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Erbitux?

sassysrice
sassysrice CSN Member Posts: 117
in Head and Neck Cancer #1

Jeff was switched to Erbitux for his last 3 chemo's since he had the ringing in the ears from cisplatin.  Before they gave him Erbitux,  they infussed him with benadyl. He had it at 9:30 in the morning and slept most of the day. Then from 4 til 5 in the morning he could not pee.  Anybody else have this issue?  I know morphine can cause this, but he has been taking about the same for 2 weeks.  Actually he took less that day since he slept so much.

Can anyone weigh in. Not sure if it was the benadyl or the Erbitux.

Sue

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Comments

  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt CSN Member Posts: 4,725 Member
    #2
    you had to ask

    Sue,

     

    It is nice to be asked, I peed fine while on Erbitux matter-of-fact I was drinking so much water I was peeing here and there.

     

    The main side effect I experienced was acne over my upper torso and face.  At 9+ months post I still have freckling (torso not face) from the acne, but my skins is smooth.  Also, I lost my toe nail on my big toe.

     

    Best,

     

    Matt

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  • Billie67
    Billie67 CSN Member Posts: 898
    #3
    sue

    Sorry but I can't explain that either. I had Erbitux and Benadryl with each infusion and i Never had that problem. Maybe soon someone will come on here and be able to shed some light.

     

    Billie

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  • sassysrice
    sassysrice CSN Member Posts: 117
    #4
    CivilMatt said:

    you had to ask

    Sue,

     

    It is nice to be asked, I peed fine while on Erbitux matter-of-fact I was drinking so much water I was peeing here and there.

     

    The main side effect I experienced was acne over my upper torso and face.  At 9+ months post I still have freckling (torso not face) from the acne, but my skins is smooth.  Also, I lost my toe nail on my big toe.

     

    Best,

     

    Matt

    Oh my

    Did it grow back?

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  • sassysrice
    sassysrice CSN Member Posts: 117
    #5
    Billie67 said:

    sue

    Sorry but I can't explain that either. I had Erbitux and Benadryl with each infusion and i Never had that problem. Maybe soon someone will come on here and be able to shed some light.

     

    Billie

    thanks guys

    thanks guys

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  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor CSN Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #6
    most of us are in the agegroup.....

    This is not caused by erbitux.  Most likely it is the benedryl, combined with BPH.  Has he had a rectal exam any time in the last few years?  The common scenario is an enlarged prostate, plus and antihistamine.

     

    Pat

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  • luv4lacrosse
    luv4lacrosse CSN Member Posts: 1,410 Member
    #7
    It's the Benadryl

    I'm in a study with Erbitux, and they give me Benadryl. It will let him sleep hopefully during most of the treatment.

    Mike

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  • sassysrice
    sassysrice CSN Member Posts: 117
    #8
    luv4lacrosse said:

    It's the Benadryl

    I'm in a study with Erbitux, and they give me Benadryl. It will let him sleep hopefully during most of the treatment.

    Mike

    It was the Benadryl

    We went for the second dose of Erbitux today and mentioned the fact that he couldn't pee for an agonizing 8 hrs.  The Dr said it was the benadryl. So no benadryl today. It did make the treatment much faster only an hour. SmileI just need to keep an eye out for a rash or itching. Than I will give him over the counter benadryl.

    Hope your tail goes well Matt

    Sue

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  • CivilMatt
    CivilMatt CSN Member Posts: 4,725 Member
    #9
    sassysrice said:

    It was the Benadryl

    We went for the second dose of Erbitux today and mentioned the fact that he couldn't pee for an agonizing 8 hrs.  The Dr said it was the benadryl. So no benadryl today. It did make the treatment much faster only an hour. SmileI just need to keep an eye out for a rash or itching. Than I will give him over the counter benadryl.

    Hope your tail goes well Matt

    Sue

    Erbitux deluxe

    Sue,

     

    Yes, my toe nail grew back fine.

     

    My rash while terrible never itched much (lucky).  Everyone that saw it asked if it itched, but no it didn’t.  It did produce a good case of acne.  I looked yesterday and I still have freckles from it.  My first dose was on January 13, 2011 (one year ago).

     

    Best,

     

    Matt

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  • blackswampboy
    blackswampboy CSN Member Posts: 341
    #10
    sassysrice said:

    It was the Benadryl

    We went for the second dose of Erbitux today and mentioned the fact that he couldn't pee for an agonizing 8 hrs.  The Dr said it was the benadryl. So no benadryl today. It did make the treatment much faster only an hour. SmileI just need to keep an eye out for a rash or itching. Than I will give him over the counter benadryl.

    Hope your tail goes well Matt

    Sue

    benadryl

    or maybe you could just have them cut the benadryl dosage down, not get rid of it entirely.

    my first two erbitux infusions...the benadryl had my legs doing the electric boogaloo. awful--just wanted to sleep, but my legs were dancing all over the place. but by then my onc had determined that I wasn't likely to have serious allergic reaction to the erbitux...and I got him to cut the benadryl in half. I still didn't like it, but at least I could snooze.

    he's likely to get the rash, even with benadryl. that's part of the deal with erbitux.

    best wishes, douglas

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