I self diagnosed myself and was using my wife's Dex. She had glioblastoma. I then got my Mayo rheumatologist to confirm diagnosis. Dadcue has more of a medical background and knows the risks. I self taught myself the risks thru my wife and I. Dex is the most powerful of the Corticosteroids. About 5 times stronger than prednisone. As you would suspect then all the side effects are then amplified to some degree. My wife or I both noticed almost immediate weight gain, jowly face, terrible skin discoloring and lesions, stomach issues, increased A1c, increased cholesterol, increased blood pressure, bone density, and increased issues with tapering. On the flip side all the things steroids are designed to help were also magnified. I cant say whether prednisone at the same equivalent dosage would be as bad. I can say the neuro oncologist treating my wife said Dex was the preferred treatment for immediate relief. Dadcue being in that field would be aware of the immediate side effects.