ZOFRAN

Hi All,
At what time frame after completion of Chemo and Radiation can you start to wean yourself off the Zofran? Currently taking two 4MG tablets each morning. Completed my 35th radiation treatment on Feb 8th.
Thanks,
Vickie

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    Not certain why you are on it
    Did you have a special nausea problem related to radiation? Most take it surrounding chemo, and are off it a few days after each dose, so your circumstances may be special.
    There is no need to wean yourself of zophran. You can just stop it.

    best
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    What He Said...
    I just took Zofran a few times when I had a little nausea going on...nothing prolonged though..
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    favorite
    Zofran was a huge help for me, i only needed it durning and after (maybe a week) having treatments. keep in mind like already said you can just stop, but if you feel bad you can start right back on it.

    john
  • Baygal
    Baygal Member Posts: 34
    Skiffin16 said:

    What He Said...
    I just took Zofran a few times when I had a little nausea going on...nothing prolonged though..

    over medicating myself
    Sounds like I may have been over medicating myself. I've have been taking it every day since the start of my Chemo treatment. Will stop immediatly.
    Thanks all.
  • DrMary
    DrMary Member Posts: 531 Member
    fisrpotpe said:

    favorite
    Zofran was a huge help for me, i only needed it durning and after (maybe a week) having treatments. keep in mind like already said you can just stop, but if you feel bad you can start right back on it.

    john

    It's best taken before nausea starts
    So they do suggest taking it regularly rather than in response to nausea. Most folks do not need it for more than a few weeks after chemo. Some get nausea from chemo and the Zofran can help with that. Doug had bad nausea much longer, so he was on the Zofran for a while.

    I'd recommend talking to your doctor. . . he might have had a reason to have you on it for so long?
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    Baygal said:

    over medicating myself
    Sounds like I may have been over medicating myself. I've have been taking it every day since the start of my Chemo treatment. Will stop immediatly.
    Thanks all.

    well, how did it work?
    Just kidding. Hope things are going well for you.

    pat
  • Daddisgrl
    Daddisgrl Member Posts: 116
    DrMary said:

    It's best taken before nausea starts
    So they do suggest taking it regularly rather than in response to nausea. Most folks do not need it for more than a few weeks after chemo. Some get nausea from chemo and the Zofran can help with that. Doug had bad nausea much longer, so he was on the Zofran for a while.

    I'd recommend talking to your doctor. . . he might have had a reason to have you on it for so long?

    My hub needed it from the
    My hub needed it from the 1st chemo until about 2 months after treatment ended.
  • nwasen
    nwasen Member Posts: 235 Member
    DrMary said:

    It's best taken before nausea starts
    So they do suggest taking it regularly rather than in response to nausea. Most folks do not need it for more than a few weeks after chemo. Some get nausea from chemo and the Zofran can help with that. Doug had bad nausea much longer, so he was on the Zofran for a while.

    I'd recommend talking to your doctor. . . he might have had a reason to have you on it for so long?

    Zofran
    I made the mistake of waiting till I got sick to take it. Nothing like learning the hard way. I hung onto all my meds for quite sometime even tho I was no longer taking them. Maybe it's that safety net thing...
    That was the only reason I was on them also.
  • stevenl
    stevenl Member Posts: 587
    nwasen said:

    Zofran
    I made the mistake of waiting till I got sick to take it. Nothing like learning the hard way. I hung onto all my meds for quite sometime even tho I was no longer taking them. Maybe it's that safety net thing...
    That was the only reason I was on them also.

