My SO is on his 3rd chemo treatment today ( Docetaxel). He was told to take dexamethosome the day before chemo then on day of chemo he would have a dexamethosome injection with Docetaxel . No more dexamethosome after . Is this correct?
Or was wrong information given or he heard wrong?
Total - 2 times of dexamethosome for every chemo treatment
I take it the night before, the morning of and the night of chemo day.
I have discussed this with my doctor and he said you can pre-medicate with Dexamethasone, but after that you should be taking 10mg of Prednisone daily. 10mg of Prednisone was the protocol used in the STAMPEDE trial early Docetaxel plus ADT arm.
This is also what was prescribed for me when I did chemotherapy. I tried stopping the Prednisone after 5 days and the side effects were about 2 times worse so I went back on. Made a huge difference for me.
Here is a retrospective study looking at the benefit of adding Prednisone to Docetaxel.
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...
No prednisone at all during chemo
Made a huge difference with side effects for me.
That was similar to my husband. He had to take Prednisolone all the time. And when he tried stopping it he felt so bad that we put him back on it.
The manufacturer of Taxotere makes the following recommendation:
Premedication Regimen:
For hormone-refractory metastatic prostate cancer, given the concurrent use of prednisone, the recommended premedication regimen is oral dexamethasone 8 mg, at 12 hours, 3 hours and 1
hour before the TAXOTERE infusion.
accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatf...
So, if he is taking prednisone every day, he just needs the three 8 mg (24 mg) dexamethasone doses the day of the infusion.
Some have questioned whether that much steroid is needed to prevent the hypersensitivity and fluid retension caused by Taxotere. They argue that it can give side effects such as manifestation of latent diabetes mellitus, immunosuppression, personality changes, irritability, euphoria, or mania and mood swings. Also, it is an immune suppressor which might potentiate the immune suppressing effect of Taxotere. There are clinical trials to determine the best dosing.
He has not been prescribed prednisone at all . Only to take dexamethosome the day before chemo.
Since he is not taking prednisone with chemo does it mean chemo is less effective or more effective?
Side effects has been minimal so far . Losing hair and some nausea on day 3 and 4.
Dexamethosone is a steroid just like prednisone is a steroid.
No, it doesn't mean the Chemo is less effective. The steroids are really to deal with the side-effects from the Chemo and not the Chemo itself.
Paul had to take 4 2 mg tablets on the evening before Chemo around dinner time, then 4 2 mg tablets before going to bed, and 4 2 mg tablets with his breakfast the next morning. Then he would be given it as infusion during Chemo infusion. But no more after.
My husband had dexamethasone prior to chemo then no more
Thanks . Does drinking water have to do with dealing with side effects cause he doesn’t drink much water.
Drinking water is important anyway whether you are having any treatment or not. Try and make sure he drinks some regularly.
I don't drink water.... GMDA
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Monday 10/07/2019 7:51 PM DST
For what it's worth, and don't mean to confuse the issue but I just finished my 7th Docetaxel "juicing" (sounds a lot healthier than infusion) and I've been prescribed Dexamethasone per the following; the day before, the day of, and the day after each "juicing" I take two 4mg tablets with breakfast and two 4 mg tablets with supper. Every other day I take one 0.5mg tablet with breakfast. Seems to work for me. Hope that helps.
I have just finished my 3 rd infusion of docetaxel. Before Docetaxel infusion, I have Dexanethasone benn given. After that for the next three days, I have to take 4mg X2 ( twice a day). From the 4th day onwards, I do take Predisone, 5 mg,once per day. Hope this helps
During 8 cycles chemo no prednisone at all. Day before chemo one tablet dexamethasone morning and one tablet evening. Day of chemo one tablet dexamethasone morning. Seems like the doctors all over the map on this one. (1st chemo had an infusion of dexamethasone before the chemo).
The 3 doctors who wrote the script for this med are: Dr. Larry, Dr. Curly and Dr. Moe....
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
j-o-h-n Monday 10/07/2019 7:54 PM DST
The pharmacy doctor was Doctor Charles Chaplin. He didn't talk a lot.
You must be deaf cause his lips were moving....
Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.
J-o-h-n Monday 10/07/2019 8:35 PM DST
Had dex day before and day after; and injected with chemo.
GD
The Arm Saga continues...to chemo or not to chemo
Arbireterone and/or chemo 
First chemo, just sharing...
Docetaxel, Chemo in general
