Q for those who used Amifostine/Ethyol

They gave me Ativan (Lorazipam) about 45 minutes before they gave me the Amifostine.  One time I decided not to take it, because it made me sleepy, and I wanted to be alert after rads.  I was very nausiated without it, so I never did that again.  If you aren't having to drive yourself to rad treatments, ask the Onc if you can try Ativan before the Amifostine instead of using the Zofran and Compazine.  My husband would drive me to radiation about 30 minutes after the Amifostine....where'd I dozed thru nearly every treatment....then home where I'd sleep for 2 hours.  When I awoke I felt pretty good. 

Many Dr.'s don't use Amifostine because they feel it adds extra hardship onto the patient at a time when chemo is already doing the same....however, if you can keep on putting one foot in front of the other and getting it, you'll probably bypass the horrible ropey mucous that seems to accompany radiation to the head and neck.  The only people I know who escaped it were those of us who had the Amifostine.  I can tell you this, on the last day of rads, I skipped getting the Amifostine....it did make treatment more miserable....and that day I happily skipped it.

p

phrannies right on..it will get easier to handle..but atifan will keep the dread down and keep your tummy quiet..hang in there..sometimes i would have to skip the amifostine,but4 out of five days is better than nothing

I was able to tolerate it pretty well, a few times I ran a fever (100-101) that they attributed to the Amiforstine but the weren't really sure.  Like Skiffin I had my shot in the stomach area 30 minutes or so before treatment and again like he and Phrannie I did not have the thick ropey mucous.  I had some mucous but judging from the posts here on the subject what I had was a sore toe compared to a foot amputation.  It also really protects your saliva glands.  I'm 3 months out of treatment and I'm producing some saliva, not much but some.  I'm pretty sure I have the Amifostine to thank for it.

Joe

KTeacher said:

Your body

will let you and whoever is monitoring you know.  I took Phenergan and Benedryl 1 hour before.  When I got my injection I was monitored for 20-30 minutes.  In week 5 blood pressure went whacky--no more Amifostine.  Like John, weldts on tummy.  Yes I slept when I got home from treatment but what else are you going to do?  I do believe it helped save saliva.  I had a neck dissection followed by radiation a year later, no way was my body going to do it a second time.

I had mine IV. 500 mg was my dose, my wt then was 90#, had fevers etc, decreased it to 400 mg then able to tolerate the full course. 3 years out, almost normal salivary function. Stick with it if you can.

Stacey