Dexamethasone (Dexona) With Chemotherapy: — Why You Are Given It
Dexamethasone — sold as Dexona — is a steroid your team gives before and around chemotherapy. It is not a cancer drug. It prevents severe nausea and stops allergic reactions before they start.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla, Medical Oncologist, MBBS · MD · DM (Adyar, Chennai) · ECMO · MRCP SCE (UK) · Last reviewed September 2026
- Not a cancer drug — Dexamethasone is a protective medicine given to support you through treatment, not to treat the tumour.
- A planned part of your regimen — Most chemotherapy protocols include it as a standard step, not an afterthought or emergency measure.
- The side effects are predictable — Hunger, broken sleep and raised blood sugar are known effects of steroids, not signs that something is wrong.
- Effects ease between cycles — They are strongest in the day or two around each treatment and settle as the medicine clears from your body.
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Dexamethasone (Dexona) is a steroid given before chemotherapy to prevent severe nausea and allergic reactions. It is a protective medicine, not a cancer treatment. The hunger, sleeplessness and blood sugar rise you notice are predictable effects of the steroid, not signs that something has gone wrong.
Why is dexamethasone given with chemotherapy?
Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid — a steroid that calms the body's immune and inflammatory response. Your team gives it before chemotherapy to prevent severe nausea and to stop allergic reactions before they start.
Many chemotherapy medicines can trigger nausea that ordinary anti-sickness medicines alone do not fully control. Dexamethasone works alongside those medicines to cover both risks at once.
It is a supportive medicine. It does not affect how the chemotherapy acts on the tumour, and it is not given to treat the cancer itself.
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What effects does dexamethasone cause and why do they happen?
- Hunger or strong appetiteSteroids directly stimulate appetite. You may feel hungry soon after eating, or feel the urge to eat at unusual hours.
- Difficulty sleepingDexamethasone raises alertness. Sleep is usually most disrupted on the night you take it or the night after.
- High blood sugarSteroids prompt the liver to release stored glucose and reduce insulin's effectiveness. Blood sugar rises as a result, even in people who have never had diabetes.
- Puffiness or fluid retentionSteroids cause the body to hold extra water. Your face, hands or ankles may look slightly swollen.
- Mood changesSome people feel more energised or on edge while the steroid is active. Some notice a dip in mood as it wears off.
- Flushed face or warmthA warm, flushed feeling in the face is common and usually settles within a few hours of taking the medicine.
Why does dexamethasone raise blood sugar?
Steroids signal the liver to release stored glucose into the blood and reduce how well the body responds to insulin. Both effects raise blood sugar — which is why this happens even in people without diabetes.
If you live with diabetes, tell your oncology team before treatment starts so they can review your diabetes management plan for the treatment period.
Let your team know if you notice unusual thirst, frequent urination or blurred vision on your treatment days. These can be signs that blood sugar has risen more than expected and your team will want to know.
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Frequently asked questions
Is dexamethasone a chemotherapy drug?
No. Dexamethasone is a corticosteroid — a steroid medicine — given to protect you during chemotherapy, not to treat the cancer. It prevents the severe nausea and allergic reactions that some chemotherapy medicines can cause. Your oncologist can explain the specific role it plays in your regimen.
Why do I feel so hungry after taking Dexona?
Steroids directly stimulate appetite, and dexamethasone does this consistently. The hunger is strongest in the day or two around each treatment and eases between cycles. It is not a sign that something is wrong. If the hunger is causing real distress or making it hard to follow dietary guidance your team has given you, let them know.
Can I eat freely when I feel hungry from dexamethasone?
The hunger is real, but eating without restraint can raise blood sugar further and make weight harder to manage during treatment. For most people, regular balanced meals are safer than responding to every urge to eat. If you have been given guidance about blood sugar or diet, ask your oncology team or a dietitian how to handle the steroid-driven hunger within those limits.
Why can I not sleep after taking Dexona?
Dexamethasone raises alertness and can feel activating — especially if it is given in the afternoon or evening. The disruption is usually worst on the night of or after treatment and eases as the medicine clears. If broken sleep is significantly affecting you, tell your oncology team. Adjusting when within the regimen the medicine is given is sometimes possible.
I have diabetes — is the blood sugar rise from Dexona dangerous?
The rise is predictable and manageable when your team knows about your diabetes before treatment starts. Tell both your oncologist and your diabetes doctor or GP before chemotherapy begins so your diabetes medicines can be reviewed. Do not adjust your diabetes medicines on your own in response to readings during treatment — contact your team and let them guide any changes.
How long do the side effects of dexamethasone last?
The hunger, broken sleep and mood changes are usually strongest in the day or two around each treatment session and settle between cycles as the steroid clears. If any effect is lasting significantly longer, or feels more severe than your team described, mention it at your next appointment — or call sooner if it is worrying you.
Can I stop taking dexamethasone if I feel fine and do not think I need it?
No — do not stop, skip or reduce dexamethasone without speaking to your oncology team first. It is given for a specific reason in your regimen, and feeling fine may partly be because it is working. Stopping steroid medicines abruptly can also cause withdrawal effects. If side effects concern you, tell your team — do not stop the medicine without guidance.
Will I take dexamethasone for the whole course of chemotherapy?
The pattern depends on your specific regimen. Some people take it only on the days around each chemotherapy session; others take it for a period after each cycle to manage delayed nausea. Your chemotherapy schedule will say when it is due. If you are unsure whether you have taken it correctly, contact your team rather than doubling up or skipping.
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