Ann,
My husband was given this drug after his Cisplatin treatment. He was taking Dexamethasone, Emend for three days, and Zofran.
Yes, the Dexamethasone, being a steriod, made him quite manic and actually not very pleasant to be around. It did however curb his nausea and so we stuck it out. Manic symptoms and irritability lasted a few days. I think this is normal. He definitely had more energy for the first 2 days after treatment and then crashed. He was being fed on a feeding tube so it really wasn't eating anyway. It took two cisplatin treatments to get the anti-nausea meds right but he needed to take the Dexamethasone b/c without he was quite sick.
He had a combo of 3 different meds. Emend for three days ( 1st treatment we didn't have this drug and he got really sick)
Dexamethasone , and odansetron ( Zofran) and if needed another drug we never used ( can't remember the name).
I think it is a matter of experimenting. If he gets sick without the Dexamethasone that is probably worse than him losing his appetite for a few days. He will get dehydrated.
Talk to your doctor and see if they can change the dose. Emend ( quite costly) worked miracles.
Let us know how it goes.
Vanessa