Hi doctor good morning. My mother is suffering from mucoepidermoid carcinoma parotid with secondary mets to lungs, lymph nodes bones and brain. She has no symptoms other than continuous cough, weakness and is on continuous oxygen. To reduce the cough doctors have prescribed Deriphylene and dexona 8mg injections and nebaulizations. She is on this medication since last 4mnths and treatment for cancer is stopped as no medication was responding. i read that prolonged use of dexona leads to weakness of bones and muscles. Any alternative to keep her healthy and comfortable till the time she lives.
It's a powerful steroid. It might or might not be doing much in her case. Steroids can be given as inhaled and not have effects outside of the lungs. Since she is having continuous cough, tessalon is a very mild drug, inhaled nebulizers and steroids are the usual drug. Narcotics are powerful cough suppressants.