Does anyone know about DECADRON / dexamethasone? - Cancer: Lung Message Board

SherryAnne · 09-30-2007, 07:46 PM

I have been trying to research the drug decadron (dexamethasone) but am very confused about all the conflicting information. My mother was diagnosed with extensive small cell lung cancer (stage IV) nine months ago. She has been getting a lot of bad days lately so the hospice nurse suggested she take decadron.
She is a totally different person in just a short period of time (two weeks). She says she feels really good but understands that she is dying a her days are numbered. Does anyone out there have any experience personally or as a caregiver with this drug? I really need some real life experience infomation!
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me.

ebrena · 09-30-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SherryAnne

I have been trying to research the drug decadron (dexamethasone) but am very confused about all the conflicting information. My mother was diagnosed with extensive small cell lung cancer (stage IV) nine months ago. She has been getting a lot of bad days lately so the hospice nurse suggested she take decadron.
She is a totally different person in just a short period of time (two weeks). She says she feels really good but understands that she is dying a her days are numbered. Does anyone out there have any experience personally or as a caregiver with this drug? I really need some real life experience infomation!
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help me.

Hi SherryAnne: The following is "real life experience information" I was my mother's care giver and gave out all her medication's including Decadron which is a steroid to reduce the swelling from her brain mets. She was diagnosed with stage 4 SMCL in August 2005 and passed away December 2005 the Dr said 4 months and that was all she had.

It was a real touch and go thing with the Dex she started with 2 -4mg tabs= 8mg a day and seemed good for a while then they bumped her up to 2-4mg tabs 3x day= 12 mg this is when she really changed and she would sometimes be really shakey and confused. As she progressed with her illness they also kept upping her Dex and she did not like how she would feel on it after awhile. She could no longer walk once she started on those either. We would ease up a bit on it like maybe 1-4mg tab-x3day and she would be good for a day and then all of a sudden she was having total body tremor's and we would be off to emergency and the Dr injected her with such a high dose of Dex I couldn't believe it so we were instructed to keep her on 8mg Dex (2-4mg total daily for head swelling.

She was never able to wean down on the Dex once she started, mind you she had many brain mets and as they grew she would not function properly without Dex but they did not improve how she felt day by day. She was also taking 600mg Advil every 4 hours along with Dilaudid for headaches. Also 10 mg Metoclopramide for nausea 1/2 hour before meals and Lorazapam up to 4-6 times a day for anxiety. I was so exhausted looking after my mom as she was totally dependent on me and at the same time I should have been digesting losing her but I never had time to do so and when I did I was trying to get some sleep in as well. It is just so sad to see our parents go through this, I also looked after my father in 1993 when he was dying of multiple myeloma (sp?). I have 3 other sibs who did not participate in either's care as they "couldn't deal with it". I will think of you with your mom as you proceed with the care of your dear mom. It is a tough road. (((hugs)))

SzanEmmert · 10-02-2007, 05:57 AM

My dad has been on the Dex for 2 years. It is not a drug you want to be on long term unless you have a terminal illness. It breaks down your muscles, so eventually your muscles waste away, HOWEVER, the benefits outweigh the risk in my opinion because if it makes them feel better for any length of time it is worth it! My advice is continue the Dex. Hope this helps.

Suzanne

ebrena · 10-02-2007, 01:13 PM

Yes, I agree Sherry Anne Dex does have it's place.People with all kinds of other illness take it for years as it is used for swelling reduction. I just know for my mom's brain mets it was not a long term fix and had to be monitored almost weekly, but then the brain is a much more sensitive area. The good it does for many ailments far out weigh the risks.

I was only telling my mom's story, my intent was not to give you advice either way. That would be from your mom's Dr and your mom's decision.

rockie · 10-02-2007, 06:08 PM

I agree with Suz...
Dex is better than no Dex when it comes to that time. I have learned that no matter what dosage they give in the end stages, it's not enough. Bud, my late husband, was on that for a long while. He had to take that before he got his chemo. Usually, it goes along with some chemo agent. What else do they have your mom on? Bud had stage 4 nsclc, but some of the side drugs are common with both small cell and non-small cell lung cancer. Bud could not sleep for two days after the Dex. Then, he started to dehydrate. I think their bodies go into hyper-drive and finally just collapse. But, that was the time he usually had some energy and wished he could be on it full-time.

Keep us posted.

Love, hugs and healing and prayers for Southern Indiana

jan