[saraheverettParticipant]

Hi

Can anyone tells me if Steroids can cause confusion/anxiety? My mum (78) has had prednisone for polymygilia and came off it early as she badgered the doctors saying it was causing memory loss and confusion. She was taken off it a month ago (the confusion and anxiety did not improve off it) and her smouldering Myloma has now turned active and she is awaiting treatment. (Docs think the relatively low steroid dose may have been helping keep it smouldering)

She is having blood transfusions and a four day high steroid dose before any other treatment starts. First of the four days she was upbeat and more clear headed, today is day two and the confusion and anxiety is back with her fixating that it is the steroids making her muddled.

Has anyone experienced anything remotely similar?

Dreading the high doses in the chemo combinations.

Sarah

 

 

 

 

• This topic was modified 6 years, 10 months ago by  saraheverett.

[janwParticipant]

Hi Sarah
Steroids such as dexamethasone and prednisone are frequently used to treat myeloma patients, either prescribed alone or in combination with other myeloma drugs. They reduce swelling and inflammation and have been shown to kill myeloma cells. However steroids can cause many serious side effects, which are related to the dose and duration of use. Side effects caused by these steroids can include, but are not limited to, sweating, insomnia, mood and behavioural changes, increased energy, high blood sugar, infection, anxiety, fluid retention, increased appetite, lack of concentration. Most side effects will go away as the dose is lowered and then the drug is stopped altogether. However, if you mum has been taking the steroids for a long time and then stopped abruptly, she might experience withdrawal symptoms for a couple of months.

You mum needs to discuss her anxiety and confusion feelings with her consultant, who can review her steroid dosage, duration and side effects. Keeping a daily diary of the medication your mum is taking and noting any side effects/mood swings can be useful to see whether the side effects are linked to periods on and off steroids or other drugs.

I hope your mum’s myeloma treatment goes well.

Jan

[whoopiscubaParticipant]

Hi Jan take dexamethasone with my Chemo and everything you said s True . At first the told me I had to take 20 of these tabs a week breaking it down too a week.  When on them I had so much energy and got no sleep so I have the sparkling mirrors and windows in my flat – forget about sleeping . Mood swings aggressive as my family pointed out as I never say this.  Oh swollen ankles even though I’m on water tabs .

No I take 10 steroids on Wednesday and 10 on a Sunday as I was getting fed up of having swollen ankles and having my legs elevated for nearly sometimes 2wks  but I have to say sometimes they just swell up and can’t even get my shoes on . I still suffer from insomnia that’s the steroids I just started this week a class of “Relaxation through breathing” Don’t laugh I actually fell asleep in the class as I had not slept for 3 nits x

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