Hives - from Taxol??

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oldbeauty
oldbeauty Member Posts: 366 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Eight days after my first infusion of carboplatin and taxol I have developed hives on my thighs ankles and now my arms.  It itches a little and last night and this morning I took a Benadryl.  I figured that since they dose you with Benadryl before they give the "high test" it would be OK. Now I see from the Taxol disclosure sheet that a rash is a common side effect.  My oncologist nurse is off today and I will try to reach the PA. The Taxol sheet not to apply anything to the rash w/o dr's orders so maybe that indicates not to take Benadryl either.  Has anyone broken out in hives after treatment started? If so, what were you told to do?  Thanks for any feedback. Oldbeauty

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  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    #2
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    Allergy

    I'm glad your trying to reach your PA about this. Hives is an allergic reaction and it can get worse and is also a potential source for an infection when your immune system is compromised. You definitely don't want to try to self treat with something that may progress to being quite serious. Be a pest until someone calls you back!

  • oldbeauty
    oldbeauty Member Posts: 366 Member
    #3
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    Thanks

    Thanks for response. The on call nurse talked to me.  She made a note but said it was strange that a reaction to Taxol would occur a week after infusion.  She said I could take Benadryl and apply hydrocortisone cream if I needed to.  I will be vigilant.  Thanks again. Oldbeauty

  • pinky104
    pinky104 Member Posts: 574 Member
    edited January 2017 #4
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    Hives--Another possible reason

    Please be aware that there could be another possible reason for your hives.  Some people are actually allergic to Benadryl, even though Benadryl is given for allergic reactions.  I was surprised to learn this when I was working in an office job in a hospital Emergency Dept.  I knew someone else who had hives a few months ago after her first chemo for ovarian cancer.  I told her about reading about the allergic reaction to the Benadryl in my ED charts.  She asked her oncologist about it upon my recommendation, and sure enough, her allergy did turn out to be to the Benadryl. Your nurse may not have thought about this possibility.  If your reaction continues, you may want to consider this.

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    #5
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    I've heard of this, too!

    I had a neighbor when I lived in NJ that was allergic to Benedryl and sometiimes had issues with doctors/dentists who didn't want to believe her about this. I had forgotten about it, so thanks for bringing it up pinky! In any case, should a rash develop into open sores, it would be of concern as a vector for infection when one's immune system is compromised during chemo. No scratching!!

  • oldbeauty
    oldbeauty Member Posts: 366 Member
    edited January 2017 #6
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    MAbound said:

    I've heard of this, too!

    I had a neighbor when I lived in NJ that was allergic to Benedryl and sometiimes had issues with doctors/dentists who didn't want to believe her about this. I had forgotten about it, so thanks for bringing it up pinky! In any case, should a rash develop into open sores, it would be of concern as a vector for infection when one's immune system is compromised during chemo. No scratching!!

    Very Interesting!

    I took the Benadryl steadily for four days and the hives are gone.  They never really itched that much. I won't take any today and see what happens.  They came out the morning after I started to take a daily 100 mg tablet of Vitamin B6 which the oncology nurse recommended when I told her about onset of neuropathy symptoms.  I will continue to take the Vitamin B6 and if the hives come back, that'll be the culprit I suppose.  Thanks for the useful feedback ladies.  Oldbeauty

  • Kaleena
    Kaleena Member Posts: 2,088 Member
    #7
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    It could be from the carboplatin too.  Also, are you on any antibiotics?   They were giving me ciproflaxin in the hospital when I would have my stent changed every 3 months.   After about the 5th time, I broke out in hives and itching so I can't have it anymore.

  • oldbeauty
    oldbeauty Member Posts: 366 Member
    edited January 2017 #8
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    Kaleena said:

    It could be from the carboplatin too.  Also, are you on any antibiotics?   They were giving me ciproflaxin in the hospital when I would have my stent changed every 3 months.   After about the 5th time, I broke out in hives and itching so I can't have it anymore.

    No antibiotics

    I myself get hives from penicillin.  I was a sickly child and apparently reached my toxic limit with lots of doses of penicillin. We'll see if I react to the Vitamin B6.  If it's not that I might ask the oncology nurse if I should take Benadryl a day or two before my next treatment.  Thanks for the ideas. Oldbeauty

  • Kamushka
    Kamushka Member Posts: 22
    #9
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    Just saw this

    Just read this and wanted to say I had a reaction to the carboplatin at the last chemo session! As far as the neuropathy, when the pain was so bad, by chemo four, my oncologist and the surgical oncologist felt cutting the taxol to 80% would still give me an amount I needed.... they also suggested the nurse give me an ice pack for my feet and hands......it was amazing how it worked... I was no longer at Defcon One and I didn't need the pain pills they suggested I use (those that I was prescribed for after my hysterectomy that I didn't need! ) good luck!

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