I was surprised at what my MO said!

BioAdoptMom
BioAdoptMom Member Posts: 358
in Breast Cancer #1
Yesterday DH and I talked with my MO about my upcoming T/C, which I start this coming Friday. He is well respected in the community and has been a MO here for many years. He has an excellent bedside manner. However I have read on the internet, in books and have heard from a couple of others that it is important to take the anti-nausea meds regulary for the first few days after a treatment because it is easier to avoid it than stop it once it starts. He told us yesterday that they would give me plenty of meds at the treatment and I would be OK without taking anything else for a day or two, but to take it if I felt any waves of nausea coming on later(or whenever). I was surprised to hear this from him based on what everyone else says. So, what do you guys do? Have you found it is hard to get rid of it if you wait to take the meds? Do you find that what he said is true, that you usually don't need them? Dh thought what he said made sense because how will I know if I would have even gotten sick if I just take them right away. I reason that it doesn't matter as I would rather not find out. I am going to chemo class Monday afternoon and plan to ask, but was wondering how you all handle you meds after treatment.

Thanks!

Nancy

Comments

  • Hippiechick58
    Hippiechick58 Member Posts: 320
    #2
    I took Decadron the night
    I took Decadron the night before. Then the morning of I took Emend. They gave me Zofran in my IV, but I also had it in pill form if I needed it. I was also given Compazine to take as a p.r.n. It has been well over a month since my last Chemo, but I still find that I am nauseous from time to time, so I will take Compazine or Zofran as needed. I weigh in on the side of taking the meds as you need them, but every Doc is different. I'm sure you'll make the decision that is best for you.
    Good Luck and God Bless!

    Dianne
  • creampuff91344
    creampuff91344 Member Posts: 988
    #3
    Hippiechick58 said:

    I took Decadron the night
    I took Decadron the night before. Then the morning of I took Emend. They gave me Zofran in my IV, but I also had it in pill form if I needed it. I was also given Compazine to take as a p.r.n. It has been well over a month since my last Chemo, but I still find that I am nauseous from time to time, so I will take Compazine or Zofran as needed. I weigh in on the side of taking the meds as you need them, but every Doc is different. I'm sure you'll make the decision that is best for you.
    Good Luck and God Bless!

    Dianne

    Emend
    Nancy, I think the most common drug given for chemo treatment is Emend, which is taken the day before, the day of, and for two days after chemo. For most people this is enough to keep the nausea away completely. For others, there is break through nausea during the course of treatment, and there are several drugs that are given. (Zofran, Ativan, Compazine, etc). The only thing I would caution you about is the drug Reglan. Before taking this drug, do your research. I wish you good luck in your upcoming chemo treatment. This journey will be behind you before you know it, and there is always someone here on the board that can help with whatever you need help with. Sending good thoughts your way, Hugs, Judy
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #4
    creampuff91344 said:

    Emend
    Nancy, I think the most common drug given for chemo treatment is Emend, which is taken the day before, the day of, and for two days after chemo. For most people this is enough to keep the nausea away completely. For others, there is break through nausea during the course of treatment, and there are several drugs that are given. (Zofran, Ativan, Compazine, etc). The only thing I would caution you about is the drug Reglan. Before taking this drug, do your research. I wish you good luck in your upcoming chemo treatment. This journey will be behind you before you know it, and there is always someone here on the board that can help with whatever you need help with. Sending good thoughts your way, Hugs, Judy

    I think he is correct
    I was given anti-nausea medication through IV and then took them as needed.
    Decadron (steroid) was given prior infusion and two days after. Steroids are give to avoid allergic reaction from Chemo drugs, it is not an anti-nausea medication.
    Good luck with your treatment
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #5
    New Flower said:

    I think he is correct
    I was given anti-nausea medication through IV and then took them as needed.
    Decadron (steroid) was given prior infusion and two days after. Steroids are give to avoid allergic reaction from Chemo drugs, it is not an anti-nausea medication.
    Good luck with your treatment

    I took emend and decadron in
    I took emend and decadron in doses as prescribed. I also had ativan as needed as it is anti anxiety and anti nausea. I also took zofran but found out the hard way how constipating it can be (no pun intended) so I had to really cut back on that. In retrospect I would have taken more as needed meds as I had a hard time, especially the first cycle,its better to keep it at bay then wait for it to kick in and try to fix it. You will know how it goes for you after the first treatment, and then can plan.
  • BioAdoptMom
    BioAdoptMom Member Posts: 358
    #6
    carkris said:

    I took emend and decadron in
    I took emend and decadron in doses as prescribed. I also had ativan as needed as it is anti anxiety and anti nausea. I also took zofran but found out the hard way how constipating it can be (no pun intended) so I had to really cut back on that. In retrospect I would have taken more as needed meds as I had a hard time, especially the first cycle,its better to keep it at bay then wait for it to kick in and try to fix it. You will know how it goes for you after the first treatment, and then can plan.

