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Dex verses Prednisone

  • D.Mann
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  • Diagnosed October 2016 Steroids, IVIG, Rituxin, Promacta, Spleen removed, Rituxin again. Currently weaning off Promacta and Prednisone.
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8 years 3 months ago #61210 by D.Mann
Dex verses Prednisone was created by D.Mann
Has anyone had success with one steroid and not another? I have been on Prednisone twice with really no effect. When I am hospitalized and receive IVIG I also get IV steroids. My IVIG response is always better from the hospital than IVIG given in the doctors office (without IV steroids). I am trying to figure out if I should ask to try a DEX pulse and drop the prednisone if my count continues to drop right now.
Hal, this one is one I hope you could answer!!!

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  • Hal9000
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  • Give me all your platelets and nobody gets hurt
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8 years 3 months ago #61213 by Hal9000
Replied by Hal9000 on topic Dex verses Prednisone
Hey D.Mann. This may be the thread you're thinking of. It's been awhile. Rob16 seemed to have a good handle on this sort of thing. Me, not so much.
pdsa.org/discussion-group/7-treatment-general/29345-unresponsive-to-prednisone.html#55690

Further down the thread he says this about Dex:
"
I have looked and looked, and cannot find out whether this phenomenon applies to dexamethasone, so I cannot say whether it would work on you if you are unresponsive to prednisone.
"
Hope this help...
ITP Types and Treatments by HAL
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8 years 3 months ago #61216 by kae0603
Replied by kae0603 on topic Dex verses Prednisone
I can't really answer since I am a total newbie, but I just finished a round of Dex. 20mg for 4 days. My levels are up. 169 so they are great. I go back tomorrow to see if they dropped at all now that it should technically be mostly out of my system.
It was horrible though. I felt like crap for a week. Waiting to hold off option if it was worth it until my levels stay up or drop too quickly.

It is rough on your body though.
Kathy
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  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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8 years 3 months ago #61220 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Dex verses Prednisone
DMann:

Yes, there are people who do not respond to Prednisone that do respond to Dex. It's a potent treatment with nasty side effects though.

You wouldn't be able to just drop the Prednisone though. Dex is used as a four day pulse treatment with no taper. Since you've been on Prednisone for so long, you'd still need to taper that safely.

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8 years 3 months ago #61244 by jayinchicago
Replied by jayinchicago on topic Dex verses Prednisone
I was admitted twice and both the situations they gave me liquid steroids in IV before IVIG.

Is your doctor's office giving you the steroids.

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  • D.Mann
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  • Diagnosed October 2016 Steroids, IVIG, Rituxin, Promacta, Spleen removed, Rituxin again. Currently weaning off Promacta and Prednisone.
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8 years 3 months ago #61245 by D.Mann
Replied by D.Mann on topic Dex verses Prednisone
Each time I have been in the hospital I got both. The times I’ve had IVIG in the office no steroids.
Right now I just finished Rituxin and on daily medications, Promacta and Prednisone.

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  • Hal9000
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  • Give me all your platelets and nobody gets hurt
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8 years 3 months ago #61246 by Hal9000
Replied by Hal9000 on topic Dex verses Prednisone
D.Mann when you say you had 'no effect' from Prednisone do you mean no side effects at all?
Maybe it would be easier to ask your doc to switch from Prednisone to Prednisolone.
ITP Types and Treatments by HAL

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  • D.Mann
  • Topic Author
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  • Diagnosed October 2016 Steroids, IVIG, Rituxin, Promacta, Spleen removed, Rituxin again. Currently weaning off Promacta and Prednisone.
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8 years 3 months ago #61247 by D.Mann
Replied by D.Mann on topic Dex verses Prednisone
Prednisone has not helped me at all. I do have side effects off and on, insomnia about every other night. My count was down again Tuesday, no at 61. I will get weekly CBC and see the doctor in two weeks. If it continues to drop I’m going to ask a different Steroid. My in hospital IVIG response is much better than in office IVIG. The only difference is the IV steroids. My gut (maybe grasping at straws) is a different steroid might help keep my count up.

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  • Sandi
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  • Sandi Forum Moderator Diagnosed in 1998, currently in remission. Diagnosed with Lupus in 2006. Last Count - 344k - 6-9-18
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8 years 3 months ago #61250 by Sandi
Replied by Sandi on topic Dex verses Prednisone
Dex isn't known for keeping counts up. If a person is responsive, it can cause a rapid rise but counts generally fall again within days or weeks. Sometimes if the pulse is done every month for four to six month it can keep counts up for a while in a responsive person.

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