tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post8154772460253248872..comments2024-02-08T05:22:14.082-06:00Comments on Myeloma Hope: Whining About DEXDonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03923592545983795350noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-78962771888753866862016-03-21T07:44:30.496-05:002016-03-21T07:44:30.496-05:00Don;
I don't tolerate dex well but have been...Don; <br /><br />I don't tolerate dex well but have been using it for the last five years as I progressed thru the revlimid, then velcade, and now pomalyst. When I started the Pom, the doc said 40 mg. I refused. Instead, I take 12 mg on Monday and 8 on Thursday to break up its high and lows. The Pom has helped my numbers but I could not tolerate 4 mg. We have down-dosed to 3 mg and I notice improvement in fatigue and weakness levels. Perhaps, as with you, 2 mg might work just as well. As the years of living with MM increase, we must assert ourself with the treatments. BTW, lorazepam is a relatively mild but effective sleep aid, though the practical solution might be just less dex. Good luck!Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18309003459223482438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-24496095977211430292016-03-18T22:46:58.512-05:002016-03-18T22:46:58.512-05:00Don,
Ativan or lorazepam is usually used for naus...Don, <br />Ativan or lorazepam is usually used for nausea and anxiety. But it's also a muscle relaxant and I find it very useful as a sleep aid. It's a good thing to get that sleep. It is a prescription, but one I wouldn't be without!!tahoegirl.bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02018956654761369565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-13484806342410026502016-03-18T22:46:31.783-05:002016-03-18T22:46:31.783-05:00Don:
Sorry to hear you are doing the "Dex Da...Don:<br /><br />Sorry to hear you are doing the "Dex Dance". <br /><br /><br />I do not tolerate Dex for the very reasons you state,GERD, etc. --plus I cannot sleep for days, I become manic, and my mood goes to S*it in a handbasket.<br />My Oncologist says I should take it--but I'd rather take Velcade than 40 mg Dex. At lower doses (below 20 mg) I can tolerate it for 2 weeks--but that is as far as my body will go.<br />Many, many, small meals, zantac, calcium, and pepto are what I used, with some effect. Nothing spicy--WOW!<br /><br />I feel for you.<br /><br />Glad you have some answers and are back on Pomalyst. That drug has been good to you.<br /><br />BobLaddiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10604248509823030002noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-60172222910742943992016-03-18T18:31:51.926-05:002016-03-18T18:31:51.926-05:00I'll just pick some up. Thanks Mike.I'll just pick some up. Thanks Mike.Donhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03923592545983795350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-56493726875183453752016-03-18T16:44:43.116-05:002016-03-18T16:44:43.116-05:00The Zantac is available at your local pharmacy wit...The Zantac is available at your local pharmacy with no prescription required. Good luck..MikeThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03238175673455709401noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-11870653094300602062016-03-18T15:36:01.247-05:002016-03-18T15:36:01.247-05:00Thanks Ellen,
I do appreciate the advice. Also, ...Thanks Ellen,<br /><br />I do appreciate the advice. Also, I like to avoid prescription meds when possible, but I'm definitely leaning toward asking for ranitidine for emergency use. In the meantime I have read good things about ordinary calcium citrate (not carbonate) when taken regularly, and I have added that as a capsule of powder 250 mg twice daily. Since I have thin bones, the calcium is good for me anyway. No reflux since I started that, but no DEX since then either. We'll see.<br /><br />I still haven't really researched Ativan. That's next. Apparently the generic name is lorazepam, and it's been around long enough to have a lot of information available.<br /><br />Thanks again, DonDonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03923592545983795350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-79158409370249201792016-03-18T14:39:42.824-05:002016-03-18T14:39:42.824-05:00Eve though you have not had heartburn from the Dex...Eve though you have not had heartburn from the Dex before, it is a higher dosage, so you might be experiencing it due to that. Don't suffer....there are lots of good heartburn meds on the market, from Zantac to Prilosec to Nexium. I am a lifelong heartburn sufferer, so if you want immediate relief, go for the Zantac. Prilosec/Nexium takes longer to work. I second the use of Ativan for sleep. I hope the new meds regimen knocks the myeloma out!ellen goldsteinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01599486948859630439noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-80493884619734626782016-03-18T09:11:52.515-05:002016-03-18T09:11:52.515-05:00Thanks Christina,
I appreciate the advice. I'...Thanks Christina,<br />I appreciate the advice. I'll certainly ask my doc about the 20 mg dose, and I'll look up Ativan. This is so odd - I'm NOT a newbie to DEX by any means, but this experience was new.<br />Thanks again, DonDonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03923592545983795350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-58038797775217809042016-03-18T08:24:06.642-05:002016-03-18T08:24:06.642-05:00Don, I always take Ativan the second night to slee...Don, I always take Ativan the second night to sleep. Otherwise I'd never Sleep. Call your doctor for a prescription. I only take .5 or sometimes 2 or 1.0 then. Also, I've heard 20 mg is as effective as 40 mg. Check with your doctor about lowering to 20mg and then see what your numbers do. Also, I have Zantac also for the acid reflux and heartburn from the dex. It works well. But if you need something stronger prescription Protonix is amazing. <br />Good luck on the run, and take care!!!tahoegirl.bloghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02018956654761369565noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-4972313883786352262016-03-18T07:30:18.411-05:002016-03-18T07:30:18.411-05:00Thanks Mike,
Good ideas. I did have a prescriptio...Thanks Mike,<br />Good ideas. I did have a prescription for ranitidine at one time, but never used it and both the medicine and the prescription expired. I'll talk to my doc.<br />DonDonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03923592545983795350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7107951278396437262.post-88855300271878272382016-03-18T00:34:41.462-05:002016-03-18T00:34:41.462-05:00Don, I am also taking Pomalyst at this time but wi...Don, I am also taking Pomalyst at this time but with no dex for now. I have found that taking a couple of Tums for short term relief and also a 150 mg Zantac tablet (ranitidine) at bedtime stops the acid reflux.MikeThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03238175673455709401noreply@blogger.com