xeloda and headache

taraHK
taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
Hi. Has anyone experienced severe headache as a side effect of xeloda pills? I'm hoping the headache I am experiencing is due to something else (something simple. like stress ha ha). I'd appreciate any sharing on this issue. If you did have headache as side effect, any medication prescribed which helped? Thanks. Tara

Comments

  • slamb58
    slamb58 Member Posts: 31
    #2
    No headaches here
    I am just beginning my third cycle of Xeloda, and have not experience any headaches. I actually can't say that I have had any side effects from it. I take it with oxi and avastin, and have had the weird cold sensitivity, but so far that is all.
  • claud1951
    claud1951 Member Posts: 424 Member
    #3
    No Headache
    Tara,

    I can't recall any headaches. Just the hand/foot syndrome (which I'm sure you have heard about).

    Just in case, Eucerin cream is good (to use) as well as Udder cream or Mary Kay has a night Emollient cream that is good, too.

    Hugs to you
    Claudia
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #4
    headaches
    are you taking Avastin as well? It's known to cause headaches. Maybe you're dehydrated? I would def ask my onc or onc nurse.
    Mary
  • funnyguy
    funnyguy Member Posts: 89
    #5
    headaches
    I took Xeloda for roughly 6 months and did experience slight headaches. Usually drinking good amounts of water helped; but I would also get headaches somewhere just behind my eyes. Almost like a sinus headache from a cold. What I found out was from an eye doctor. He explained to me that drugs like Xeloda kill rapidly dividing cells, no matter where they are. Well, our eyes have a thin layer of cells that protect them and because we shed them rapidly, they replace themselves quickly. Ergo, rapidly dividing cells and explanation for why my eyes were very light sensitive and frequent headaches.

    Maybe this won't explain your symptoms, but it was certainly an interest bit of info (which I found out only after completing treatment!)

    cheers.
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #6
    funnyguy said:

    headaches
    I took Xeloda for roughly 6 months and did experience slight headaches. Usually drinking good amounts of water helped; but I would also get headaches somewhere just behind my eyes. Almost like a sinus headache from a cold. What I found out was from an eye doctor. He explained to me that drugs like Xeloda kill rapidly dividing cells, no matter where they are. Well, our eyes have a thin layer of cells that protect them and because we shed them rapidly, they replace themselves quickly. Ergo, rapidly dividing cells and explanation for why my eyes were very light sensitive and frequent headaches.

    Maybe this won't explain your symptoms, but it was certainly an interest bit of info (which I found out only after completing treatment!)

    cheers.

    eye side effects
    That really is some interesting information! Could explain the blurry vision and changes to vision that usually go away once chemo has gone away. I had read somewhere it can affect the shape of your cornea temporarily as well.
    Mary
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #7
    funnyguy said:

    headaches
    I took Xeloda for roughly 6 months and did experience slight headaches. Usually drinking good amounts of water helped; but I would also get headaches somewhere just behind my eyes. Almost like a sinus headache from a cold. What I found out was from an eye doctor. He explained to me that drugs like Xeloda kill rapidly dividing cells, no matter where they are. Well, our eyes have a thin layer of cells that protect them and because we shed them rapidly, they replace themselves quickly. Ergo, rapidly dividing cells and explanation for why my eyes were very light sensitive and frequent headaches.

    Maybe this won't explain your symptoms, but it was certainly an interest bit of info (which I found out only after completing treatment!)

    cheers.

    interesting
    Ah, interesting. I have noticed some problems wearing my contact lenses (dryness). Could explain. I will try drinking more water/fluids (floating away here...). Thanks for the suggestions!

    Tara
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    #8
    taraHK said:

    interesting
    Ah, interesting. I have noticed some problems wearing my contact lenses (dryness). Could explain. I will try drinking more water/fluids (floating away here...). Thanks for the suggestions!

    Tara

    Dry eyes and chemo
    I had dry eyes prior to chemo, but apparently 5FU, can cause some scarring in your tear ducts which leads to more tear production. My dry eye went away - and has been gone for awhile. I am guessing that some other side effects of other chemo drugs could cause dry eyes.

    Best of luck.

    Pam
  • msccolon
    msccolon Member Posts: 1,917 Member
    #9
    pamness said:

    Dry eyes and chemo
    I had dry eyes prior to chemo, but apparently 5FU, can cause some scarring in your tear ducts which leads to more tear production. My dry eye went away - and has been gone for awhile. I am guessing that some other side effects of other chemo drugs could cause dry eyes.

    Best of luck.

    Pam

    5FU and tears
    It's not really that the scarring causes more tears,the narrower tear ducts don't allow the normal tear production to drain the way it's supposed to, so you get more in your eyes, which usually spill over before they can be drained. I didn't know it was scarring, i was told it was a narrowing of the tear ducts and had assumed it was similar to the narrowing of the veins chemo causes as well. Mine (the tear duct problem not the vein problem!) always gets better after treatment ends, thank God, so i haven't had to have any procedures done on them to correct the situation.
    Mary
  • Nicksangels
    Nicksangels Member Posts: 41
    #10
    Xeloda
    Hello to All, My dad starts rad and chemo today for 5 weeks. He has rectum cancer and is 83 years old, for those who dont know. Can anyone tell me any severe side effects from Xeloda? Also he has to take 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills in the evening. 500mgs that sounds alot. What is the hand and feet dryness too? The doctor gave him some cream. Thanks for the answers. just wish these weeks will be as easy for him as possible.
  • zhguo48
    zhguo48 Member Posts: 23
    #11
    Nicksangels said:

    Xeloda
    Hello to All, My dad starts rad and chemo today for 5 weeks. He has rectum cancer and is 83 years old, for those who dont know. Can anyone tell me any severe side effects from Xeloda? Also he has to take 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills in the evening. 500mgs that sounds alot. What is the hand and feet dryness too? The doctor gave him some cream. Thanks for the answers. just wish these weeks will be as easy for him as possible.

    exloda
    I just fished 6 rounds treatment of exloda, 4 pills in the morning and 4 pills in the evening, and my weight is 115 lb. The side effect was not too bad to me besides the hand/foot syndrome, The lotion which came with the pills helped a lot. Before taking the last 4 pills I had headaches and Little bit high blood pressure, so I stopped there.
    Just remember to drink a lot of water. Best Wishes.
    Faungg
  • STL Mark
    STL Mark Member Posts: 3
    #12
    Nicksangels said:

    Xeloda
    Hello to All, My dad starts rad and chemo today for 5 weeks. He has rectum cancer and is 83 years old, for those who dont know. Can anyone tell me any severe side effects from Xeloda? Also he has to take 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills in the evening. 500mgs that sounds alot. What is the hand and feet dryness too? The doctor gave him some cream. Thanks for the answers. just wish these weeks will be as easy for him as possible.

    Xeloda
    Hi Nicksangels

    I took Xeloda for six months. The dry skin was a problem. Udder Cream did the best for me, but Eucerin worked well also. I also had extreme diahrea and constant fatigue. Nausea is fairly common also.

    My best thoughts for your dad.
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #13
    Nicksangels said:

    Xeloda
    Hello to All, My dad starts rad and chemo today for 5 weeks. He has rectum cancer and is 83 years old, for those who dont know. Can anyone tell me any severe side effects from Xeloda? Also he has to take 2 pills in the morning and 2 pills in the evening. 500mgs that sounds alot. What is the hand and feet dryness too? The doctor gave him some cream. Thanks for the answers. just wish these weeks will be as easy for him as possible.

    see other response
    Hi - i responded in your other topic/link
    Tara

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