    Apologetic
    Sorry for the pun, and yours is a serious question, but I tend to over
    medicate a little too often.
    Misguided Steve
  • Tagboy
    Tagboy Member Posts: 6
    Hopefully will be OK
    I completed treatments 5 days after you did and the only nausea-like experiences I have had were from having a gag reflex to the phlegm I'm working through. And I'm pretty sure the Zofran wouldn't help that! I agree with the team - double check with the Doc, but you should be fine without it. Good luck and Godspeed!
  • IAmStrong
    IAmStrong Member Posts: 58
    Tagboy said:

    Hopefully will be OK
    I completed treatments 5 days after you did and the only nausea-like experiences I have had were from having a gag reflex to the phlegm I'm working through. And I'm pretty sure the Zofran wouldn't help that! I agree with the team - double check with the Doc, but you should be fine without it. Good luck and Godspeed!

    Everyone is Different
    Obviously. I had horrible nausea and vomiting throughout along with vomiting from the phlegm on top of it. My clinic told me that nausea can last for months afterwards. I have a nurse friend who went on for her Masters. She did her thesis on chemo related nausea. It is something that is real which can peak and wane for a long time.

    I would check with my team if I were you. Obviously, it can't harm you to be on it and the information is correct, there is no need to wean off of this medication.

    Best to you and congrats and completing treatment!

    Linda
  • Baygal
    Baygal Member Posts: 34
    IAmStrong said:

    Everyone is Different
    Obviously. I had horrible nausea and vomiting throughout along with vomiting from the phlegm on top of it. My clinic told me that nausea can last for months afterwards. I have a nurse friend who went on for her Masters. She did her thesis on chemo related nausea. It is something that is real which can peak and wane for a long time.

    I would check with my team if I were you. Obviously, it can't harm you to be on it and the information is correct, there is no need to wean off of this medication.

    Best to you and congrats and completing treatment!

    Linda

    Thanks to All
    Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share you knowledge and experiences in helping me navigate through this journey toward healing. I have watched my Mother, my Father, and my Sister fight and ultimately loose this battle. But I am confident that I have weathered the storm and that this disease has been conquered. Each of you deserve some of the credit. What you do is invaluable and means more than you may ever know.
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    Baygal said:

    Thanks to All
    Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share you knowledge and experiences in helping me navigate through this journey toward healing. I have watched my Mother, my Father, and my Sister fight and ultimately loose this battle. But I am confident that I have weathered the storm and that this disease has been conquered. Each of you deserve some of the credit. What you do is invaluable and means more than you may ever know.

    you have it
    you have the great positive mental attitude to kick butt and enjoy your new normal for years to come.

    you go Baygal you go

    john
  • Marty36
    Marty36 Member Posts: 84
    I'm impressed
    I'm impressed you can get your prescription plan to continue filling it. Zofran is the only prescription I've had trouble getting filled, with my prescription plan limiting me to 21 pills at a time and only once over certain period of time.
  • Mikemetz
    Mikemetz Member Posts: 465 Member
    Baygal said:

    Thanks to All
    Thanks to everyone who has taken the time to share you knowledge and experiences in helping me navigate through this journey toward healing. I have watched my Mother, my Father, and my Sister fight and ultimately loose this battle. But I am confident that I have weathered the storm and that this disease has been conquered. Each of you deserve some of the credit. What you do is invaluable and means more than you may ever know.

    My experience with Zofran
    I had some severe nausea during chemo and used Zofran when I felt a particularly bad episode coming on--especially when I needed to sleep. I was amazed at how fast and effective it was. Because I tried to be sensitive to the onset of heightened episodes, and not to use it for prevention, I just found myself needing it less and less over time--and don't recall any withdrawal problems.

    As for "conquering" cancer, at least HNC/BOT, I think that many people here will say that someone can survive the disease, but will likely be dealing with some effects of the treatments for many years to come. There is a long list of things that can develop immediately or over time that are directly caused by rads and/or chemo. My own list is getting a bit longer each year and the symptoms range from minor nuisances to potentially significant problems that will never go away. No two people will develop the same effects or see them on the same time line, but now that you have cleared the first hurdle, you might want to read up on things like ORN, strictures, trismus, tinnitus, and more so you can know their signs should they occur with you. I don't mean to scare you, but do think that people with HNC/BOT need to know what they could be facing down the line.