Steroids and depression?

FormerMember over 4 years ago

4 replies
113 subscribers
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Hi, I am on the 3rd cycle of Xelox after chemo radiotherapy last year. After the infusion of oxaliplatin, the steroids they give are for 3 days to counteract the side effects, I find they lay heavy on my stomach and not very pleasant, I also find that my mood is extremely low when stopping the dose of three days, does anyone have any experience of having oxaliplatin without taking the steroids. In general I have tolerated the treatment quite well up to now, is there a cumulative effect of Xelox in as much as the low mood and sleeplessness gets worse and develops into depression, I don’t want to take anti depressants as well as all the other drugs, can anyone help?

AthenaB

Kareno62 over 4 years ago

Hi I remember not being able to sleep after taking the steroids then feeling very deflated (and tired) after stopping them. To be honest I’m not sure what purpose they serve? I just took what they gave me! Perhaps you could have a chat with your oncologist or the chemo nurses and explain that they’re causing you to feel down and are they vital to the treatment?

For me the main cumulative effects of xelox were the reactions to the cold and the neuropathy in my feet. I think it’s only natural to have a low mood during treatment but you sound to be managing it really well so we’ll done.

Hope you continue to cope this well with the rest of your treatment

Take care

Karen x

Macmillan Support Line - 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week between 8am-8pm

FormerMember over 4 years ago in reply to Kareno62

Many thanks Karen, we do tend to just take the pills we’re told to as I guess they know best and I will ask them but wondered if anyone had experienced the oxaliplatin without the steroids.

Net77 over 4 years ago

Hi AthenaB,

I’m on Folfox (Folinic Acid, Fluorouracil & Oxaliplatin) all via infusion and pump; 11 days into 3rd cycle. I’m given (steroid) Dexamethasone 8 mg (anti sickness) infusion before above, then Dexamthasone 2mg tablets (2 twice a day before 13:00 for following 2 days). The first cycle I didn’t sleep at all for the 2nd & 3rd night and as I didn’t have nausea my oncologist said I could cut them down to 1 tablet twice a day. This is much better and do manage to sleep but not as well as when I’m not taking them.

I’ve noticed my mood can become quite low on a couple of occasions each cycle (this worries me as my mother had Bi-Polar) but oncologist is monitoring and my understanding that the drug causes low mood does help.

It’s maybe worthwhile speaking to your oncologist and asking if it’s possible to reduce the dose of steroid tablets to see if that helps your mood. Either way I’d certainly mention it to your oncologist.

Hope the rest of your treatment goes well, let us know how you get on.

Best Wishes
Net77

FormerMember over 4 years ago in reply to Net77

Many thanks Net77, that’s very helpful, I will ask the oncologist if I can cut the steroids down. The low mood is the thing I am finding very difficult as up to now I have been able to be positive and forge forward, oh well it does seem to be the nature of the beast, you cope with one thing then something else hits you in the face!All the best.

AthenaB