eloda and tykerb optimum dosage
 

Can anyone help out with information on what the optimum dosages are?
I am currently on 4000mg of Xeloda daily (2000mg x twice a day) and tykerb 5 tablets a day
I have now done two cycles - was fine on the xeloda alone then added the Tykerb and the diarrhoea hit but it resolved with the week off the xeloda. I have now done a second cycle with both drugs but in my current week off the xeloda the diarrhoea hasn't resolved, my appetite is very poor and the fatigue is incredible.

My oncologist has suggested a dose reduction - to 7 pills a day (instead of 8) of the xeloda and keeping the Tykerb at 5 a day. Another option is to reduce to 6 xeloda a day and 4 tykerb.

Is there any data about what doses are effective. I am seeing a great result on my skin and hope to see the same in my lungs but I don't know if I can keep going at the current dosage. I want it to still be effective though…

Any tips from those who have used this in the past?
Thanks,
Amanda x

Re: eloda and tykerb optimum dosage
 

Amanda,
I was on Tykerb and Xeloda and benefited from it as well (for awhile). My onc. said that they never did a dose escalation study for these drugs- odd. And what is more weird, they don't take into account the body mass for each patient- so I would get the same dose as a 300 lb patient. Very odd.

What he did say is that he believes that the drugs are probably effective at lower doses and that decreasing the doseage was not going to determine success or failure. But that was just his opinion.

Don't know if that helps- hope you have some other gals chime in with more informative replies.
Kristin

Re: eloda and tykerb optimum dosage
 

Thanks for your reply Kristin - My onc seems to feel the same way. It is weird about the dose and weight - maybe it comes down to our our body metabolises it as an oral form or something? I am only 132lb and from what I can see taking quite a large dose so I am going to drop one xeloda tab from tomorrow and see if this eases the fatigue and belly stuff a little. I feel good today but this is the last day of my off week!

Re: eloda and tykerb optimum dosage
 

I too had to decrease my doseage of both Xeloda and Tykerb- I went to 7 tablets of Xeloda and 4 tablets of Tykerb. Some things I found helpful for the belly stuff- I cut out most all dairy products unless they are lactose free. Lactose free milk is really good, as are soy and almond milk. I don't eat anything that is especially greasy- like pizza, and really avoid cheeses. I am still on 4 tykerb and this limits the bathroom visits to 1x day- which I can live with. I do remember the diahrrea being so bad, I felt like I couldn't eat anything when it was my xeloda weeks. Doc says then to go with the BRAT diet until my tummy would settle down (a day or so)- bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.

Are you seeing a response with the drugs? I saw a good drop in my tumor markers within a few months of starting that combo- sadly though, it didn't last beyond 5 months. I hope it does the trick for you! Hopefully you can find a dose that you and your doctors are happy with.

Re: eloda and tykerb optimum dosage
 

Hi Mandamoo ! I hope Tykerb and Xeolda will bring you to NED ! I will also be on this combo for the recurrence. At first my doctor mentioned using Abraxane...my guess is since there is no mets elsewhere, they are holding off on the big chemo guns-- i call them big because they make me lose hair but actually i heard Xeolda and tykerb are pretty strong stuff too !

Re: eloda and tykerb optimum dosage
 

Hi Amanda,

Sorry you are experiencing side effects with the Xeloda/Tykerb combo. I had a horrible time when I first started as well.

I take 5 Tykerb pills every morning when I wake up (found this works better for me than taking them at night). I was taking 2 Xeloda in the AM and 2 more at night (2 weeks on, 1 off). The combo of the pills was too harsh for me - fatigue, GI issues, hand/foot, depression, etc - so we changed to 1 pill in the AM and 1 at night. A few weeks ago I appealed to my onc and have cut out the Xeloda completely (I had been on Xeloda for a year before adding in the Tykerb). The Tykerb (still 5 pills/day) seems to be working great on it's own still. Now that my dosage has changed, I feel like a whole new person.

I hope you fid the optimal dosage for you - I think everyone is different.

All my best, Jen