Decadron ?

therevslittlegirl
therevslittlegirl Member Posts: 29
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I was diagnosed with Ovarian and Endometrial Cancer in December 2008. I've noticed that since my chemo treatments have started I have been getting angry about little things and then I take it out on people who technically don't deserve it. Is anger a side effect from this steroid? I heard that it could be but haven't gotten any other information about it. If anyone else is on this have you noticed a change in your attitude and if so, what have you done about it? I think I need help controlling my anger and I've never had anger issues before. Starting to get scared!

Comments

  • lindaprocopio
    lindaprocopio Member Posts: 1,980 Member
    #2
    For me, not anger as much as aggressiveness
    I feel that my pre-chemo steroids made me more aggressive than usual. I don't get angry, but I get 'pushier'. I interrupt people in an effort to make my point, and I say tactless things that I wish a second later I'd kept to myself (not mean or rude things, but things that are none of my business). And I never seem to want to shut up when I have the steroids churning around in me. I don't think the steroids make me angry as much as they make me more impulsive. Several people that I chased down later to apologize to, reassured me that they thought I was charming and that I didn't do or say anything that offended them. But I hear myself, and that rowdy steroid-person isn't the real me. I was definitely more obnoxious and boisterous on the steroids. I am trying to recover from my last scheduled round of chemo currently and hope my steroid-days are behind me for awhile. The steroids always made me sleepless for 3 days. I think I was very sensitive to them, but when we tried chemo with my dose cut back, I was really nauseated later.

    I must add that, once I realized how the steroids were affecting me, I was better able to control myself. As soon as I caught myself interrupting people or anything, I'd aplogize and clamp my mouth shut and get it under control. I think, now that you are aware of how the drug affects you, you will be able to consciously rationalize that anger and back it off.
  • green50
    green50 Member Posts: 312
    #3
    lindaprocopio said:

    For me, not anger as much as aggressiveness
    I feel that my pre-chemo steroids made me more aggressive than usual. I don't get angry, but I get 'pushier'. I interrupt people in an effort to make my point, and I say tactless things that I wish a second later I'd kept to myself (not mean or rude things, but things that are none of my business). And I never seem to want to shut up when I have the steroids churning around in me. I don't think the steroids make me angry as much as they make me more impulsive. Several people that I chased down later to apologize to, reassured me that they thought I was charming and that I didn't do or say anything that offended them. But I hear myself, and that rowdy steroid-person isn't the real me. I was definitely more obnoxious and boisterous on the steroids. I am trying to recover from my last scheduled round of chemo currently and hope my steroid-days are behind me for awhile. The steroids always made me sleepless for 3 days. I think I was very sensitive to them, but when we tried chemo with my dose cut back, I was really nauseated later.

    I must add that, once I realized how the steroids were affecting me, I was better able to control myself. As soon as I caught myself interrupting people or anything, I'd aplogize and clamp my mouth shut and get it under control. I think, now that you are aware of how the drug affects you, you will be able to consciously rationalize that anger and back it off.

    steroids
    Yep same here steroids make me the same as Linda. Sometimes I notice I snap and say things and don't have the patience I ususally do.
    Prayers and Hugs
    Sandy
  • Cindy54
    Cindy54 Member Posts: 452
    #4
    green50 said:

    steroids
    Yep same here steroids make me the same as Linda. Sometimes I notice I snap and say things and don't have the patience I ususally do.
    Prayers and Hugs
    Sandy

    Count Me In
    Ah, Decadron! That little steroid was my buddy while I had my spinal cord tumor. I was constantly hungry, couldn't sleep, had little patience. I had to do things right away, very restless. My mind went a mile a minute. Because of the steroid, my blood sugar went wacky so I was on a diabetic diet. They did the finger sticks and I had to have insulin. My diet consisted of mostly veggies and very little else. As soon as the food went in, I had to race to the bathroom because it came out. This was quite a thing to see a person in a wheelchair who could not even stand try and get to a bathroom. I was on it for 2 months and then weaned off at lower doses. I was never so happy to be off anything. It did what it was supposed to in my case..reduce swelling in the spinal cord...but I guess I was just more sensitive to it. I also had no patience. I never bit my tongue so much because everything bothered me. I even looked like a wild woman when I looked in the mirror. Here's to better days for you...Cindy
  • saundra
    saundra Member Posts: 1,370 Member
    #5
    Journal
    I don't remember to much anger. I did start keeping a journal and entering Bible verses as they applied to what I was feeling that day. I do believe that this action kept me on an even keel and helped me many ways..
    If I write my emotions down on paper I am more likely to be aware of them and correct when needed.
    Anger is a normal reaction to this diagnosis as far as I'm concerned. I was mostly angry at the medical clinic at not checking out my symptoms. (((Hugs))) Saundra
  • arbor3
    arbor3 Member Posts: 103
    #6
    DECADRON
    HiI was on Decadron when I had my first chemo round, I am on my third. Decadron made me very nervous, angry and I could not sleep. I felt like my whole body was shaking from the inside out. My doctor put me on Xanax to calm me down and help me sleep. The next round of treatment I was on Compazine and it worked great and it worked much better.
    Hang in there.

    .HUGS AND LOVE

    DINORA
  • deanna14
    deanna14 Member Posts: 732
    #7
    I think this is a normal side effect
    I think that this is a normal side effect with steroids. However, I have felt this way at times off and on since my diagnosis last September. I think it is pretty normal for you to have feelings of anger simply from being diagnosed with a life threatening illness! I am also taking Effexor with a dual purpose of helping with menopausal symptoms and depression. Have you talked with your doctor about the anger? Maybe you need a little something to help you through for a while? I think it has helped me, even though I still get agitated more easily than I used to.
    Good luck and God Bless.
  • TracieK
    TracieK Member Posts: 45
    #8
    NORMAL
    I was diagnosed in January 2008 and went through all of the stages from anger to bargaining to finally, after a long while--acceptance. The diagnosis of cancer is so tough. Many times I found myself misdirecting my emotions to those I was closest to. Luckily they all knew it was just that, misdirected. Through treatment I noticed it became difficult to stay on a level emotional field. There is so much to deal with. The diagnosis, making treatment decisions, feeling cruddy. The steroids. My mother bought me a kids sock monkey and bat. I thought she had lost her mind. I spent some time banging on pillows and throwing the monkey when I was feeling overwhelmed. I know it sounds funny, but it worked. Please remember you are not alone in this. We are all here and will keep you in prayers. It is ok to be sad.

    Many hugs,
    Tracie
  • kris43
    kris43 Member Posts: 275
    #9
    arbor3 said:

    DECADRON
    HiI was on Decadron when I had my first chemo round, I am on my third. Decadron made me very nervous, angry and I could not sleep. I felt like my whole body was shaking from the inside out. My doctor put me on Xanax to calm me down and help me sleep. The next round of treatment I was on Compazine and it worked great and it worked much better.
    Hang in there.

    .HUGS AND LOVE

    DINORA

    memories
    I was diagnosed in July of 2007, Stage IIIC - but oh how I remember the shakiness. I felt like somebody was inside me just rattling me around. It was so hard to explain to someone that had never "felt" it. Horrible, horrible feeling.

    I did not feel the anger thing though - just the shaking which scared me to no end as I had nothing to compare it too.

    Let us know what you figure out - either with another med, self talk, or an anti-depressant or anxiety med.

    Hugs!
    Kris

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