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Title: What does Decadron do? Post by lionsound on Nov 3rd, 2004, 7:49am I understand what decadron is steriod, and I just took it last night (spared an ER trip :-/).... could someone please tell me how it stops the pain? What does it do in your body? (Dexamethasone) thank you, lionsound |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by floridian on Nov 3rd, 2004, 9:34am The brief and accurate answer is we don't know. Steroids are like shotguns - they hit lots of different metabolic targets. Possible modes of action: anti-inflammatory immune suppression change in mineral balance (calcium/sodium/potassium/chloride channels) Turns various genes on and off In the short run, the shotgun effect of steroids are great - we don't how they work, but they usually do. In the long run, the collateral damage is large, and we wish we knew exactly what they did that helps, so that we could target those things directly. |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by don on Nov 3rd, 2004, 9:38am Quote:
Isn't that associated with long term chronic use of steroids? My steroid use is limited to a 3 week taper during 1 or 2 cycles per year. |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by eddie on Nov 3rd, 2004, 10:08am no don that is not true http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601102.html PDR BOOK SAYS IT ALL TOO |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by unsolved1 on Nov 3rd, 2004, 11:14am I use the stuff all the dang time. It's usually what I ask for when going to the ER (plus a Dex Pack to go). Floridian gave you the best possible technical answer. All I know is that it is a steriod that stops my headaches (temp). Many times when I go in as an inpatient, I'll get 3 days of DHE and 3 days of Decadron (IV infusions). As far as limits, I'm sure I'm pushing them. I've used steriods so much in the past few years. I was just recently told the I have 'minor' bone damage by DHC due to steriod use. I also had a coated / burning tongue that they said was an infection due to chronic steriod use. Unsolved PS. 9 mg of Decadron = How much Prednisone ? Find out with this interesting link http://www.globalrph.com/corticocalc.htm |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by lionsound on Nov 3rd, 2004, 11:20am Thanks guys for the info. And the warning about the long term damage. I'm only allowed to use it once a month. And actually I've held off on it for the past two. Still makes me a little nervous though. -lionsound |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by lionsound on Nov 3rd, 2004, 11:51am thanks Unsolved, I was just about to look for that link. Quote:
oooooh, a quiz :) So I took 8mg of decadron last night which equals 53.33mg of pred. 9 would be 60. anyway going to call the doc to see if i need to taper cause I'm new at this and the script didn't say what to do next. -lionsound |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by don on Nov 3rd, 2004, 11:55am I dont see anything in either link about potential long term damage due short term interim usage. At any rate I will risk potential long term risks for very real pain relief and improvement of the quality of life any time. I'm still looking for documentation of long term damage due to short term usage if anybody has any. |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by floridian on Nov 3rd, 2004, 1:47pm Sorry if I wasn't clear. My concerns were primarily with the side effects from long term use of steroids. Occasional use for short periods greatly reduces the risks, but isn't risk free. I agree that there are subjective value decisions involved - how does anyone balance unknown risk versus very real benefits? That's a personal decision. Here's a page about prednisone written for people with lupus - it has a decent separation of the short term and long term effects. http://www.lupuscanada.org/en/chapter/side_effects_of_prednisone.html |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by unsolved1 on Nov 3rd, 2004, 5:50pm on 11/03/04 at 11:55:15, don wrote:
AMEN !! Unsolved |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by eddie on Nov 3rd, 2004, 8:37pm i agree with unsolved and don it works for so many things, i use it everyday i have to but as long as people know what they are taking into their body that is fine my dad had to take my sis took it they had to. no choice i have to take it. but all meds have pros and cons not all doctors inform their patients what they are taking my point is info is everything. thats what i have learned here and respect everbody choice on what meds they use. i wish everyone PFDAN from the heart. |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by unsolved1 on Nov 3rd, 2004, 8:58pm ahhh craaaaaapppp !! Floridian's link is where I found the word they used at the Diamond Clinic....it was Osteonecrosis. Dang ... guess I gotta little touch uh 'bone death' goin' on :'( Unsolved |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by lionsound on Nov 3rd, 2004, 9:29pm on 11/03/04 at 13:47:10, floridian wrote:
....and then I looked at my HA journal:woke up with a HA of one kind or another every day since oct 8 and then the newly added continual days of constant pain..... as I was rocking back and forth. on Today at 11:55am, don wrote: Quote:
Is this a road I want to be going down? ...I just don't know .....it's hard either way. -lionsound |
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Title: Re: What does Decadron do? Post by eddie on Nov 3rd, 2004, 10:19pm on 11/03/04 at 20:58:22, unsolved1 wrote:
i sure hope you feel better i can tell since i have been on this site you have it ruff wish you luck my friend and PFDAN too all |
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