 months and everything is going very very well, mind you the steroids do a wonderful job to....

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