Dexamethasone for Inflammatory Conditions User Reviews (Page 2)

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2022

"I was given a single 10 mg/ml one ML of dexamethasone orally 7 days ago at a walk-in clinic for a possible sinus infection. The provider drew up the injection in a syringe and shot it into a cup of soda for me to drink. The last 7 days have been hell. Severe confusion, feeling like my brain is in fog, unable to concentrate, waking up in the middle of the night in panic, crying uncontrollably, fearful, scared, dizzy, zero appetite, severe headaches/migraines. This drug is long-lasting, and I’ve been suffering for this whole week with none of the doctors being able to figure out why. Well, I figured it out. I’ve almost had to go to the ER because I’ve been so upset and in absolute panic. Please, please, please do not take this drug in any form. Especially if you have a history of steroid sensitivity or anxiety. I’m praying it will wear off as the days go on."

• bbe...
• January 21, 2011

"I can say it did some pretty good things for my back (bulging disc). It wasn't a cure at all by any means, but it helped a lot. Downside. Same as others: depression, huge appetite increase, but at the same time, everything tasted horrible, bad mood swings, suicidal thoughts (not normal for me), horrible insomnia, blurred vision, cold sweats, hands and feet tingling, numb. Swollen mouth, gums, lips, almost unbearable chest pain. At one point, my wife was ready to call 911. Oh, can't forget the late night extreme skeletal pain. Every bone in my body felt like it was about to snap. If you're like I was and are in so much pain you can hardly walk, try it. Be careful."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 2, 2019

"I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica about 2 years ago. Started on 40 mg of prednisone. Slowly reduced to 5.5 over the years. Couldn't get below 5.5 without having a flare. I gained over 20 pounds and went up 3 dress sizes. I perspire terribly just sitting in my chair, my hair looks like I just stepped out of the shower. My pain management doctor prescribed dexamethasone, 1.8 mg, 7-day dosing pack. What a wild ride! Can't sleep, got thrush in my mouth, had so much energy, but it was hard to concentrate. I am so dizzy, I can't move fast for fear of falling. While I was getting lots of things done, I was still exhausted. The doctor told me I could get off the daily dose of prednisone, which is my hope. I just finished my last pill 2 days ago, and I am praying the polymyalgia doesn't return. Is there anyone else out there that has had any experience with the dosing pack?"

• Leo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 24, 2024

"It works wonders for inflammation and pain. But if you take it for some months - like I had to - the chances of adverse side effects go up exponentially. In my case, that translated as a 30-pound weight gain."

• Ms ...
• May 1, 2017

Dexamethasone "I have MS and a bad back sometimes. I had saved this for a time when the doctor wasn't helping out enough. My left leg started to hurt from my butt to my ankle. Was taking hydrocodone. Eating 3 at a time wasn't doing enough. Started taking Decadron, pain level dropped a lot, but you need to make sure that you're eating food with them. Had no side effects! Wish I had more! Going to ask the doctor."

• Nik...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2022

"This drug made me feel like I was going crazy. I was on it for a sinus infection. My whole body tingled all over, to the point I was scared to drive I was so numb. I literally took 3 pills, and two days later I still feel this way. Lightheaded, dizzy, legs feel like jello… Will never take again…"

• Bla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 1, 2023

"I was prescribed a high dosage of Dex for what they originally thought was Crohn's, which turned out to be lupus. Unfortunately, the Dex ruined my life. When I tried to stop taking it, I experienced convulsions in my legs. Initially, I thought it was a symptom of the illness, but it turned out to be the steroid. Despite being a 5'2" athletic woman, I gained 200 pounds over the ten months they had me on it. I developed Cushing's syndrome, resulting in a 'moon face' and a hump on my back. The doctors were unable to pull off a tapering schedule, so I did it myself, slowly. What started as adrenal fatigue soon became adrenal insufficiency. I lost my hair and suffered kidney damage/failure. Dexamethasone psychosis developed, causing me to hallucinate. I also experienced bone loss and excruciating pain while walking. There were times when I couldn't even walk at all. Eventually, I developed kidney failure, and I was swelling so much that I got an impinged nerve. Despite losing the 200 pounds after a slow self-directed taper that almost killed me, I have significant scarring, and the nerve damage was permanent."

• Bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2021

"I had 2 injections of dexamethasone earlier today for pudendal nerve entrapment that has been causing pain in my pelvic area, legs, and feet for the last 5 months. Tried physical therapy and oral anti-inflammatory medications that did not help. Finally resorted to the dexamethasone injections. I have had the sensation that my heart is beating out of my chest, palpitations, shortness of breath, anxiety feeling. No change in my leg and foot pain yet, but it has only been about 8 hours since the injection. I am supposed to get these weekly, but now I am rethinking this. I don't like how this medication makes me feel."

• pat...
• March 18, 2015

Dexamethasone "I was also given this through I.V. and started freaking out as well. I got really cold, and my muscles contracted involuntarily, and my teeth started chattering and grinding. My vision got dark around the edges, and I could only see out of pinhole-shaped openings (like looking through the wrong end of a pair of binoculars). I woke up several hours later wrapped in heated blankets."

• Wen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 9, 2016

"I have CIDP - currently taking dexamethasone 40 mg (yes, forty mg) daily over 4 consecutive days of the month. Side effects are horrendous, though thankfully my condition is improving. Insomnia, weight gain, swollen legs and feet, blurred vision, agitation, increased appetite, and flushed face are the most debilitating, but only last for 6 days after finishing the last dose. Treatment plan is 6 months, I am on my fourth dose, and as the months go on, the side effects are getting worse. Would I accept this treatment again... probably not, but it does help my condition."

• Dex...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 16, 2021

"I was prescribed this for dental surgery. I also found, much to my delight, that my constant shoulder pain disappeared. I slept right through the night, waking early and completely refreshed. And all day long, I had so much energy and I felt more positive than I have felt in months."

• Cin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2014

"I took medication the first day with food. I was very restless, sweating. I had to change clothes three times. Caused my heart to race. My head was hurting so bad. The reason I was taking medication was to calm down my migraines. I didn't like the medication at all!"

• grh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 20, 2015

"I have mixed connective tissue disease, with rheumatoid symptoms. I have severe back pain due to degenerative arthritis of the spine. About every three months, I get an 80 mg Depo Medrol IM injection. Works wonders to knock out the inflammation. I went to my doctor to get an injection - I was in severe pain - the nurse gave me Dexamethasone 10 mg IM instead. My first reaction was acute euphoria - my daughter said I acted like I was drunk - and this lasted about 10 minutes. Then I had something I can only describe as confusion, and the pain came back, and it was worse than ever. I felt terrible for days. I reported this to my doctor and the NP, who were very cavalier and said that it should have worked the same."

• TJa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 9, 2019

Dexamethasone "Had this steroid (Decadron) in addition to an antibiotic shot yesterday for an upper respiratory infection. Headache (migraine) started within 2 hours and has not disappeared to this point. I've taken these same meds before without reaction but don't think I will again."

• Red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2019

"I am on dexamethasone 4 mg, twice a day. I am on day 5 of 7. The last 2 days I have been nauseous, hot/cold, and fatigued. However, my condition seems to have improved (carpal tunnel/ulnar neuropathy)."

• Jin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 26, 2022

"I believe this drug is very helpful for individuals who have adrenal issues, like Addison’s disease, etc. For me, the results have been quite mixed. I have had ongoing piriformis syndrome for the past 9 months. I’ve had four trigger point injections with dexamethasone (10 mg). After the first injection, I felt good - my pain went down to almost zero, and I had good energy. I did have some insomnia and increased urination, increased appetite - which resolved. Fast forward to this past month - I had a trigger point injection on 2/25/2022 at 9:15 a.m., and by 2:00 p.m. was feeling very fatigued. I thought it was because I had a busy day. That evening, I was both a bit anxious and tired - and I had trouble getting to sleep. However, the next morning (today), I felt like I took a large dose of Valium. So fatigued this morning, I could not get out of bed - forced myself to. I feel a combination of anxiety and fatigue and a flat mood. It’s effective for nerve pain, but side effects for sure!"

• Anonymous
• April 4, 2011

"Dexamethasone for inflammatory conditions: As one of the previous participants stated, it did wonders. However, the first week experienced extreme pain and then to have a metallic mouth - everything tastes bad. Otherwise, not experiencing what others seem to be. Don't know if I would want this shot again - it's been 2 weeks, and the metallic mouth seems to be getting worse - hopefully, it won't last much longer."

• Mrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 10, 2019

"I was given this drug because of the unbearable pain my back condition (herniated discs (4) & spinal stenosis) was causing. I could tell on the second day, and by day 3, I was nearly pain-free. I couldn't believe it. Unfortunately, during the taper, my pain came back, and I was again bedridden and crippled. The steroid back shots did little to nothing for me, and when I went in for my 'post-op' appointment to see how the back shots worked, I had to beg and plead for this prescription. Again, it's working like a miracle, though I know it's just a band-aid until I can see the surgeon. Why is it so hard to get a prescription for this med?"

• kiv...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 10, 2017

"Every time my migraines get bad enough that I end up at the ER or my back is aching from a fall (3 back surgeries), the doctors end up giving me an IV shot of this. It does work with the cocktail of meds to help calm my migraine, but when it is first pushed into the IV, please warn the nurse to dilute it and push it VERY SLOW, as it makes your body feel like it is literally tingling on FIRE, especially your private parts. My friends call it the 'crotch burner.'"

• Ber...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2018

"Twice in a year I've had acute sinus infections. The first was a blocked sinus pathway due to inflammation, and I was given two Z-packs a month apart and got worse with secondary bronchitis. The third month, I was given a 10 mg dexamethasone muscular injection, and I began feeling better within 30 minutes. I was normal for about 5 months. The second had inflammation in my tear ducts and had allergic conjunctivitis that doesn't manifest the same as viral or bacterial. After a month of my eyes tearing without a cause, it turned to a sore throat because I didn't know I had pink eye. I was then treated with a Z-pack and bacterial drops for my eyes. Eyes, nose, throat, and breathing became worse the next few days. On the third day, I went back and was prescribed eye drops for inflammation and a 10 mg IM dexamethasone. Within an hour, I was feeling so much better, and now my eyes have gone from pink to moderately bloodshot to mild to moderate bloodshot eyes, sore throat gone, and a slight cough without fire in my throat."

• Pri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 2, 2016

Dexamethasone "I was given dexamethasone for my cluster headaches. My Dr. injects it with lidocaine in the back of my head. It did take away my headaches for 3 months. I immediately knew when it wore off because I received one of the worst headaches. I had forgotten what it felt like to get a headache. I just received more injections for the 2nd time. He gives me about 5 injections on each side of my head at once. I have gained weight and have a swollen face sometimes."

• KAV...
• November 24, 2016

Dexamethasone "Today, I had to refer my aged mother, 85, for her inflammation on the bruise site on the forehead due to a fall a couple of days ago. I referred her to my family doctor, who administered Dexamethasone Injection IP 2 ml. Within 5 minutes, she developed breathing heaviness, gasped for breath, and was about to swoon. Fortunately, as the doctor swung into action and administered her Deriflin injection, after four hours, she returned to normal. This is the worst and riskiest medicine, if I have to say something on this. 24.Nov.2016"

• Dar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2020

"Just received a dexamethasone injection in my arm for tonsillitis. It initially felt like I didn’t get a shot, then the pain just exploded. I mean, no burning, just felt like I was punched in the arm. It was throbbing, and each throb was stabbing pain. I was bawling like a baby. I do have fibromyalgia, but I have had many shots in the muscle that sting. This was no sting! The doctor chalked it up to 'everything that was going on with me.' I am not a dramatic person, but this was the weirdest, most painful intravenous muscle shot I have ever had! I also have a heart condition, and reading what I am in for with anxiety and racing heart has me very concerned. Shouldn’t the doc have seen that?"

• Anonymous
• May 15, 2012

"Greatly improved appetite, I had been on chemo and had severe appetite loss, excessive sleeping. It has possibly caused some mild irritability, although my husband doesn't think I am much different than normal."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2022

"I have a major herniated disc. Woke up and could barely walk. The chiro said to go to urgent care and get a shot - they gave me 30 mg of dexamethasone. Stung like hell, but was able to stand straight up and walk with the pain diminished about 80%. It’s now 6 hours later, no side effects. I’ll update if some come! I’m not going to mix any of my other meds with this. I’ve read I’d major interactions."