Steroids causing coughing to worsen?

[LewLew19]

My mum is starting her taxodere/Docetaxel treatment tomorrow. She’s been given steroids to take before she’s goes in. Since taking them her cough immediately got worse, as if it was a side effect? Anyone else experienced this?

She has been on other steroids recently to reduce her cough which have been working and things have been gradually improving.

The change since taking the new tablets today is quite stark.

Anyone else had this treatment and can shed any light?

We’re hoping once she’s off the steroids things might calm a little as she gets used to the new treatment.

The rollercoaster continues...

thanks x

[JanetteR57]

which steroids is she on? there are different ones.

[LewLew19 in reply to JanetteR57]

Hi Janette, she’s on dexamethasone

[JanetteR57 in reply to LewLew19]

I'm usually given prednisolone when I have severe coughs/chest infections but know that dexamethasone has been used for covid 19 . Worth asking her nurse/doctor at the hospital whether this is a common side effect on the ones she's taking - presumably there's an information leaflet in the packet which will usually state the side effects even if rare (they have a legal obligation to list them).... hope she gets some answers soon.

[RoyCastleHelpline Partner Ask the Nurse Roy Castle]

Cough or hoarseness has been reported as a side effect of dexamethasone

drugs.com/sfx/dexamethasone... the incidence is unknown. As JanetteR57 says check with the staff at the hospital.

Hope it settles.

Kind regards,

All the support team at the Roy Castle Helpline