Steroids and depression

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michellej1980
michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
edited June 2014 in Mental Health: Because Cancer Doesn't Just Affect Your Breasts

I have read a lot over the years about people who get on a 'high' with steroids but I always seem to go the other way whenever I take them. When I was first diagnosed with lymphoma in 1996 I was okay emotionally, until all of a sudden I became terribly depressed. I particularly remember sitting in the corner of the kitchen floor in tears. After many more episodes of this I later realised that my bouts concidided with taking steroids either as part of chemo or for related side effects. I was diagnosed with BC four months ago now and although obviously not happy about it, my emotional state has been pretty stable. I've been able to think clearly, make important decisions, carry on enjoying things I normally enjoy etc. Then, two days into chemo I began feeling really low. I had taken three days' worth of dexamethasone and I can't accept that it's a concidence that I now feel so crap. I have minimal side effects from the chemo apart from this so I should be feeling grateful and relieved (though it is early days). Instead I can't be bothered to do anything, even though I know that is also going to make me feel worse! I want to cry to relieve it but can't. I hoped that taking such short courses of steroids wouldn't affect me. I am going to talk to my onc and see if she will let me reduce the dose next cycle since I didn't have any major reaction to the chemo.



What I want to know really is am I alone in this reaction? Why are steroids so evil?!

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  • Crusher68
    Crusher68 Member Posts: 4
    edited November 2012

    Hi,

    I had 6 cycles of FEC-T in 2009/2010. I had loads of physical side effects, sore mouth, campylobactor food poisoning with neutropenia, sickness etc etc during my first three cycles of FEC. However, mentally I was ticking along as steady as usual (I've never had any depression or mental problems). Then I started my three docetaxel/taxotere cycles where I had to take short high doses of dexamethasone prior to, during and after my chemo infusions. After the first cycle of these drugs I can only describe this awful, heavy, sense of dread that came over me. It felt like every bit of joy and normality was being sucked out if me. I've never experienced anything like it before or since and found it all encompassing and completely debilitating. My second cycle of docetaxel was cancelled on the day of chemo three successive times due to an ongoing flu/cold with a high temperature. So for three consecutive weeks I had to take the high dose dexamethasone on the day prior to chemo followed by a complete stop. I was virtually on my knees by the third week on the trot of doing this. In the end I refused to take the pre-loading steroids until they agreed I was fit enough to receive the chemo. It took me months to recover from this but now I'm completely back to normal. I definitely blame the short spikes of high dose steroids for this mental disruption. It was completely awful looking back on it but I did get through it and was able to complete my chemo, so hang in there.

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  • michellej1980
    michellej1980 Member Posts: 342
    edited November 2012

    Thanks for sharing, Crusher68. I can honestly say it is the worst side effect of anything I've ever had, and the most difficult to overcome. I'd rather have cancer than depression. I spoke about it to a nurse today and she'd heard of patients with similar experiences and told me to speak to my doctor about it as she knew of one woman who (unbeknown to her docs) never bothered taking her dexamethasone and never had any allergic reactions. I at least hope they will let me reduce the dose next time.

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