Echos
 

Hi Karen,

Not that you asked :) about Canada but we have echocardiograms every 3 months here in Canada...at least in British Columbia.

Watery eyes (and nose) are definitely side effects of Herceptin. I was on Herceptin alone for over three years and the watery eyes eventually subsided. But I now take an allergy pill everyday to help the situation.

The Eyes Have IT!
 

Dianne: Maybe your onc should actually read the full prescribing information that comes packaged with the Herceptin. As you will note, rhinitis is an adverse reaction and it is contributing to the watery eyes. I have a suggestion:

If you are not being premedicated with Benadryl prior to infusion, try that since it is an antihistamine. Then maybe take the Benadryl for a day or so after.

Here's the supporting info for you and your onc and I hope this helps solve your mystery and you find some relief.

HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION
These highlights do not include all the information needed to use Herceptin safely and effectively. See full prescribing information for Herceptin.
HERCEPTIN® (trastuzumab) Intravenous Infusion










Cardiac
Hypertension




Dizziness




Ejection Fraction Decreased




Palpitations




Cardiac Arrhythmiasb




Cardiac Failure Congestive




Cardiac Failure




Cardiac Disorder




Ventricular Dysfunction




Respiratory Thoracic Mediastinal Disorders
Nasopharyngitis




Cough




Influenza




Dyspnea




URI




Rhinitis




Pharyngolaryngeal Pain




Sinusitis






Allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, eustachian tubes, middle ear, sinuses, and pharynx. The mediators that are immediately released include histamine, tryptase, chymase, kinins, and heparin.7,8 The mast cells quickly synthesize other mediators, including leukotrienes and prostaglandin D2.9,10,11 These mediators, via various interactions, ultimately lead to the symptoms of rhinorrhea (ie, nasal congestion, sneezing, itching, redness, tearing, swelling, ear pressure, postnasal drip). Mucous glands are stimulated, leading to increased secretions

Thanks for that info. I found it really useful
Ellie

Claudine
 

I too have watery eyes, have tried EVERYTHING. It seems to be mid term through the tree week Herceptin cycle when mine starts. It's very miserable, the eyes water, the lids are sore through constant wiping and there are now BAGS under my eyes!!

I have chimed in on this - but others have said that usually it stops after Herceptin is finished. But I have used good moisturizers .... especially like the Lancome Absolute Eye and also the night cream - helps with the bags (I was getting them too!) and also they have a firming eye cream Renergie Microlift eye that I use for the day that seems to help. I just use it like 3-4 times a day instead of morning and night - and it seems to help the redness and keep the puffiness down. I too feel some times that my eyes are just crying on their own.... but not that bad, if this is all I have for side effects! Looking on the bright side! ;-) Karen

Re: Watery eyes and red eyelids-Herceptin?
 

My last chemo was 4 weeks ago. I am on Herceptin only. My eyes won't stop watering - they itch and hurt. They are crusty in the morning. I have not spoken to the onc about it yet as it just developed after the "triple" Herceptin treatment - the first of my every three week infusions. As for my nose - well it has been running and crusty for months. I blamed it on the chemo, but now I know it is probably the Herceptin. But the eyes are bothering me the most. Sometimes taking Benadryl helps with the terrible itching that seems to accompany the watering of the eyes - but that may make some people sleepy (not so much me - I have taken it a lot over the years for allergies).

Re: Watery eyes and red eyelids-Herceptin?
 

I'm not so sure it's the Herceptin causing the eye/nose thingy. I think it is a type of allergic reaction to the higher dose. Happens to me too. I take a children's dose of Benedryl or Alevert so it clears up the stuff and doesn't make me wonky in the head. Sometimes I also use Flonase and Visene with the antihistimine in it in between the antihistimine doses. I also ask for 25 mg of Benedryl with my Herceptin and that helps without the fogginess too. Oh, warm moist facecloths help when they hurt.

Good luck....Darlene

Re: Watery eyes and red eyelids-Herceptin?
 

Dianne,

I also have the watery and crusty eyes from herceptin - they also burn sometimes too. I also have the watery nose.

Carolyn

Re: Watery eyes and red eyelids-Herceptin?
 

My already dry eyes became a nightmare of a problem on Taxol/Herceptin. My vision got worse and worse and I ended up seeing a cornea specialist, who said that chemo was making my existing condition much worse (I actually developed scars on my corneas). My specialist was wonderful- put me on Restasis, Evoxac, and put plugs in all of my tear ducts. For awhile (05-06) I saw him every few weeks. He worked miracles on me- scarring disappeared and vision returned to normal. I still use Restasis as needed.

Re: Watery eyes and red eyelids-Herceptin?
 

I also have red and watery eyes - no itching though. I developed dry eyes when on Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide and I was sent to an Opthalmologist by my Oncologist. The Opthalmologist said that my eyes were over-producing tears due to the drying effect of chemotherapy and said that it would take several months to clear up post-treatment. She prescribed Systane eyedrops 4 times a day and it has certainly helped a lot. Chemo ended for me in June and the Herceptin which I have been on since March continues to cause the same eye symptoms but to a far lesser extent. The drops have been a wonderful help to me and my eyes aren`t streaming anymore.
Also, the Opthalmologist advised me to use J&J baby shampoo on a warm, wet cloth and wash my eyelids, particularly the lash line, 4 times per day. She said it would help prevent ingrown eyelashes when mine were starting to grow back in and she also said it would be important to "scrub" the lashline to remove all debris caused by constantly watering eyes. It worked! I didn't have even one ingrown eyelash and my eyelashes are back! Woo hoo!!!!

My Oncologist said I could take an anti-histamine to help with the other Herceptin side-effects, such as drippy nose and sinus problems, but I haven`t taken any as of yet as I am tired of swallowing pills. Blech.

I used an old silk scarf to wipe my eyes rather than tissues and it was far less irritating to my eyes.


Hope this helps.

DiDi

Re: Watery eyes and red eyelids-Herceptin?
 

My wife has red eyes irritation and uneasiness. She was using eye drops to reduce the redness.During her last herceptin the redness became very prominent. The chemo nurse stopped the infusion and called my wife's Onc and the duty optholmogist. They prescriped an eye drop to reduce the irritation and also some antibiotic eye drops.But as soon as the infusion was stopped the redness got reduced by the time the duty optho reached my wife and the duty optho was not very pleased with the chemo nurse