Understanding Dexamethasone

The steroid dexamethasone (“dex”) is helpful in the treatment of conditions that affect the immune system, such as myeloma. Dex as part of combination therapies improves the ability of other drugs to destroy myeloma cells. Dex has many benefits. It also comes with dose-related side effects: irritability, mood swings, personality changes, insomnia, and depression. This booklet is intended to be useful for patients and for those around them.