Dexamethosome with chemo?: My SO is on... - Advanced Prostate...

Advanced Prostate Cancer

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Dexamethosome with chemo?

24 Replies

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

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24 Replies
Hex40 profile image
Hex40

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...

in reply to

No prednisone at all during chemo

in reply to

Made a huge difference with side effects for me.

MelaniePaul profile image
MelaniePaul in reply to

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.

Tall_Allen profile image
Tall_Allen

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.

sgrama profile image
sgrama in reply to

Dexamethosone is a steroid just like prednisone is a steroid.

MelaniePaul profile image
MelaniePaul in reply to

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.

MelaniePaul profile image
MelaniePaul

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.

Bebby1 profile image
Bebby1

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.

Desanthony profile image
Desanthony in reply to

Drinking water is important anyway whether you are having any treatment or not. Try and make sure he drinks some regularly.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply to

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

Zee5 profile image
Zee5

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.

mdiaz76 profile image
mdiaz76 in reply toZee5

We did same

bellyhappy58 profile image
bellyhappy58

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

monte1111 profile image
monte1111

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).

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply tomonte1111

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

monte1111 profile image
monte1111 in reply toj-o-h-n

The pharmacy doctor was Doctor Charles Chaplin. He didn't talk a lot.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply tomonte1111

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

monte1111 profile image
monte1111 in reply toj-o-h-n

It's my Tinnitus.

j-o-h-n profile image
j-o-h-n in reply tomonte1111

mine too........ hisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

J-o-h-n Monday 10/07/2019 9:40 PM DST

Had dex day before and day after; and injected with chemo.

GD

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