Dexamethasone Side Effects (Top voted first)

My father has been diagnosed with lung cancer that metastasized to the brain. First symptoms were loss of control over righ hand and claw like posture of fingers. HE was prescribed dexamethasone to reduce swelling in the brain resulting from metastasis. Stereotactic radio surgery (radiation focused on the metastasis only) was performed to treat brain metastasis. As a result he had to continue with dexamethasone as this treament causes also swelling of the brain. He had experienced following side-effects: insomnia, agressiveness (pushing family members physically,), inability to focus and listen, inability to speak clearly, talking non-stop, psychosis, paranoia, hyperactivity physically moving non-stop, , stomach pain, it is impossible to reason with him, wants to embark in projects that are not pisible, the side effect are getting progressively worse the longer he is on medication. He has been on this medication since Sep 5th, today is Oct 23rd and he is as per suggestion from a doctor reducing dose since last Friday. Howevery the symptoms do not seem to go away. Looking for help with the proper way of getting off this drug, as it causes depandance from what I understand. Thank you.

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I am very sorry about what your father has been going through and in turn what the rest of you and your family has had to deal with.

Yes, all medications can cause dependence and tapering slowly is the best way for him to get off of it, to prevent possibly dangerous withdrawal effects.

However, as long as he is still taking some of it, since the taper must be done gradually, you can't really expect those symptoms to go away yet, it will take awhile for the drug to process out of his system and for them to taper off.

Learn more Dexamethasone details here.

I am also sorry to add that since he had brain metastases and the subsequent treatments, there may be some permanent damage that was done, so not all of the symptoms may be due to the medication and some issues may never completely go away.

What dose is he down to now?

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Thank you for the response.
We have noticed big difference in his behaviour following gama knife, when he was give large dose of steroids intravenousley. I understand that this was necessary, but right now doctors will not listen and recognize that his condition gets better as soon as the dose is lowered. He has stopped on FRiday, he has taken one 4mg pill on Friday, but yesterday doctors started him on I think prednisone which is the same thing. He is currently in the hospital as he developed lung apses as a result of bronchoscopy. Doctors will not listen and they do not allow that the symptoms are the ruslt of the drug.

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