    Thank you my friends!
    Nancy

    Thank you my friends!

    Nancy
  • Heatherbelle
    Heatherbelle Member Posts: 1,226 Member
    #7
    Hi Nancy,
    I didn't have any
    Hi Nancy,
    I didn't have any medications the day before my chemo treatments. I had IV fluids, anti nausea and steroids the day of treatment. And i did not need to take many of my anti nausea pills, either. I had something (cant remember the name, but it was a steroid) that i took for 3 days after each chemo that helped keep nausea at bay. That IV stuff they give you is pretty powerful, as far as preventing nausea goes!
    *hugs*
    Heather
  • skipper54
    skipper54 Member Posts: 936 Member
    #8
    Heatherbelle said:

    Hi Nancy,
    I didn't have any
    Hi Nancy,
    I didn't have any medications the day before my chemo treatments. I had IV fluids, anti nausea and steroids the day of treatment. And i did not need to take many of my anti nausea pills, either. I had something (cant remember the name, but it was a steroid) that i took for 3 days after each chemo that helped keep nausea at bay. That IV stuff they give you is pretty powerful, as far as preventing nausea goes!
    *hugs*
    Heather

    lots of IV
    I had 2 IV anti-nausea meds and a steroid as the first part of my infusion but also had compazine to take if needed. I didn't want to risk it as I have a pretty sensitive stomach so just took it twice as day as directed for the first few days then just in the morning for a few more. I had no problems.
  • Angie2U
    Angie2U Member Posts: 2,991
    #9
    Hippiechick58 said:

    I took Decadron the night
    I took Decadron the night before. Then the morning of I took Emend. They gave me Zofran in my IV, but I also had it in pill form if I needed it. I was also given Compazine to take as a p.r.n. It has been well over a month since my last Chemo, but I still find that I am nauseous from time to time, so I will take Compazine or Zofran as needed. I weigh in on the side of taking the meds as you need them, but every Doc is different. I'm sure you'll make the decision that is best for you.
    Good Luck and God Bless!

    Dianne

    I wanted to wish you good
    I wanted to wish you good luck this Friday with your chemo. Looks like the pink sisters have already given you great advice.

    Hugs, Angie
  • laughs_a_lot
    laughs_a_lot Member Posts: 1,368 Member
    #10
    Anti nausea drugs
    I was rather suprised to hear Creampuff mention Ativan for chemo. It is an anti anxiety drug. However, I looked it up in my drug guide for health professionals. Sure enough it is used for nausea related to cheomotherapy as well. It is a short lasting drug that will stay in your system for about 4 hours. So I guess if you are inclined to be nervous in the first place Ativan may be the drug of choice by your MO. It has a propensity for addiction, but my drug and alcohol class taught me that as long as one is taking an addictive substance for the reason given, then you run a low risk of the addiction. To this I would also like to add the following statement. If you have been given Ativan on an as needed basis by your MO, MD, or a psychiatrist please do not stop taking it just because I mentioned that it has a propensity for addction. Consult the perscriber. This drug is used regularly by many with no problem of addiction because they take it only when needed for anxiety. I think often when we hear the word addictive we think of the guy in the gutter with a beer bottle inside a brown paper bag or the guy with dirty hair and clothing looking to buy his drug of choice. In the unlikely event that one would become addicted to Ativan because of chemo, your perscriber also is the one best equipped to assist you in breaking the addiction. If perscribed Ativan for chemo by my MO I would be inclined to take it myself.
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #11
    Nancy
    I took Emend as my onc prescribed and had anti nausea meds given to me in IV while getting chemo. I had no nausea so I didn't take the Zofran even though I had filled the script.
    Char
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691 Member
    #12
    I did not take any
    I did not take any anti-nausea meds with Taxol. They did max out my pre-med anti-nausea dose for the Adriamycin (Doxirubicon/Red Devil) which is the one that does make you extremely nauseaus. I also took Emend that day and a couple of days following which I understood to be because of the Adriamycin. I did also have Lorazepam (Ativan) which is an anti-nausea, anti-anxiety and sleeping pill. It did nothing for the nauseau but did make me sleep well.

    As I mentioned I did not take any anti-nausea (pre-med or otherwise) for Taxol and I had the Cytoxin with the Adriamycin. I don't know what the protocol is when you take the Taxol and Cytoxin together.

    Good luck with your chemo.
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    #13
    skipper54 said:

    lots of IV
    I had 2 IV anti-nausea meds and a steroid as the first part of my infusion but also had compazine to take if needed. I didn't want to risk it as I have a pretty sensitive stomach so just took it twice as day as directed for the first few days then just in the morning for a few more. I had no problems.

    Good luck Friday Nancy with
    Good luck Friday Nancy with your chemo!

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