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coming off steroids and docetaxel

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User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 06:27
So its 4 weeks since I finished the chemo

And have now stopped taking any steroids was on 5mg last one I had was a week ago

Is it standard practise to just stop taking the steroids or should you be taking a lower dose till body adapts

Have found I am more fatigued now then ever gets to the afternoon takes me all my time to stay awake

Regards

Nidge

run long and prosper

'pooh how do you spell love'

'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 12:05

Don't know the answer Nigel but don't want your post lost so pushing you up the list a bit.

I do have this thing about unanswered posts so I know it might annoy some members that I "bump", well sorry but here goes

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 12:15
Hi Nidge

I am sorry that I am unable to give any practical advice as I have no experience of the regime that you have been undergoing. You know better than most that someone will share their experience but have you made your concerns known to your GP ?

I hope that this a temporary glitch and that things will improve for you.

Kind regards,

Kevan

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 12:49
Hi Nidge

I've always understood that you should reduce steroids in a gradual way. I'm very surprised that information about how to manage has not been given to you. Can you ring your specialist nurse for advice?

Allison

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 14:05
Nidge

This is a good question, the steroid regime during docetaxel chemo is normally intermittent for periods either side of chemo until chemo ends and then stop completely. The steroid withdrawal issues should not be an issue for that type of usage.

However if in doubt check with your GP.

The fatigue may just be HT related or the fact that chemo itself has left you tired, maybe your Hb and WBC blood counts are still recovering.?

The gradual withdrawal from steroids is usually done for people who have high dose long term treatment with them.

Best wishes

Xxx

Mo

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 15:18

Nidge Most definately not good to suddenly stop steroids.. I have been on and off steroids for last 4 years and each time I have been weaned off them. Currently taking 2 prednisalone each day after another 10 shots of chemo, and Oncologist told me after last chemo that soon I would be given reducing dose to end steroid treatment.

Edited by member 10 Feb 2016 at 15:44  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 19:24
I had similar issues when first off steroids after docetaxl. My onco prescribed more steroids but in the end I never took them as a few days later I was back to where I used to be sort of so perhaps just tough it out for a couple of weeks?

Kev

Dream like you have forever, live like you only have today Avatar is me doing the 600 mile Camino de Santiago May 2019

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User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 12:05

Don't know the answer Nigel but don't want your post lost so pushing you up the list a bit.

I do have this thing about unanswered posts so I know it might annoy some members that I "bump", well sorry but here goes

We can't control the winds - but we can adjust our sails
User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 12:15
Hi Nidge

I am sorry that I am unable to give any practical advice as I have no experience of the regime that you have been undergoing. You know better than most that someone will share their experience but have you made your concerns known to your GP ?

I hope that this a temporary glitch and that things will improve for you.

Kind regards,

Kevan

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 12:49
Hi Nidge

I've always understood that you should reduce steroids in a gradual way. I'm very surprised that information about how to manage has not been given to you. Can you ring your specialist nurse for advice?

Allison

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 12:54

it was the oncologist that said just take what you have then stop, you will not need any smaller dosage, this is what I have been bothered about with the hospital, the nurses who gave me the chemo said that I would be given smaller doses for a short while

regards
nidge

run long and prosper

'pooh how do you spell love'

'piglet you dont spell love -you just feel it'

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 14:05
Nidge

This is a good question, the steroid regime during docetaxel chemo is normally intermittent for periods either side of chemo until chemo ends and then stop completely. The steroid withdrawal issues should not be an issue for that type of usage.

However if in doubt check with your GP.

The fatigue may just be HT related or the fact that chemo itself has left you tired, maybe your Hb and WBC blood counts are still recovering.?

The gradual withdrawal from steroids is usually done for people who have high dose long term treatment with them.

Best wishes

Xxx

Mo

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 15:18

Nidge Most definately not good to suddenly stop steroids.. I have been on and off steroids for last 4 years and each time I have been weaned off them. Currently taking 2 prednisalone each day after another 10 shots of chemo, and Oncologist told me after last chemo that soon I would be given reducing dose to end steroid treatment.

Edited by member 10 Feb 2016 at 15:44  | Reason: Not specified

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 17:02

Prednisolone comes in 5 mg or 10 mg tablets. Some people have dosage of as much a 30 mg a day, but not to my knowledge for PCa. If you are on 10 mg you would reduce to 5 mg for a specified period before you stop altogether. If you are on 5 mg tablets, you just stop taking them. Nobody suggests going to half tablets or alternate days so far as I know. It appears to me that the advice given is spot on, just that some people haven't read the posts closely enough!

AC in Northants

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 17:58

I agree with Mo and Auld Codger. Your consultant is the expert here, not the nurses who may have assumed you were on a higher dose.

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 10 Feb 2016 at 19:24
I had similar issues when first off steroids after docetaxl. My onco prescribed more steroids but in the end I never took them as a few days later I was back to where I used to be sort of so perhaps just tough it out for a couple of weeks?

Kev

Dream like you have forever, live like you only have today Avatar is me doing the 600 mile Camino de Santiago May 2019

User
Posted 22 Feb 2016 at 13:47

I'm just starting the come-down, had my last chemo last week on the NHS. When I was private I just had a GCSF injection, this was the first time I'd had steroids apart from the 3 days Dexamethasone. I'm on Prednisolone 5mg for 18 days, no mention of reducing dose. As AC says, I think the 5mg is low enough that you can just stop.

 
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